The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Hampton, MD covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Columbia Pike, Baltimore Beltway, Intercounty Connector for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.5 miles on Columbia Pike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
27 miles from Gaithersburg, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 37m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 16m drive with frequent turns across 53.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Columbia Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 16.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 3.1 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 53.9 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward MD 200 Toll East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll East
8
16.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
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 16A-B
Toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
7
33.6 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore
8
38.1 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
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 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Tows...
9
38.3 mi into trip|~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 91B
Toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
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 Hampton, MD, road signs point toward Columbia, Towson, Baltimore and Glen Burnie.
Columbia
16.4 mi in|~23m
Towson
38.1 mi in|~52m
Baltimore
38.1 mi in|~52m
Glen Burnie
38.1 mi in|~52m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia Pike
16.5 mi
21m
Baltimore Beltway
13.4 mi
18m
Intercounty Connector
12.8 mi
16m
I 70
3.8 mi
4m
South Frederick Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi
2m
Saint Francis Road
0.8 mi
2m
Dulaney Valley Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 16.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Hampton, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Frederick Avenue
3
Continue on MD 355
1.4 mi·2 min·South Frederick Avenue
4
Continue on MD 355
0.4 mi·42 sec·Frederick Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Shady Grove Road
6
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MD 200 Toll EastUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
13 mi·16 min·Intercounty Connector
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 16A-BToward US 29: Silver Spring, ColumbiaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 16BToward US 29 North: Columbia
10
Merge onto US 29
17 mi·21 min·Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward I 70 East: BaltimoreUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 70
3.8 mi·4 min·I 70
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 91B-AToward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen BurnieUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 91BToward I 695 North: New York, TowsonUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 695
13 mi·18 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·53 sec
Exit 27BToward MD 146 North: Dulaney Valley RoadUse the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto MD 146
0.4 mi·55 sec·Dulaney Valley Road
Use the left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Saint Francis Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Saint Francis Road
19
Keep slight right at fork onto Saint Francis Road
93 ft·3 sec·Saint Francis Road
20
Arrive at destination
Saint Francis Road
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 27 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.5 miles.
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 53.9 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27 miles or 37m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 53.9 miles and 1h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gaithersburg, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Columbia Pike for about 16.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27 mi from Gaithersburg, MD
· 37m into the drive
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hampton, MD
The final approach into Hampton, 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 Hampton, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.94 one way
$17.87 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$9.79
$19.57
premium
$4.93
$10.45
$20.91
diesel
$5.61
$11.90
$23.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.2
0
$5.66
$2.59
Efficient EV
13.5
0
$4.72
$2.16
EV Truck/SUV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
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 data refreshed 2 days ago
Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Night
in Gaithersburg on Tuesday
Local time
11:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, MD
Night
in Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
11:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
28 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 16m 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 Hampton, MD covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Columbia Pike, Baltimore Beltway, Intercounty Connector. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 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 $8.94 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 53.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Hampton, MD, road signs point toward Columbia, Towson, Baltimore and Glen Burnie.
