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Create accountDrive Time
1h 35m
Distance
66.9 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
RDNE Stock project
Charlotte Hall, MD
Lubomir Satko
Traveling from Gaithersburg to Charlotte Hall covers 66.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. Given the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. You can expect to spend roughly $11 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route transitions through the Northeast region of Maryland, moving from the suburban corridors near Gaithersburg toward the quieter landscape of Charlotte Hall. Because this is a relatively short drive, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or breaking the trip into multiple legs. It serves as an efficient connection that gets you from point A to point B without requiring extensive logistical planning.
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
33.4 miles from Gaithersburg, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Expect a trip defined by a blend of heavy traffic corridors and technical local driving. You will start by navigating I-270 and the Capital Beltway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the drive at 25.7 miles. Despite these highway segments, the route is only 18% highway, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads. As you move toward Leonardtown Road, the character of the drive shifts into a turn-heavy, local-focused experience. Be prepared to transition from the high-speed intensity of the Beltway to the more nuanced, constant steering required on the secondary roads that lead you to your destination.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
338 ft
Total Descent
670 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
410 ft
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 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 66.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto MD 5 toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Charlotte Hall, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Morningside, Lexington Park and Leonardtown.
College Park
Morningside
Lexington Park
Leonardtown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 25.7 mi | 33m |
| Leonardtown Road | 10.7 mi | 15m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Branch Avenue | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Mattawoman Beantown Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| MD 337 | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Crain Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Charlotte Hall, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto MD 355
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Turn right onto MD 117
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn right onto MD 337
Turn slight right onto MD 337
Turn left
Merge onto MD 5
Merge onto US 301; MD 5
Take the exit onto MD 5
Merge onto MD 5
Turn left onto MD 5
Continue on MD 5
Turn right onto Golden Beach Road
Turn left onto Charlotte Hall Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Since this is a 1-hour and 35-minute drive with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. However, because you are utilizing the Capital Beltway, try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure your travel time stays as close to the estimate as possible. You won't need to plan for lengthy breaks, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Gaithersburg will help you stay within your $11 budget. Since this is a turn-heavy route, make sure your vehicle is prepared for consistent handling rather than just highway cruising. Prioritizing a departure during mid-morning or mid-afternoon will likely give you the smoothest experience on the local portions of Leonardtown Road.
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.
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 66.9 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.4 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte Hall, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gaithersburg, 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 Gaithersburg, MD
This is one driving day of about 66.9 miles and 1h 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.4 mi from Gaithersburg, MD · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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.
A short stop after about 66.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33.4 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Charlotte Hall, 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 Charlotte Hall, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.07 one way
$22.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $12.11 | $24.23 |
| premium | $4.92 | $12.96 | $25.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.86 | $29.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.02 | $3.21 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.37 | $4.28 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
8:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Charlotte Hall on Sunday
Local time
8:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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Return Trip
Charlotte Hall, MD to Gaithersburg, MDPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Gaithersburg, MD or browse trips ending in Charlotte Hall, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
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