Origin
Selby-on-the-Bay, MD
Night in Selby-on-the-Bay on Friday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Selby-on-the-Bay, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
51 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Selby-on-the-Bay, MD
Joachim Hoholm
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
This 51-mile drive from Selby-on-the-Bay to Gaithersburg, Maryland, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Capital Beltway and I-270, with a portion on the John Hanson Highway. With a fuel cost estimated around $8, this route is budget-friendly for a quick journey. The overall feel is a typical commute through the busy Northeast region, connecting two points within Maryland. This drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 51 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that's often described as 'turn-heavy' in its local segments, interspersed with significant highway mileage. While 21% of the route is on highways like the Capital Beltway and I-270, the character shifts between these faster sections and more local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.4 miles on the Capital Beltway. As you progress, you'll notice the transition from more suburban Maryland to the broader I-270 corridor.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 10.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51 miles you will encounter 17 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 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington, Richmond
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington, Ri...
9
22 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
8
29.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
39 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
7
42.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 North
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Selby-on-the-Bay, MD and Gaithersburg, MD, road signs point toward Richmond and Silver Spring.
Richmond
10.6 mi in
|
~20m
Silver Spring
21.6 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 16.4 mi | 21m |
| I 270 | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| John Hanson Highway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Central Avenue | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| Davidsonville Road | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| West Diamond Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Edgemont Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hillside Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 16.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Selby-on-the-Bay, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on Edgemont Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Edgemont Street
2
Turn right onto Hillside Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto MD 214
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Central Avenue
4
Turn right onto MD 424
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Davidsonville Road
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington, Richmond
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 50; US 301
10 mi
·
12 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 7B
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 95; I 495
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 North
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward MD 117, MD 124 South: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Quince Orchard Road
14
Turn left onto MD 117
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Diamond Avenue
15
Turn left onto Meem Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Meem Avenue
16
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Chestnut Street
17
Turn right onto MD 355
251 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Frederick Avenue
18
Turn right
85 ft
·
6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.5 mi from Selby-on-the-Bay, MD · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from Selby-on-the-Bay, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gaithersburg, MD
The final approach into Gaithersburg, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.46 one way
$16.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.26 | $18.52 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gaithersburg, MD
Night in Gaithersburg on Friday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 14m 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 Selby-on-the-Bay, MD to Gaithersburg, MD covers 51 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, I 270, John Hanson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.5 miles from Selby-on-the-Bay, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.46 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 51 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Selby-on-the-Bay, MD and Gaithersburg, MD, road signs point toward Richmond and Silver Spring.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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Return Trip
Gaithersburg, MD to Selby-on-the-Bay, MDPlan the drive back the other way.
50.6 mi
1h 14m
Continue From Gaithersburg, MD
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