Trip from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD

Q: How long is the trip from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD?

The drive from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Eisenhower Memorial Highway, Dual Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 23.8 miles from Hagerstown, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD?

The route from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Q: Are there national parks near the route from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD?

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

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h

Distance

47.6 mi

77 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

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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Trip Overview

This 47.6-mile drive from Hagerstown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD takes about 1 hour to complete. It's a straightforward trip primarily utilizing the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and other sections of the Dual Highway. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. Budget around $8 for fuel, making it an economical option for a quick journey. Both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical boundaries.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 47.6 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 (1%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this trip, with 100% of the drive on major roads like the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.1 miles, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of the journey. This route leans towards a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, suggesting that while it's highway-focused, there might be more frequent transitions and exits than a simple point-to-point interstate. You'll likely experience varied speeds and road conditions as you navigate.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Dwight D Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 25.1 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

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

3

3.7 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 East: Frederick

Navigation decision point

Toward I 70 East: Frederick

7

25.1 mi into trip | ~30m in | I 70 Exit 53

Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53 toward I 270 South: Washington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 53 Toward I 270 South: Washington

8

45.4 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road

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 11 Toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quinc...

5

46.2 mi into trip | ~58m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue

4

47.5 mi into trip | ~1h in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway	21.1 mi	22m
Eisenhower Memorial Highway	19.9 mi	24m
Dual Highway	3.3 mi	6m
North Frederick Avenue	0.9 mi	1m
Quince Orchard Road	0.4 mi	<1m
East Washington Street	0.4 mi	1m
I 70 Exit 53	0.4 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway — 21.1 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hagerstown, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.

1

Start on US 40

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Washington Street

2

Continue on US 40

3.3 mi · 6 min · Dual Highway

3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward I 70 East: Frederick

4

Merge onto I 70

21 mi · 22 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

5

Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53

0.4 mi · 51 sec · I 70 Exit 53

Exit 53 Toward I 270 South: Washington Use the slight right lane.

6

Continue on I 270

20 mi · 24 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 11 Toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road Use the slight right lane.

8

Keep slight left at fork

127 ft · 5 sec

Toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue

9

Turn left onto MD 124

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Quince Orchard Road

10

Turn right onto MD 355

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Frederick Avenue

11

Turn right

85 ft · 6 sec

12

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.8 mi from Hagerstown, MD · 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ballenger Creek, MD

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

Myersville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ballenger Creek, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Hagerstown, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gaithersburg, MD

The final approach into Gaithersburg, 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

$7.89 one way

$15.78 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$8.64	$17.29
premium	$4.93	$9.23	$18.46
diesel	$5.61	$10.51	$21.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	14.3	$5.00	$2.28
Efficient EV	11.9	$4.17	$1.90
EV Truck/SUV	19	$6.66	$3.05

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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Hagerstown, MD

Late night in Hagerstown on Friday

Local time

12:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gaithersburg, MD

Late night in Gaithersburg on Friday

Local time

12:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

92°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 13 mph 3% chance 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

25 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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions