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Trip from Forestville, MD to Frederick, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 20m

Distance

59.6 mi

96 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 15m ★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m

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

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Forestville, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Forestville, MD to Frederick, MD covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 270, Capital Beltway, Buckeystown Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.7 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.88 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 59.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Forestville, MD to Frederick, MD covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 270 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 around 0.8 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 59.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.3 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.8 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Coll...
8
16.3 mi into trip | ~22m 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
25.8 mi into trip | ~35m 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
8
36.4 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward MD 117, MD 124 North: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road, Watkins Mill 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; 12 Toward MD 117, MD 124 North: Clopper Road, West...
8
56.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m 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

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 Forestville, MD to Frederick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.

Silver Spring

16.3 mi in | ~22m | via I 495

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 30.7 mi 39m
Capital Beltway 24.8 mi 32m
Buckeystown Pike 1.6 mi 3m
East Street 0.5 mi <1m
Pennsylvania Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
South Carroll Street 0.2 mi <1m
Forestville Road 0.2 mi <1m
East Patrick Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 30.7 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

40 ft · 5 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Pumphrey Drive

74 ft · 5 sec · Pumphrey Drive
3

Turn right onto Marlboro Pike

351 ft · 9 sec · Marlboro Pike
4

Turn right onto Forestville Road

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Forestville Road
5

Turn left onto MD 4

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 95; I 495

15 mi · 20 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

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.
9

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.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 270

7.0 mi · 9 min · I 270
Toward I 270 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Exit 11; 12 Toward MD 117, MD 124 North: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road, Watkins Mill Road Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 270

20 mi · 24 min · I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 31 Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn right onto MD 85

1.3 mi · 2 min · Buckeystown Pike
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on MD 85

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Buckeystown Pike
16

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · East Street
17

Enter roundabout onto East Street

119 ft · 2 sec · East Street
18

Continue on East Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Street
19

Turn left onto MD 144

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East South Street
20

Turn right onto South Carroll Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · South Carroll Street
21

Turn left onto MD 144

0.2 mi · 25 sec · East Patrick Street
22

Arrive at destination

MD 144

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.8 mi from Forestville, MD · 40m into the drive

group of communities in Montgomery County, Maryland that straddles the northwest border of Washington, D.C., United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chevy Chase, MD

30 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.

Popular next leg

Chevy Chase, MD to Frederick, MD

36.6 mi · 51m

Pacing Suggestions

New Carrollton, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Forestville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Frederick, MD

The final approach into Frederick, 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

$9.88 one way

$19.76 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.82 $21.64
premium $4.93 $11.56 $23.12
diesel $5.61 $13.16 $26.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.9 0 $6.26 $2.86
Efficient EV 14.9 0 $5.22 $2.38
EV Truck/SUV 23.8 0 $8.34 $3.81

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Forestville, MD

Late night in Forestville on Saturday

Local time

4:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frederick, MD

Late night in Frederick on Saturday

Local time

4:36 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

8 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 20m 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 Forestville, MD to Frederick, MD covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 270, Capital Beltway, Buckeystown Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 29.8 miles from Forestville, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.88 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 59.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.3 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.8 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Forestville, MD to Frederick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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