Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
154.2 mi
248 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsville, MD
RDNE Stock project
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Pittsville, MD to Frederick, MD covers 154.2 miles and takes about 3h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, Ocean Gateway, Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.6 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.1 miles from Pittsville, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 154.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 3h 30m drive with frequent turns across 154.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
610 ft
Total Descent
379 ft
Highest Point
606 ft
~132.2 mi in
Elevation Range
589 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 89.4 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 154.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (MD 100 / Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna 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 MD 100 / Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway toward MD 100 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward US 29 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
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.
On the drive from Pittsville, MD to Frederick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Severna Park along the way.
Severna Park
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 32.6 mi | 35m |
| Ocean Gateway | 26.1 mi | 36m |
| Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway | 17.5 mi | 23m |
| Shore Highway | 17.4 mi | 24m |
| Sussex Highway | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| Whitesville Road | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Governor Ritchie Highway | 8 mi | 12m |
| Seashore Highway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsville, MD and Frederick, MD.
Start on Railroad Avenue
Turn right onto MD 353
Continue on DE 26; DE 54
Turn left onto DE 30
Turn right onto Old Stage Road
Turn left onto Gordy Road
Turn right onto US 13
Take the exit
Continue on Rifle Range Road
Turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
Turn left onto DE 404 Business
Turn right onto DE 404 Business
Continue on MD 404
Continue on MD 404
Take the exit
Merge onto US 50
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 2
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 10
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 100
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 29
Take the exit
Merge onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto MD 85
Continue on East Street
Enter roundabout onto East Street
Continue on East Street
Turn left onto MD 144
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
Turn left onto MD 144
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 34 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.1 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frederick, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pittsville, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pittsville, MD
This is one driving day of about 154.2 miles and 3h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.1 mi from Pittsville, MD · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.1 miles from Pittsville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Frederick, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.56 one way
$51.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $28.00 | $56.00 |
| premium | $4.93 | $29.91 | $59.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.05 | $68.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.19 | $7.40 |
| Efficient EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.49 | $6.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.59 | $9.87 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Pittsville on Saturday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:43PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Afternoon in Frederick on Saturday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:43PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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