Origin
Edgewater, MD
Night in Edgewater on Thursday
Local time
10:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Edgewater, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edgewater, MD
Jonathan Borba
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
The drive from Edgewater, MD to Gaithersburg, MD covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Beltway, John Hanson Highway, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.4 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 48.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 3.2 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 48.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 West, US 301 West: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 50 West, US 301 West: Washington
9
19.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
8
26.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
7
39.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 North
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 Edgewater, MD to Gaithersburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
18.8 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 16.4 mi | 21m |
| John Hanson Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| I 270 | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| Solomons Island Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Aris T Allen Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Diamond Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Meem Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 16.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edgewater, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on this road
380 ft
·
30 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Poplar Point Road
434 ft
·
21 sec
·
Poplar Point Road
3
Turn right onto MD 2
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on MD 2
155 ft
·
9 sec
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward MD 665 West, US 301, I 97, US 50: Aris T Allen Boulevard
6
Merge onto MD 665
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Aris T Allen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 97, US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington, Baltimore
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West, US 301 West: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto US 50; US 301
15 mi
·
17 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 7B
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 95; I 495
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 North
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward MD 117, MD 124 South: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Quince Orchard Road
17
Turn left onto MD 117
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Diamond Avenue
18
Turn left onto Meem Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Meem Avenue
19
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Chestnut Street
20
Turn right onto MD 355
251 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Frederick Avenue
21
Turn right
85 ft
·
6 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Edgewater, MD · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 24.1 miles from Edgewater, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.01 one way
$16.02 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.37 | $18.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Night in Gaithersburg on Thursday
Local time
10:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
3 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 5m 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 Edgewater, MD to Gaithersburg, MD covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, John Hanson Highway, I 270. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Edgewater, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.01 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Edgewater, MD to Gaithersburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield.
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