Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
South Gate, MD
Robert So
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to South Gate, MD covers 43.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Intercounty Connector, I 95, MD 100 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.9 miles on Intercounty Connector. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to South Gate, MD covers 43.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 3.1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.1 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 toward MD 200 Toll East
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 97: Annapolis, Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 3 Business: Glen Burnie, New Cut Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and South Gate, MD, road signs point toward Burtonsville and Baltimore.
Burtonsville
Baltimore
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Intercounty Connector | 15.9 mi | 20m |
| I 95 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| MD 100 | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Shady Grove Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 97 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Crain Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Phirne Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and South Gate, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Turn left onto Shady Grove Road
Turn left
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 100
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 97
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MD 3 Business
Turn right onto Phirne Road
Turn left onto Nolfield Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.5 mi from Gaithersburg, MD · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into South Gate, 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.
Regular Gas
$7.15 one way
$14.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.83 | $15.65 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.36 | $16.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Late night in Gaithersburg on Friday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in South Gate on Friday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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