Origin
Gambrills, MD
Late night in Gambrills on Friday
Local time
2:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gambrills, MD to Frederick, MD
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
55.3 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gambrills, MD
Joachim Hoholm
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 55.3-mile drive from Gambrills, MD, to Frederick, MD, is a straightforward trip estimated to take about 1 hour and 11 minutes. It's comfortably manageable as a single-day excursion, so no overnight stays are necessary. You'll be spending about 59% of your time on highways, with a notable stretch of 32.6 miles on I 70. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $9. This route offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points within the Northeast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 55.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion, nearly 60%, utilizing highway speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.6 miles on I 70, indicating a period of consistent travel. While the drive includes highway segments, it also incorporates other main roads like Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway and Telegraph Road, suggesting a transition between faster-paced travel and more local road conditions. This blend means you'll experience varying driving environments as you make your way from Gambrills to Frederick.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.2 miles in near Gambrills Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.3 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 0.2 miles (Gambrills Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gambrills Road
Turn left onto Gambrills Road
Navigation decision point
7
17.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 29 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 29 North
7
21.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Frederick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 25B
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
8
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
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 54
Toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
9
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 32.6 mi | 35m |
| Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Telegraph Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Columbia Pike | 3 mi | 3m |
| Annapolis Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| East Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Carroll Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Maple Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 32.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gambrills, MD and Frederick, MD.
1
Start on Maple Road
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Maple Road
2
Turn left onto Gambrills Road
475 ft
·
15 sec
·
Gambrills Road
3
Turn right onto MD 175
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Annapolis Road
4
Enter roundabout onto MD 175
170 ft
·
3 sec
·
Annapolis Road
5
Continue on MD 175
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Annapolis Road
6
Turn right onto MD 170
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Telegraph Road
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on MD 170
360 ft
·
6 sec
·
Telegraph Road
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
9
Merge onto MD 100
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 29 North
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 29
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 25B
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 54
Toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
419 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto MD 85
426 ft
·
9 sec
·
Buckeystown Pike
19
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Street
20
Enter roundabout onto East Street
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Street
21
Continue on East Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Street
22
Turn left onto MD 144
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East South Street
23
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Carroll Street
24
Turn left onto MD 144
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Patrick Street
25
Arrive at destination
MD 144
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.6 mi from Gambrills, MD · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Gambrills, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frederick, MD
The final approach into Frederick, 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
$9.17 one way
$18.34 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.04 | $20.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.72 | $21.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 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 | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
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.
Destination
Frederick, MD
Late night in Frederick on Friday
Local time
2:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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 11m 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 Gambrills, MD to Frederick, MD covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway, Telegraph Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.6 miles from Gambrills, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.17 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 55.3 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 0.2 miles (Gambrills Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gambrills, MD to Frederick, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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