Drive Time
40m
Distance
28.3 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
The drive from Rockville, MD to Ballenger Creek, MD covers 28.3 miles and takes about 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 270, West Montgomery Avenue, Buckeystown Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.2 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.68 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
14.1 miles from Rockville, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
This is a 40m highway drive covering 28.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 270 and West Montgomery Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.2 miles on I 270.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and West Montgomery Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Montgomery Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left toward MD 85 South: Buckeystown
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Executive Way
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Rockville, MD to Ballenger Creek, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Buckeystown along the way.
Buckeystown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 24.2 mi | 30m |
| West Montgomery Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Buckeystown Pike | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Executive Way | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Robin Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| New Design Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Jefferson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Canada Goose Court | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rockville, MD and Ballenger Creek, MD.
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.
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 28.3 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.1 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballenger Creek, MD than in the middle of the route.
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 28.3 miles and 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.1 mi from Rockville, MD · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 28.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 14.1 miles from Rockville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ballenger Creek, 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 Ballenger Creek, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$4.68 one way
$9.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.12 | $10.25 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.48 | $10.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.29 | $12.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Rockville on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Ballenger Creek on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
67°F
North Bethesda, MD
14 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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