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Trip from Rockville, MD to Rising Sun, MD

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

53.9 mi

87 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

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 Rising Sun, MD, MD

Rising Sun, MD

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

The drive from Rockville, MD to Rising Sun, MD covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 270, Woodsboro Pike, Francis Scott Key Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.1 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.92 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

27 miles from Rockville, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Rockville, MD to Rising Sun, MD covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 18m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 270 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Montgomery Avenue.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Montgomery Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (Frederick Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Montgomery Avenue

Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 270

Merge onto I 270 toward I 270 North

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 270 North
4
26.4 mi into trip | ~34m in | Frederick Freeway

Continue onto Frederick Freeway toward US 15 North: Frederick, Gettysburg

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward US 15 North: Frederick, Gettysburg
8
30.9 mi into trip | ~41m in | MD 26

Take the exit onto MD 26 toward MD 26 East: Libertytown, Walkersville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 17 Toward MD 26 East: Libertytown, Walkersville
4
51.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | MD 140 / West Baltimore Street

Turn left onto MD 140 / West Baltimore Street

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

Between Rockville, MD and Rising Sun, MD, road signs point toward Gettysburg and Walkersville.

Gettysburg

26.4 mi in | ~34m | via Frederick Freeway

Walkersville

30.9 mi in | ~41m | via MD 26

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 25.1 mi 31m
Woodsboro Pike 12.4 mi 17m
Francis Scott Key Highway 6.1 mi 11m
Frederick Freeway 4.5 mi 6m
MD 26 2.2 mi 3m
Taneytown Pike 1.2 mi 1m
West Montgomery Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Baptist Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 25.1 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Washington Street

62 ft · 9 sec · South Washington Street
2

Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Montgomery Avenue
3

Turn straight onto West Jefferson Street

292 ft · 11 sec · West Jefferson Street
4

Continue on West Montgomery Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Montgomery Avenue
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 270 North: Frederick

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 270 North: Frederick
6

Merge slight left onto I 270 North

25 mi · 31 min · I 270 North
7

Continue on Frederick Freeway

4.5 mi · 6 min · Frederick Freeway
8

Take the exit slight right toward MD 26 East: Libertytown, Walkersville

2.2 mi · 3 min · MD 26 East: Libertytown, Walkersville
9

Continue on Woodsboro Pike

12 mi · 17 min · Woodsboro Pike
10

Continue on Francis Scott Key Highway

6.1 mi · 11 min · Francis Scott Key Highway
11

Continue on Frederick Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Frederick Street
12

Turn left onto West Baltimore Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Baltimore Street
13

Continue on Taneytown Pike

1.2 mi · 1 min · Taneytown Pike
14

Turn right onto Baptist Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Baptist Road
15

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 27 miles from Rockville, MD, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.1 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 53.9 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 27 miles or 35m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rising Sun, 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 53.9 miles and 1h 18m.

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 I 270 for about 25.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27 mi from Rockville, MD · 35m into the drive

Downtown Washington, DC, DC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, DC

27 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

Waverly, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Washington, DC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27 miles from Rockville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Rising Sun, MD

The final approach into Rising Sun, 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 Rising Sun, 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.

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...

0 mi from route Free near mile 24.2
View on nps.gov
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 near mile 1.9
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!

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 14.9
View on nps.gov
Antietam National Battlefield

Antietam National Battlefield

National Battlefield

23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour $20 near mile 27.9
View on nps.gov
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

National Historical Park

At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...

17 mi from route ~44 min detour $20 near mile 27.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.92 one way

$17.84 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $9.76 $19.52
premium $4.92 $10.44 $20.89
diesel $5.64 $11.97 $23.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.2 0 $5.66 $2.59
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.72 $2.16
EV Truck/SUV 21.6 0 $7.55 $3.45

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 20 hours ago

Origin

Rockville, MD

Late night in Rockville on Monday

Local time

5:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rising Sun, MD

Late night in Rising Sun on Monday

Local time

5:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

68°F

Washington, DC

27 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

20 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 18m 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 Rising Sun, MD covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 270, Woodsboro Pike, Francis Scott Key Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 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 $8.92 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 1h 18m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Montgomery Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (Frederick Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Rockville, MD and Rising Sun, MD, road signs point toward Gettysburg and Walkersville.

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