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Trip from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

46m

Distance

34 mi

55 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 42m ★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m

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

Downtown Jefferson, MD, MD

Jefferson, MD

RDNE Stock project

Downtown Rockville, MD, MD

Rockville, MD

Jonathan Borba

Trip Overview

This 34-mile drive from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it ideal for a single-day adventure. The route primarily utilizes I-270, also known as the Eisenhower Memorial Highway and Jefferson National Pike, with a highway share of 9%. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this is an economical option for a short journey. The drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting a need for attention to navigation. Given its brevity and the nature of the roads, this route is best tackled in one go, with no need for an overnight stay. Both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Maryland.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

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

Drive Character

Expect a dynamic driving experience on this route, which is described as a turn-heavy local drive. While a significant portion, 9%, is on the highway, the overall feel is less about sustained interstate cruising and more about navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.9 miles on the Eisenhower Memorial Highway. As you progress, the character of the drive will likely shift, moving from more open highway sections to more intricate local road segments, requiring you to be more engaged with your surroundings and navigation.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Eisenhower Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

8
5.7 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 70 East: Baltimore, Washington

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 10 Toward I 70 East: Baltimore, Washington
7
6.6 mi into trip | ~8m 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
6
29.9 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 270

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.4 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward MD 28: West Montgomery Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6B-A Toward MD 28: West Montgomery Avenue
6
34 mi into trip | ~46m in | South Washington Street

Turn right onto South Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

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 Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.

Washington

5.7 mi in | ~7m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eisenhower Memorial Highway 22.9 mi 29m
Jefferson National Pike 5.2 mi 6m
I 270 2.5 mi 3m
West Montgomery Avenue 1.2 mi 3m
I 70 Exit 53 0.4 mi <1m
I 70 0.3 mi <1m
Lander Road 0.2 mi <1m
Key West Highway 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Eisenhower Memorial Highway — 22.9 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, MD and Rockville, MD.

1

Start on this road

24 ft · 5 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto MD 180

99 ft · 8 sec · Jefferson Pike
3

Turn left onto Lander Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Lander Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
5

Merge onto US 340

5.2 mi · 6 min · Jefferson National Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 10 Toward I 70 East: Baltimore, Washington Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 70

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 70
8

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.
9

Continue on I 270

23 mi · 29 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

2.5 mi · 3 min · I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 6B-A Toward MD 28: West Montgomery Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn left onto MD 28

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Key West Highway
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on MD 28

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Montgomery Avenue
14

Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue

0.2 mi · 37 sec · West Montgomery Avenue
Use the left lane.
15

Turn right onto South Washington Street

63 ft · 1 sec · South Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Arrive at destination

South Washington Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17 mi from Jefferson, MD · 22m into the drive

census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Germantown, MD

17 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

North Bethesda, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Germantown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17 miles from Jefferson, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Rockville, MD

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Rockville, MD if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.64 one way

$11.27 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.17 $12.35
premium $4.93 $6.59 $13.19
diesel $5.61 $7.51 $15.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.2 0 $3.57 $1.63
Efficient EV 8.5 0 $2.97 $1.36
EV Truck/SUV 13.6 0 $4.76 $2.18

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (67% 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

Jefferson, MD

Evening in Jefferson on Friday

Local time

8:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rockville, MD

Evening in Rockville on Friday

Local time

8:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

92°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 9 to 14 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:33AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

71°F

Germantown, MD

17 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

16 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

46m 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

The drive from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD covers 34 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Eisenhower Memorial Highway, Jefferson National Pike, I 270. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 17 miles from Jefferson, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.64 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 is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.

The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Jefferson, MD to Rockville, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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