The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD covers 62.7 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Beltway, Crain Highway, I 270 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.7 miles on Capital Beltway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.39 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.
Midpoint
31.3 miles from Gaithersburg, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 62.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 31m drive with frequent turns across 62.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 25.7 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 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 16 key points
These 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
37.6 mi into trip|~51m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate...
6
37.9 mi into trip|~52m in|MD 337 / Forestville Road
Turn right onto MD 337 / Forestville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
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 La Plata, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Morningside.
College Park
9.1 mi in|~13m|via I 270
Morningside
37.6 mi in|~51m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Capital Beltway
25.7 mi
33m
Crain Highway
13.6 mi
21m
I 270
9.4 mi
12m
Branch Avenue
8.1 mi
10m
MD 337
2.2 mi
4m
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
West Diamond Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Charles Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 25.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and La Plata, 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 ParkUse the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
26 mi·33 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, MorningsideUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto MD 337
426 ft·12 sec·Forestville Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto MD 337
2.2 mi·4 min·MD 337
Toward MD 337 South
13
Turn left
0.5 mi·39 sec
Toward MD 5 South: Waldorf
14
Merge onto MD 5
8.1 mi·10 min·Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 301; MD 5
14 mi·21 min·Crain Highway
16
Turn left onto MD 6
0.4 mi·1 min·Charles Street
17
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
55 ft·3 sec·Kent Avenue
18
Turn right
9 ft·0 sec
19
Arrive at destination
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 31.3 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 14 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.3 miles or 43m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Plata, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gaithersburg, MD
This is one driving day of about 62.7 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Gaithersburg, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Capital Beltway for about 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.3 mi from Gaithersburg, MD
· 43m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.8
0
$6.58
$3.01
Efficient EV
15.7
0
$5.49
$2.51
EV Truck/SUV
25.1
0
$8.78
$4.01
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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 17, 2026
Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Morning
in Gaithersburg on Saturday
Local time
11:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Plata, MD
Morning
in La Plata on Saturday
Local time
11:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
5 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 31m 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 La Plata, MD covers 62.7 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Crain Highway, I 270. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.3 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 $10.39 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 62.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 La Plata, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Morningside.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
