Origin
Marlow Heights, MD
Late night in Marlow Heights on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marlow Heights, 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
1h 23m
Distance
52.8 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marlow Heights, MD
Choco Kitty
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 52.8-mile drive from Marlow Heights, MD to Frederick, MD is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 23 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, it's an economical option for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes I-270, offering a direct path through the Northeast region of Maryland. Its manageable length and predominantly highway profile make it a practical choice for a quick trip between these two Maryland locations. You'll find this drive to be efficient and time-saving.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 27.3 mi | 34m |
| Clara Barton Parkway Northwest | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Canal Road Northwest | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| I 270 Spur | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Buckeystown Pike | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Cabin John Parkway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Capital Beltway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Marion Barry Avenue Southeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 270
— 27.3 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marlow Heights, MD and Frederick, MD.
1
Start on Lyons Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Lyons Street
2
Continue on 26th Avenue
505 ft
·
17 sec
·
26th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Iverson Street
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Iverson Street
4
Turn left onto MD 5
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Branch Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 5
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Branch Avenue
6
Take the exit onto MD 637
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
MD 637
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto MD 637
129 ft
·
2 sec
·
Naylor Road
8
Continue on MD 637
381 ft
·
13 sec
·
Naylor Road
9
Enter roundabout onto MD 637
48 ft
·
0 sec
·
Naylor Road
10
Continue on MD 637
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Naylor Road
11
Turn straight
295 ft
·
10 sec
12
Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Naylor Road Southeast
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
15
Continue on 11th Street Southeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
11th Street Southeast
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 695 West
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 695
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Freeway
18
Continue on I 395
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4B-A
Toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 4B
Toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
513 ft
·
16 sec
Toward D Street
22
Turn right onto 12th Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
12th Street Southwest
23
Turn left onto Independence Avenue Southwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Independence Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto 17th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
17th Street Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on 17th Street Northwest
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
17th Street Northwest
26
Turn left onto New York Avenue Northwest
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
New York Avenue Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Continue on E Street Northwest
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
E Street Northwest
28
Continue on E Street Expressway
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
E Street Expressway
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Whitehurst Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
30
Merge onto I 66
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Potomac Freeway
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Rock Creek Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
32
Keep slight right at fork
166 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
33
Merge onto 27th Street Northwest
178 ft
·
4 sec
·
27th Street Northwest
34
Take the exit
99 ft
·
8 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
35
Merge onto US 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Whitehurst Freeway
Toward US 29 South
36
Turn left onto Canal Road Northwest
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Canal Road Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
37
Continue on Clara Barton Parkway Northwest
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Clara Barton Parkway Northwest
38
Keep slight right at fork onto Cabin John Parkway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabin John Parkway
39
Keep slight left at fork onto Cabin John Parkway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cabin John Parkway
Toward I 495 North
Use the slight left lane.
40
Merge onto I 495
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Capital Beltway
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 Spur
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270 Spur
Exit 38
Toward I 270: Rockville, Frederick
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
27 mi
·
34 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 North
Use the slight right lane.
43
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 31
Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
Use the slight right lane.
44
Turn right onto MD 85
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Buckeystown Pike
Use the straight lane.
45
Continue on MD 85
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Buckeystown Pike
46
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Street
47
Enter roundabout onto East Street
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Street
48
Continue on East Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Street
49
Turn left onto MD 144
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East South Street
50
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Carroll Street
51
Turn left onto MD 144
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Patrick Street
52
Arrive at destination
MD 144
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Marlow Heights, 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 385 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 49.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
6.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
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 4B-A
Toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Nort...
10
6.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
7
8.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Whitehurst Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Whitehurst Freeway
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rock Creek Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Rock Creek Parkway
8
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.75 one way
$17.51 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.59 | $19.17 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.66 | $23.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Frederick, MD
Late night in Frederick on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Arlington, VA
26 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
11 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
1h 23m 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 highway-centric experience on this 52.8-mile trip, with 72% of the drive on major roadways like I-270 and Clara Barton Parkway Northwest. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.3 miles on I-270, allowing for consistent speed. While largely a freeway drive, segments on Clara Barton Parkway Northwest and Canal Road Northwest might offer slightly varied road conditions. The overall character is one of steady progress, with the majority of the journey focused on covering distance efficiently.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.3 mi on I 270.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Clara Barton Parkway Northwest. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.8 miles you will encounter 38 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: 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.
Between Marlow Heights, MD and Frederick, MD, road signs point toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12Th Street Northwest, Downtown and Buckeystown.
Maine Avenue Southwest
6.3 mi in
|
~13m
12Th Street Northwest
6.3 mi in
|
~13m
Downtown
6.3 mi in
|
~13m
Buckeystown
49.9 mi in
|
~1h 17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 52.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.3 miles on I 270. 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 Frederick, 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 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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