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Trip from White Oak, 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

56m

Distance

40.8 mi

66 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 52m ★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m

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

unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, suburb of Washington, DC

White Oak, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 40.8-mile drive from White Oak to Frederick, Maryland, is a straightforward 56-minute trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate via I-270 and the Intercounty Connector, with New Hampshire Avenue also playing a role. The route is mostly highway, making it efficient for getting between these two Northeast region destinations within Maryland. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this is an economical and quick journey. It’s a practical option for a quick getaway or an errand, requiring no overnight stops.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 21.3 mi 26m
Intercounty Connector 10.4 mi 13m
New Hampshire Avenue 3.5 mi 5m
I 370 1.7 mi 2m
Buckeystown Pike 1.6 mi 3m
East Street 0.5 mi <1m
South Carroll Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Patrick Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 21.3 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between White Oak, MD and Frederick, MD.

1

Start on this road

137 ft · 16 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn left

387 ft · 34 sec
3

Turn left onto Lockwood Drive

490 ft · 15 sec · Lockwood Drive
4

Turn left onto MD 650

3.5 mi · 5 min · New Hampshire Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
6

Merge onto MD 200 Toll

4.2 mi · 5 min · Intercounty Connector
7

Continue on MD 200 Toll

6.2 mi · 7 min · Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
8

Continue on I 370

1.7 mi · 2 min · I 370
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
10

Merge onto I 270

21 mi · 26 min · I 270
Use the straight / slight left 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

20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Germantown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from White Oak, 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 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

At end of road, turn left

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lockwood Drive

Turn left onto Lockwood Drive

Navigation decision point

5
16.6 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 270

Merge onto I 270

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
37.9 mi into trip | ~50m 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
38.3 mi into trip | ~51m in | MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike

Turn right onto MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.76 one way

$13.53 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $7.41 $14.82
premium $4.93 $7.91 $15.83
diesel $5.61 $9.01 $18.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.2 0 $4.28 $1.96
Efficient EV 10.2 0 $3.57 $1.63
EV Truck/SUV 16.3 0 $5.71 $2.61

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

White Oak, MD

Late night in White Oak on Sunday

Local time

3:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frederick, MD

Late night in Frederick on Sunday

Local time

3:34 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

7 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

56m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 56% of it being highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 21.3 miles on I-270, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While much of the journey involves faster road speeds, the inclusion of roads like New Hampshire Avenue suggests you'll experience some transitions. This isn't a strictly monotonous interstate experience; rather, it's a blend of efficient travel and more varied road conditions as you approach your destination.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.3 mi on I 270.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 40.8 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Lockwood Drive): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 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 White Oak, MD to Frederick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Buckeystown along the way.

Buckeystown

37.9 mi in | ~50m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 40.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.3 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Lockwood Drive): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 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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Explore more options from White Oak, MD or browse trips ending in Frederick, MD.

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