Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night in Gaithersburg on Saturday
Local time
3:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaithersburg, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
57.9 mi
93 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Carly Dernetz
Trip Overview
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD covers 57.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Beltway, I 270, MD 260 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.9 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 57.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD covers 57.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m, 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 25 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 21.9 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 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
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 57.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 270
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
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
8
33.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
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 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
7
48.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
MD 260
Take the exit onto MD 260 toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Recreation Areas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Be...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 260, Beach and Recreation Areas.
College Park
9.1 mi in
|
~13m
|
via I 270
Upper Marlboro
33.8 mi in
|
~46m
Maryland 260
48.2 mi in
|
~1h 8m
|
via MD 260
Beach
48.2 mi in
|
~1h 8m
|
via MD 260
Recreation Areas
48.2 mi in
|
~1h 8m
|
via MD 260
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 21.9 mi | 28m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| MD 260 | 9 mi | 15m |
| Ritchie Marlboro Road | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| Stephanie Roper Highway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Southern Maryland Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 21.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 355
251 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Frederick Avenue
3
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto MD 117
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Diamond Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
Merge onto I 270
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
22 mi
·
28 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
286 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
13
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
15
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
16
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
5.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MD 4 South: Prince Frederick
18
Merge onto MD 4
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on MD 4
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on MD 4
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
21
Take the exit onto MD 260
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
MD 260
Toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Recreation Areas
Use the straight lane.
22
At end of road, turn right onto MD 261
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto 17th Street
480 ft
·
31 sec
·
17th Street
24
Turn right onto C Street
56 ft
·
3 sec
·
C Street
25
Arrive at destination
C Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29 mi from Gaithersburg, MD · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chesapeake Beach, MD
The final approach into Chesapeake Beach, 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
$9.60 one way
$19.20 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.51 | $21.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.23 | $22.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.78 | $25.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.11 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Late night in Chesapeake Beach on Saturday
Local time
3:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 26m 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 Gaithersburg, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD covers 57.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, I 270, MD 260. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29 miles from Gaithersburg, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.60 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 57.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 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.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 260, Beach and Recreation Areas.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. There are 4 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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