Trip from Frederick, MD to Gambrills, MD

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 10m

Distance

54.9 mi

88 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min

4 AM

1h 5m ★

6 AM

1h 10m

8 AM

1h 22m

10 AM

1h 14m

12 PM

1h 13m

3 PM

1h 15m

5 PM

1h 21m

8 PM

1h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Gambrills, MD

Joachim Hoholm

Trip Overview

This 54.9-mile drive from Frederick, MD, to Gambrills, MD, is a straightforward 1 hour and 10-minute journey, making it an ideal day trip. The route predominantly utilizes major highways, with an 81% highway share, and is well within a manageable fuel budget of around $9. You'll primarily be on I-70 and MD 100, offering a consistent pace for most of the trip. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, this drive doesn't require an overnight stop. It's a practical option for getting between these two Maryland locations efficiently.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 54.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 54.9-mile trip. With 81% of the drive on interstates and major roads like I-70 and MD 100, the pace is generally brisk. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.1 miles on I-70, providing a substantial period of consistent driving. While Telegraph Road offers a brief change of scenery, the overall character remains that of a modern, efficient highway route designed for direct travel. You'll likely find the drive to be predictable and smooth for most of its duration.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MD 100. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.8 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 54.9 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 33.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

33.8 mi into trip | ~38m in

Take the exit toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington

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 87A Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington

36.9 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 22 Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie

48 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the exit toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton

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 11 Toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton

48.2 mi into trip | ~58m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton

53.5 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton

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 3 Toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Frederick, MD and Gambrills, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Washington and Odenton.

Baltimore

29.2 mi in | ~33m | via I 70

Washington

33.8 mi in | ~38m

Odenton

48 mi in | ~57m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 70	32.1 mi	34m
MD 100	10.6 mi	14m
Telegraph Road	3.3 mi	5m
Columbia Pike	2.3 mi	2m
Patuxent Freeway	1.5 mi	2m
North East Street	0.6 mi	1m
Burns Crossing Road	0.6 mi	1m
Annapolis Road	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 70 — 32.1 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on MD 144

122 ft · 7 sec · East Patrick Street

Turn right onto North Market Street

435 ft · 18 sec · North Market Street

Turn right onto East Church Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · East Church Street

Turn right onto North East Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North East Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Enter roundabout onto East Street

101 ft · 1 sec · East Street

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East Street

Continue on MD 85

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Buckeystown Pike

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward I 70 East, US 40 East

Merge onto I 70; US 40

21 mi · 22 min · I 70; US 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70; US 40

6.5 mi · 6 min · I 70; US 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

4.6 mi · 4 min · I 70

Toward Baltimore

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 87A Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 29

2.3 mi · 2 min · Columbia Pike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 43 sec

Exit 22 Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Continue on MD 100

11 mi · 14 min · MD 100

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 11 Toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto MD 170

3.3 mi · 5 min · Telegraph Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn left

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward MD 32 East: Annapolis Use the straight / left lanes.

Merge onto MD 32

1.5 mi · 2 min · Patuxent Freeway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 3 Toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto Burns Crossing Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Burns Crossing Road

At end of road, turn left onto MD 175

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Annapolis Road

Turn left onto Gambrills Road

475 ft · 15 sec · Gambrills Road

Turn right onto Maple Road

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Maple Road

Arrive at destination

Maple Road

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.4 mi from Frederick, MD · 31m into the drive

unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ellicott City, MD

27 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

Mount Airy, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Frederick, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gambrills, MD

The final approach into Gambrills, 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

$9.10 one way

$18.20 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$9.97	$19.94
premium	$4.93	$10.65	$21.29
diesel	$5.61	$12.12	$24.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	16.5	$5.76	$2.64
Efficient EV	13.7	$4.80	$2.20
EV Truck/SUV	22	$7.69	$3.51

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Frederick, MD

Late night in Frederick on Friday

Local time

1:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gambrills, MD

Late night in Gambrills on Friday

Local time

1:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

SW 3 to 7 mph 15% chance 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

1 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 10m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Frederick, MD to Gambrills, MD covers 54.9 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, MD 100, Telegraph Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 27.4 miles from Frederick, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.10 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.