Origin
Jefferson, MD
Late night in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
34 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, MD
RDNE Stock project
Rockville, MD
Jonathan Borba
Trip Overview
This 34-mile drive from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it ideal for a single-day adventure. The route primarily utilizes I-270, also known as the Eisenhower Memorial Highway and Jefferson National Pike, with a highway share of 9%. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this is an economical option for a short journey. The drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting a need for attention to navigation. Given its brevity and the nature of the roads, this route is best tackled in one go, with no need for an overnight stay. Both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Maryland.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 22.9 mi | 29m |
| Jefferson National Pike | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| I 270 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Montgomery Avenue | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| I 70 Exit 53 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 70 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lander Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Key West Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
— 22.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, MD and Rockville, MD.
1
Start on this road
24 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 180
99 ft
·
8 sec
·
Jefferson Pike
3
Turn left onto Lander Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lander Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
5
Merge onto US 340
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Jefferson National Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 10
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 70
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 70
8
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 70 Exit 53
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 270
23 mi
·
29 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 6B-A
Toward MD 28: West Montgomery Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto MD 28
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Key West Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on MD 28
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Montgomery Avenue
14
Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Montgomery Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto South Washington Street
63 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
South Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Jefferson, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 34 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Baltimore, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore, Washington
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 70 Exit 53
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53 toward I 270 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
29.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward MD 28: West Montgomery Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6B-A
Toward MD 28: West Montgomery Avenue
6
34 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
South Washington Street
Turn right onto South Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.64 one way
$11.27 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.17 | $12.35 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.59 | $13.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.51 | $15.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Rockville, MD
Late night in Rockville on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 to 14 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:33AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
71°F
Germantown, MD
17 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a dynamic driving experience on this route, which is described as a turn-heavy local drive. While a significant portion, 9%, is on the highway, the overall feel is less about sustained interstate cruising and more about navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.9 miles on the Eisenhower Memorial Highway. As you progress, the character of the drive will likely shift, moving from more open highway sections to more intricate local road segments, requiring you to be more engaged with your surroundings and navigation.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 mi on Eisenhower Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
5.7 mi in
|
~7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.9 miles on Eisenhower Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rockville, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rockville, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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