Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
58.2 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Plata, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Rockville, MD
Jonathan Borba
The drive from La Plata, MD to Rockville, MD covers 58.2 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Beltway, Crain Highway, Branch Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.9 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
La Plata is a city in Southern Maryland. It is the county seat of Charles County.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 58.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m 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.
Expect a 1h 23m drive with frequent turns across 58.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
519 ft
Total Descent
252 ft
Highest Point
456 ft
~58.2 mi in
Elevation Range
329 ft
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 14.4 miles in near MD 5 / Branch Avenue.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 14.4 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.1 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 5 / Branch Avenue toward MD 5 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 189 North: Falls Road, Rockville, Town Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Plata, MD and Rockville, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Silver Spring.
College Park
Silver Spring
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 27.9 mi | 36m |
| Crain Highway | 14 mi | 22m |
| Branch Avenue | 9 mi | 11m |
| I 270 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Great Falls Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Charles Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Montgomery Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Falls Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Plata, MD and Rockville, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
Turn right onto MD 6
Turn right onto US 301
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 5
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95; I 495
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto MD 189
Turn left onto Great Falls Road
Continue on West Montgomery Avenue
Turn right onto South Washington Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.1 mi from La Plata, MD · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.1 miles from La Plata, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Rockville, 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.
Regular Gas
$9.65 one way
$19.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.57 | $21.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.29 | $22.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.85 | $25.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in La Plata on Saturday
Local time
11:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Rockville on Saturday
Local time
11:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from La Plata, MD or browse trips ending in Rockville, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
