Trip from Gwynn Oak, MD to Clarksburg, MD

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

Distance

40.4 mi

65 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min

4 AM

0h 56m ★

6 AM

1h 1m

8 AM

1h 11m

10 AM

1h 4m

12 PM

1h 3m

3 PM

1h 5m

5 PM

1h 10m

8 PM

0h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Gwynn Oak, MD

Iqbal farooz

Clarksburg, MD

Jonathan Borba

Trip Overview

The drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to Clarksburg, MD covers 40.4 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, I 70 Extension, Ridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.70 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h highway drive covering 40.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and I 70 Extension. The longest continuous stretch is about 13 miles on I 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 21 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 13 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 70 Extension. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Haddon Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.4 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Haddon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 70 Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Haddon Avenue

Turn right onto Haddon Avenue

Navigation decision point

2.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 70 Extension

Merge onto I 70 Extension

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

27.5 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward MD 27: Damascus, Mount Airy

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 68 Toward MD 27: Damascus, Mount Airy

35.1 mi into trip | ~49m in | MD 27 / Ridge Road

At end of road, turn left onto MD 27 / Ridge Road

Navigation decision point

39.3 mi into trip | ~58m in | Snowden Farm Parkway

Turn right onto Snowden Farm Parkway

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to Clarksburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Airy along the way.

Mount Airy

27.5 mi in | ~35m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 70	13 mi	13m
I 70 Extension	11.6 mi	13m
Ridge Road	7.1 mi	12m
Woodfield Road	1.5 mi	2m
Piedmont Road	1.5 mi	3m
West Forest Park Avenue	1.4 mi	3m
Hillsdale Road	0.9 mi	2m
Stringtown Road	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 70 — 13 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gwynn Oak, MD and Clarksburg, MD.

Start on this road

60 ft · 6 sec · this road

Turn right onto Haddon Avenue

178 ft · 11 sec · Haddon Avenue

Turn left onto Hillsdale Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hillsdale Road

Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue

1.4 mi · 3 min · West Forest Park Avenue

Continue on Ingleside Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Ingleside Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward I 70 West

Merge onto I 70 Extension

12 mi · 13 min · I 70 Extension

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70; US 40

4.2 mi · 4 min · I 70; US 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70; US 40

8.8 mi · 9 min · I 70; US 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Exit 68 Toward MD 27: Damascus, Mount Airy Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto MD 27

4.9 mi · 8 min · Ridge Road

Turn left onto Woodfield Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Woodfield Road

Turn right onto Valley Park Drive

0.8 mi · 1 min · Valley Park Drive

At end of road, turn left onto MD 27

2.2 mi · 4 min · Ridge Road

Turn right onto Hawkes Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Hawkes Road

Turn left onto Piedmont Road

1.5 mi · 3 min · Piedmont Road

Turn left onto Grand Elm Street

464 ft · 18 sec · Grand Elm Street

Turn right onto Snowden Farm Parkway

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Snowden Farm Parkway

Turn left onto Stringtown Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Stringtown Road

Turn right onto MD 355

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Frederick Road

Arrive at destination

MD 355

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.2 mi from Gwynn Oak, MD · 27m into the drive

town in Carroll and Frederick Counties, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mount Airy, MD

20 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

Germantown, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mount Airy, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Gwynn Oak, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clarksburg, MD

The final approach into Clarksburg, 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

$6.70 one way

$13.40 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$7.34	$14.67
premium	$4.93	$7.84	$15.67
diesel	$5.61	$8.92	$17.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.1	$4.24	$1.94
Efficient EV	10.1	$3.53	$1.62
EV Truck/SUV	16.2	$5.66	$2.59

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Gwynn Oak, MD

Night in Gwynn Oak on Thursday

Local time

9:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarksburg, MD

Night in Clarksburg on Thursday

Local time

9:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Mount Airy, MD

20 mi in

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

8 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 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 Gwynn Oak, MD to Clarksburg, MD covers 40.4 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, I 70 Extension, Ridge Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 20.2 miles from Gwynn Oak, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.70 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.

On the drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to Clarksburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Airy along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

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Trip from Gwynn Oak, MD to Clarksburg, MD

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Clarksburg, MD

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Gwynn Oak, MD

Clarksburg, MD

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

1h on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

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