Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
15.5 mi
25 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockville, MD
Jonathan Borba
Adelphi, MD
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick excursion from Rockville to Adelphi, you are looking at a straightforward 15.5-mile journey that typically takes about 24 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the entire distance, making it an incredibly budget-friendly commute within Maryland. Both your starting point and destination fall within the Northeast region, keeping the travel environment consistent throughout. Whether you are running errands or heading to a meeting, the route is efficient and keeps you well within the local corridor.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| I 270 | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Great Falls Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Adelphi Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Montgomery Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Falls Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Edwards Way | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rockville, MD and Adelphi, MD.
Start on South Washington Street
Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue
Continue on Great Falls Road
Turn right onto MD 189
Continue on MD 189
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto MD 650
Turn left onto Adelphi Road
Turn right onto Edwards Way
Turn right onto MD 212
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 270 South
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 650 South: New Hampshire Avenue South, Takoma Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$2.57 one way
$5.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.81 | $5.63 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.01 | $6.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.42 | $6.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Rockville on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Adelphi on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate between these two Maryland hubs. About 34% of your travel time will be spent on highways, transitioning from the local feel of Great Falls Road onto the broader lanes of I-270 and the Capital Beltway. You will face your longest uninterrupted stretch while navigating 7.3 miles of the Capital Beltway, which serves as the primary artery for this leg of the trip. The transition between these high-speed segments and surface roads keeps the drive engaging without becoming overly monotonous. Be prepared to shift your pace as you move from the beltway traffic back into the local road network as you approach your destination.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Montgomery Avenue.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 15.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Montgomery Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rockville, MD and Adelphi, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Takoma Park.
College Park
Takoma Park
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 15.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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