Origin
Williamsport, MD
Late night in Williamsport on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Williamsport, 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
1h 3m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Williamsport, MD
Tranise Foster
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
This 52.1-mile drive from Williamsport, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes. You'll spend a significant portion of your journey on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and the Eisenhower Memorial Highway, with about 100% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $9, making it an affordable option. The route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting a need for attention to navigation. Given its short length and the region remaining within the Northeast, this trip is ideal for a quick excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 26.7 mi | 28m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 19.9 mi | 24m |
| East Potomac Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Quince Orchard Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 70 Exit 53 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 26.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williamsport, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on US 11; MD 63
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Potomac Street
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 81 North
3
Merge onto I 81
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 4
Toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Frederick, Hancock
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 70 East: Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 70
27 mi
·
28 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
7
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 70 Exit 53
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 270
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11
Toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
127 ft
·
5 sec
Toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue
11
Turn left onto MD 124
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Quince Orchard Road
12
Turn right onto MD 355
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Frederick Avenue
13
Turn right
85 ft
·
6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26 miles from Williamsport, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 50.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Frederick, Hancock
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 4
Toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Frederick, Hancock
7
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 East: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Frederick
7
29.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 70 Exit 53
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53 toward I 270 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
8
49.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road
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 11
Toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quinc...
5
50.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.64 one way
$17.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.10 | $20.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
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
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
12:19 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
25 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
1h 3m 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 turn-heavy local drive for this 52.1-mile journey. While you'll be on highways for the entirety of the trip, the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile indicates frequent changes in direction and potentially navigating through populated areas. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This suggests a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, requiring you to stay engaged with your navigation and surroundings.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 2.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m 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 26.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. 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 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (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 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Gaithersburg, MD
More trips to Gaithersburg, MD
Explore more options from Williamsport, MD or browse trips ending in Gaithersburg, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.