Origin
Arlington, MD
Afternoon in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
3:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
55m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD covers 45.1 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hayward Avenue, Eldorado Avenue, Oakford Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
22.6 miles from Arlington, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 55m drive with frequent turns across 45.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hayward Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is easy. At 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hayward Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eldorado Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oakford Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hillsdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Forest Park Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ingleside Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 29 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Hayward Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on Cuthbert Avenue
420 ft
·
16 sec
·
Cuthbert Avenue
2
Turn right onto Hayward Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hayward Avenue
3
Turn sharp left onto Eldorado Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Eldorado Avenue
4
Turn right onto Oakford Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Oakford Avenue
5
Continue on Hillsdale Road
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Hillsdale Road
6
Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Forest Park Avenue
7
Continue on Ingleside Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ingleside Avenue
8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 70 West
9
Merge slight left
5.4 mi
·
6 min
10
Take the exit slight left toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
11
Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Columbia Pike
12
Take the exit slight right toward MD 200 Toll
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
MD 200 Toll
13
Keep slight right to continue on MD 200 Toll West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
MD 200 Toll West
14
Merge slight left onto Intercounty Connector
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Intercounty Connector
15
Continue on Intercounty Connector
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
16
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
17
Take the exit slight right toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
18
Turn right onto Frederick Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Frederick Road
19
Continue on South Frederick Avenue
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
20
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 22.6 miles from Arlington, MD, or about 27m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 45.1 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.6 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gaithersburg, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, MD
This is one driving day of about 45.1 miles and 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arlington, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Arlington, MD · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 45.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Arlington, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gaithersburg, MD
The final approach into Gaithersburg, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Gaithersburg, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.48 one way
$14.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.75 | $17.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Gaithersburg on Wednesday
Local time
3:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
34 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
55m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD covers 45.1 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hayward Avenue, Eldorado Avenue, Oakford Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 miles from Arlington, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is easy. At 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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