Origin
Lochearn, MD
Morning in Lochearn on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lochearn, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lochearn, MD
Jonathan Borba
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
This 42.2-mile drive from Lochearn to Gaithersburg, Maryland, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 58 minutes to complete. You'll navigate a mix of local roads and highways, including Columbia Pike and the Intercounty Connector, with a small percentage on I-70. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $7, making it an economical option. The route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests a journey with frequent changes in direction, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. This trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 16.4 mi | 21m |
| Intercounty Connector | 13 mi | 16m |
| I 70 | 3.7 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Liberty Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| I 370 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 16.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lochearn, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on MD 26
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Liberty Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Merge onto I 695
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 16A; 16B
Toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 70
3.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 70
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto US 29
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward MD 200 Toll
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Intercounty Connector
12
Continue on MD 200 Toll
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
13
Continue on I 370
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 370
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Frederick Road
16
Continue on MD 355
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
17
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Lochearn, 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 4.2 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Frederick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A; 16B
Toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Fre...
8
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellic...
7
26 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 200 Toll West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
40 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.00 one way
$13.99 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.18 | $16.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 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 | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Gaithersburg, MD
Morning in Gaithersburg on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
18 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
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 dynamic driving experience on this route, characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. While only 10% of the journey involves highway travel, you'll encounter stretches like the 16.4 miles on Columbia Pike that offer more continuous travel. The majority of the drive will likely involve navigating through local roads with numerous intersections and turns. This is not a monotonous interstate cruise; instead, it's a route that keeps you engaged with its varied road conditions and frequent directional changes.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.4 mi on Columbia Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 4.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Lochearn, MD and Gaithersburg, MD, road signs point toward Frederick, Washington and Ellicott City.
Frederick
4.2 mi in
|
~7m
Washington
8.6 mi in
|
~12m
Ellicott City
8.6 mi in
|
~12m
About the Cities
Arriving in Gaithersburg, MD
Full guide →Gaithersburg is a city of 70,000 people (2020) in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 42.2 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.4 miles on Columbia Pike. 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 Gaithersburg, 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 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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