Origin
Greenbelt, MD
Morning in Greenbelt on Saturday
Local time
9:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greenbelt, MD to Frederick, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greenbelt, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Greenbelt, MD to Frederick, MD covers 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 270, Capital Beltway, Buckeystown Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.9 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.84 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 47.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 270 and Capital Beltway. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.9 miles on I 270.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 270 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
534 ft
147 ft
Total Climb
464 ft
Total Descent
89 ft
Highest Point
534 ft
~33.8 mi in
Elevation Range
388 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
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 47.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Coll...
8
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
13.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
7
17.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 North
8
44.4 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
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 31
Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greenbelt, MD and Frederick, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Buckeystown.
Silver Spring
4 mi in
|
~6m
|
via I 495
Buckeystown
44.4 mi in
|
~58m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 30.9 mi | 39m |
| Capital Beltway | 12.2 mi | 15m |
| Buckeystown Pike | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Crescent Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Carroll Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Patrick Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 270
— 30.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenbelt, MD and Frederick, MD.
1
Start on Crescent Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Crescent Road
2
Turn left onto MD 201
512 ft
·
16 sec
·
Kenilworth Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 95; I 495
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
27 mi
·
34 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 North
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 31
Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto MD 85
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Buckeystown Pike
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on MD 85
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Buckeystown Pike
11
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Street
12
Enter roundabout onto East Street
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Street
13
Continue on East Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Street
14
Turn left onto MD 144
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East South Street
15
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Carroll Street
16
Turn left onto MD 144
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Patrick Street
17
Arrive at destination
MD 144
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.6 mi from Greenbelt, MD · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Greenbelt, 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
$7.84 one way
$15.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.59 | $17.18 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.17 | $18.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Morning in Frederick on Saturday
Local time
9:19 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
2 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 4m 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 Greenbelt, MD to Frederick, MD covers 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 270, Capital Beltway, Buckeystown Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.6 miles from Greenbelt, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.84 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 47.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Greenbelt, MD and Frederick, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Buckeystown.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 147 ft to 534 ft elevation with about 464 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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