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Trip from Rockville, MD to Highland, MD

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

26m

Distance

14.4 mi

23 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

15 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m

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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Downtown Rockville, MD, MD

Rockville, MD

Jonathan Borba

Downtown Highland, MD, MD

Highland, MD

Rámon van Raaij

Trip Overview

This 14.4-mile drive from Rockville, MD to Highland, MD is a quick, local journey that takes about 26 minutes to complete. With no highway driving, it's a straightforward trip primarily on Norbeck Road, Ashton Road, and Olney Sandy Spring Road. The estimated fuel cost is just $2, making it an economical option for a short excursion. Since it's so brief, this route is best suited as a single-day trip; there's no need to break it up or plan for an overnight stay. This drive is entirely within the Northeast region, connecting two points within Maryland.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

7.2 miles from Rockville, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 14.4-mile trip, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 3.6 miles on Norbeck Road. This route emphasizes local roads, so be prepared for frequent turns and changes in direction as you navigate through suburban and rural landscapes. The character of the drive is consistent, focusing on navigating local thoroughfares rather than high-speed travel.

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.
Norbeck Road is the longest continuous segment at about 3.6 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 0.1 miles in near MD 28 / West Jefferson Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 26m 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 0.1 miles (MD 28 / West Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (MD 28 / First Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (MD 97 / Georgia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

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

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MD 28 / West Jefferson Street

Turn left onto MD 28 / West Jefferson Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | MD 28 / First Street

Turn left onto MD 28 / First Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
5 mi into trip | ~9m in | MD 97 / Georgia Avenue

Turn left onto MD 97 / Georgia Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
3
7 mi into trip | ~12m in | Old Baltimore Road

Turn right onto Old Baltimore Road

Navigation decision point

4
14.3 mi into trip | ~26m in | MD 216 / Scaggsville Road

Turn right onto MD 216 / Scaggsville Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Norbeck Road 3.6 mi 5m
Ashton Road 2.4 mi 3m
Olney Sandy Spring Road 2.2 mi 4m
Georgia Avenue 2 mi 3m
Clarksville Pike 1.5 mi 2m
Old Baltimore Road 1.2 mi 3m
Veirs Mill Road 0.5 mi 1m
First Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Norbeck Road — 3.6 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Washington Street

300 ft · 16 sec · South Washington Street
2

Turn left onto MD 28

0.3 mi · 50 sec · West Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on MD 28

0.5 mi · 1 min · Veirs Mill Road
4

Turn left onto MD 28

0.5 mi · 1 min · First Street
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on MD 28

3.6 mi · 5 min · Norbeck Road
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn left onto MD 97

2.0 mi · 3 min · Georgia Avenue
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto Old Baltimore Road

1.2 mi · 3 min · Old Baltimore Road
8

Turn right onto MD 108

2.2 mi · 4 min · Olney Sandy Spring Road
9

Continue on MD 108

2.4 mi · 3 min · Ashton Road
10

Continue on MD 108

1.5 mi · 2 min · Clarksville Pike
11

Turn right onto MD 216

70 ft · 1 sec · Scaggsville Road
12

Arrive at destination

MD 216

Trip Plan

Given the short 26-minute duration, this route offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart at any time of day without needing to worry about splitting the drive or extensive fuel stops, with a minimal fuel cost of just $2. Since it's a local drive with many turns, pay close attention to your GPS, especially when navigating the 3.6-mile stretch on Norbeck Road. You won't need to plan for many stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise for any road trip, however short.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 7.2 miles from Rockville, MD, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.6 miles.

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 14.4 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 7.2 miles or 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Rockville, 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 Rockville, MD

This is one driving day of about 14.4 miles and 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rockville, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Norbeck Road for about 3.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 7.2 mi from Rockville, MD · 13m into the drive

capital city of the United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, DC

7 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

Vestal, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Washington, DC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 7.2 miles from Rockville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Highland, MD

The final approach into Highland, 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 Highland, MD.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...

8 mi from route ~19 min detour $20
Caution: DC Water Sewer Overflow
Caution: Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
View on nps.gov
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!

20 mi from route ~51 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Monocacy National Battlefield

Monocacy National Battlefield

National Battlefield

During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.39 one way

$4.77 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $2.61 $5.23
premium $4.93 $2.79 $5.59
diesel $5.61 $3.18 $6.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

15 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Rio Washingtonian Center - Tesla Supercharger

Gaithersburg, MD

Tesla

12 DCFC

Gaithersburg, MD Rechargery Relay - S Frederick Ave

Gaithersburg, MD

IONNA

10 DCFC

Rockville Town Square - Tesla Supercharger

Rockville, MD

Tesla

8 DCFC

Pike & Rose - Tesla Supercharger

North Bethesda, MD

Tesla

8 DCFC

Westfield Montgomery Mall (Montgomery, MD)

Bethesda, MD

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Harris Teeter 373 (Potomac, MD)

Potomac, MD

Electrify America

4 DCFC

EVsmart - Pepco - Cabin John Ice Rink

Rockville, MD

SWTCH

4 DCFC

EVsmart - Pepco - Morris Park

Gaithersburg, MD

SWTCH

2 DCFC

SWTCH: 3 Tesla: 3 ChargePoint Network: 2 eVgo Network: 2 Electrify America: 2 IONNA: 1 IN_CHARGE: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69
Efficient EV 3.6 0 $1.26 $0.58
EV Truck/SUV 5.8 0 $2.02 $0.92

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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 data refreshed 47 minutes ago

Origin

Rockville, MD

Late night in Rockville on Wednesday

Local time

5:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Highland, MD

Late night in Highland on Wednesday

Local time

5:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Washington, DC

7 mi in

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

18 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

26m 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 Rockville, MD to Highland, MD covers 14.4 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Norbeck Road, Ashton Road, Olney Sandy Spring Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.2 miles from Rockville, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.39 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 straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MD 28 / West Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (MD 28 / First Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (MD 97 / Georgia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Rockville, MD to Highland, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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