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Trip from Kemp Mill, MD to Frederick, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

58m

Distance

36.9 mi

59 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, Suburb of Washington DC

Kemp Mill, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 36.9-mile drive from Kemp Mill, MD to Frederick, MD is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in under an hour. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-270, making it a convenient way to travel between these two Northeast region locations within Maryland. Given its short duration and uncomplicated path, this drive is best suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. It offers a practical connection between suburban and mid-sized city destinations.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 24.2 mi 30m
Veirs Mill Road 5.8 mi 11m
University Boulevard West 1.8 mi 4m
Buckeystown Pike 1.6 mi 3m
West Montgomery Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
East Jefferson Street 0.6 mi 1m
East Street 0.5 mi <1m
Northwood Terrace 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 24.2 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kemp Mill, MD and Frederick, MD.

1

Start on Northwood Terrace

0.3 mi · 1 min · Northwood Terrace
2

Continue on Conti Place

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Conti Place
3

At end of road, turn left onto Hoyt Street

371 ft · 22 sec · Hoyt Street
4

Turn left onto Arcola Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Arcola Avenue
5

Turn right onto MD 193

1.8 mi · 4 min · University Boulevard West
6

Turn right onto MD 586

5.8 mi · 11 min · Veirs Mill Road
7

Continue on MD 28

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Street
8

Continue on MD 28

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Montgomery Avenue
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
10

Merge onto I 270

24 mi · 30 min · I 270
Toward I 270 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 31 Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto MD 85

1.3 mi · 2 min · Buckeystown Pike
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on MD 85

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Buckeystown Pike
14

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · East Street
15

Enter roundabout onto East Street

119 ft · 2 sec · East Street
16

Continue on East Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Street
17

Turn left onto MD 144

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East South Street
18

Turn right onto South Carroll Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · South Carroll Street
19

Turn left onto MD 144

0.2 mi · 25 sec · East Patrick Street
20

Arrive at destination

MD 144

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Gaithersburg, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gaithersburg, MD

18 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

Ballenger Creek, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Germantown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Kemp Mill, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 34.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Hoyt Street

At end of road, turn left onto Hoyt Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | Arcola Avenue

Turn left onto Arcola Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
9.8 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 270

Merge onto I 270 toward I 270 North

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 270 North
8
34 mi into trip | ~52m in

Take the exit toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown

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 31 Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
5
34.3 mi into trip | ~53m in | MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike

Turn right onto MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.12 one way

$12.24 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.70 $13.40
premium $4.93 $7.16 $14.31
diesel $5.61 $8.15 $16.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.1 0 $3.87 $1.77
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.23 $1.48
EV Truck/SUV 14.8 0 $5.17 $2.36

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Kemp Mill, MD

Late night in Kemp Mill on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frederick, MD

Late night in Frederick on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

58m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 66% highway-focused experience on this route, dominated by I-270 for a significant portion of the journey. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 24.2 miles on I-270, indicating extended periods of higher-speed driving. While Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard West provide local road access at the beginning and end, the bulk of the drive is on the interstate. This profile suggests a functional and efficient transit rather than a winding, scenic adventure, allowing you to cover ground quickly.

66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.2 mi on I 270.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Veirs Mill Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Hoyt Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Hoyt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Arcola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.

On the drive from Kemp Mill, MD to Frederick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Buckeystown along the way.

Buckeystown

34 mi in | ~52m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.2 miles on I 270. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.4 miles (Hoyt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Arcola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (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 Frederick, 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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