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Create accountDrive Time
2h 55m
Distance
128.2 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
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
Delmar, MD
RDNE Stock project
Traveling from Gaithersburg to Delmar covers 128.2 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 55 minutes. Since this journey stays within Maryland, you will transition from the Northeast region toward the Eastern Shore. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $21, this route is perfectly suited as a simple one-day trip. You won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have a packed itinerary at your destination. Expect a straightforward drive that balances time on major thoroughfares with local navigation, making it a manageable excursion for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.1 miles from Gaithersburg, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 14% of the route consists of highways, so you will spend most of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on an interstate. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 21.6 miles along the Blue Star Memorial Highway, which provides a brief respite from the frequent turns. You will also spend time on the John Hanson Highway and Sussex Highway as the character of the road shifts. Be prepared for a varied driving experience that requires constant adjustments rather than a monotonous, high-speed grind.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
184 ft
Total Descent
631 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
501 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 16 significant decision points across 128.2 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 US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Delmar, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Rehoboth.
College Park
Rehoboth
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 21.6 mi | 30m |
| Sussex Highway | 18.9 mi | 25m |
| John Hanson Highway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 16.3 mi | 21m |
| Shore Highway | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Seashore Highway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| US 50 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Delmar, 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
Merge onto US 50
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
Turn left onto MD 404
Continue on Shore Highway
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
Turn left onto Legion Road
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
Continue on DE 404
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
Turn right onto US 13
Turn right onto MD 54; DE 54
Arrive at destination
Because this is a turn-heavy, 128.2-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the drive is relatively short at under three hours, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the John Hanson Highway and local segments, as the frequent turns can be taxing. Budgeting roughly $21 for fuel should keep your tank covered for the duration of the trip. Stay focused on the road conditions, especially during the stretches where you are off the main highways.
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 80 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delmar, 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 128.2 miles and 2h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.1 mi from Gaithersburg, MD · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Delmar, 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 Delmar, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$21.21 one way
$42.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $23.21 | $46.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $24.84 | $49.69 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.48 | $56.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.46 | $6.15 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.22 | $5.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.95 | $8.20 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Delmar on Sunday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
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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