Origin
Laurel, MD
Late night in Laurel on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laurel, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
23.2 mi
37 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laurel, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Laurel and Gaithersburg, you are looking at a quick, 23.2-mile trip that typically takes about 32 minutes. Given the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend approximately $4 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly commute. The path utilizes a combination of MD 200 Toll, the Intercounty Connector, and Baltimore Avenue to bridge these two Maryland locations. Whether you are headed out for business or personal errands, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a manageable experience within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MD 200 Toll | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| Intercounty Connector | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Baltimore Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| I 370 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Washington Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MD 200 Toll
— 11.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on this road
123 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight left onto US 1
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Boulevard
3
Continue on US 1
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Baltimore Avenue
4
Take the ramp onto MD 200 Toll
11 mi
·
14 min
·
MD 200 Toll
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on MD 200 Toll
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
6
Continue on I 370
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 370
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Frederick Road
9
Continue on MD 355
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
10
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 23.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MD 200 Toll
Take the ramp onto MD 200 Toll toward MD 200 Toll West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
21.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
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 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
3
23.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.85 one way
$7.69 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.21 | $8.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.50 | $9.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
3 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
32m 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?
This trip offers a mixed-drive profile that transitions between high-speed infrastructure and local surface streets. With a 52% highway share, you will spend a significant portion of your time on the MD 200 Toll and the Intercounty Connector. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 11.5 miles on MD 200, where you can maintain a steady pace before navigating the more conventional road conditions of Baltimore Avenue. You should prepare for a shift in intensity as you move from the efficiency of the toll roads into the standard flow of local traffic. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed over winding, scenic detours.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.5 mi on MD 200 Toll.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near MD 200 Toll.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Laurel, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is easy. At 32m with 52% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (MD 200 Toll): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.5 miles on MD 200 Toll. 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 2.9 miles (MD 200 Toll): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Gaithersburg, 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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