Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Morning in Gaithersburg on Saturday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
62.7 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
La Plata, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
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 North Frederick Avenue, Chestnut Street, West Diamond Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. 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 45m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in La Plata, MD
Full guide →La Plata is a city in Southern Maryland. It is the county seat of Charles County.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
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.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
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.
North Frederick Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD is easy. At 1h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Frederick Avenue | — | — |
| Chestnut Street | — | — |
| West Diamond Avenue | — | — |
| I 270 South | — | — |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Capital Beltway | — | — |
| MD 337 | — | — |
| Forestville Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Frederick Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and La Plata, MD.
1
Start on the route
85 ft
·
12 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto North Frederick Avenue
253 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Frederick Avenue
3
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Chestnut Street
4
Turn right onto West Diamond Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Diamond Avenue
5
Take the ramp left toward I 270 South: Washington
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 270 South: Washington
6
Merge slight left onto Eisenhower Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left
6.6 mi
·
9 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
9
Merge slight right onto Capital Beltway
26 mi
·
33 min
·
Capital Beltway
10
Take the exit slight right toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
11
Turn right onto Forestville Road
427 ft
·
12 sec
·
Forestville Road
12
Turn slight right onto MD 337 South
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
MD 337 South
13
Turn left onto MD 5 South: Waldorf
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
MD 5 South: Waldorf
14
Merge slight left onto Branch Avenue
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Branch Avenue
15
Merge slight right onto Crain Highway
14 mi
·
21 min
·
Crain Highway
16
Turn left onto Charles Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles Street
17
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
56 ft
·
4 sec
·
Kent Avenue
18
Turn right
10 ft
·
1 sec
19
Arrive at your 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 45m into the drive.
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 45m 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 17m
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.3 mi from Gaithersburg, MD · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.3 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Plata, MD
The final approach into La Plata, 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
$10.39 one way
$20.79 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.38 | $22.77 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.16 | $24.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.84 | $27.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
La Plata, MD
Morning in La Plata on Saturday
Local time
9:28 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 North Frederick Avenue, Chestnut Street, West Diamond Avenue. 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.
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD is easy. At 1h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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