How far is Bel Air, MD from Gaithersburg, MD?

The driving distance from Bel Air, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is about 69.9 miles (112.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.1 miles (85.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
69.94 mi
01h 15m
Flight
53.04 mi
85.36 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bel Air.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
53.04 mi
Kilometers
85.36 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
69.94 mi
Kilometers
112.55 km
Drive Time
01h 15m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gaithersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 2:33 AM EDT
Return by in Bel Air
Thu, Apr 23, 3:48 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bel Air
2026-04-23T01:17
Arrive Gaithersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 2:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:58 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bel Air
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Elkridge
MD

Census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States

From Bel Air
34.9 mi
00h 37m
To Gaithersburg
35 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bel Air and Gaithersburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bel Air and Gaithersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on Courtland Place

    123 m · 20 sec · Courtland Place

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Hickory Avenue

    104 m · 10 sec · South Hickory Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Churchville Road

    1851 ft · 56 sec · Churchville Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Baltimore Pike

    2618 ft · 1 min · Baltimore Pike

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    5.2 mi · 8 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Baltimore

    1 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

    8.1 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    6.5 mi · 8 min · Express Toll Lanes

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Express Toll Lanes

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  11. 11

    Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

  12. 12

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  13. 13

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

    2567 ft · 40 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

    2671 ft · 42 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway

  15. 15

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    6 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    13.6 mi · 16 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 200 Toll West

    1.5 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Intercounty Connector

    9.5 mi · 12 min · Intercounty Connector

  19. 19

    Continue on Intercounty Connector

    6.2 mi · 8 min · Intercounty Connector

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    2718 ft · 41 sec

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg

    1906 ft · 47 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Frederick Road

    1160 ft · 27 sec · Frederick Road

  23. 23

    Continue on South Frederick Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Frederick Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left

    26 m · 6 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bel Air and Gaithersburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
25 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
25.6 mi · 37%
Intercounty Connector
16.2 mi · 23%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
8.15 mi · 12%
Express Toll Lanes
7.68 mi · 11%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
5.21 mi · 7%
South Frederick Avenue
1.56 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Merge slight left

13.6 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.8 mi
53.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elkridge
00h 37m from Bel Air
Leave By
3:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bel Air and Sunny near Gaithersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bel Air to Gaithersburg?

The road trip is about 69.9 miles (112.5 km) and usually takes 01h 15m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Elkridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 34.9 miles from Bel Air and 35 miles from Gaithersburg.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 53.1 miles (85.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:58 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.09 one way or $20.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bel Air and Sunny near Gaithersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Elkridge

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elkridge, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Elkridge.

RAIL

BWI Rail Station

3 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

13 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

New Carrollton station

32 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Rockville station

40 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bel Air and Gaithersburg. Straight-line distance: 53.04 mi (85.36 km).

Bel Air

#1 Bel Air

Town in Harford County, Maryland, United States

Population10,266
Coordinates39.5359400, -76.3482900
Altitude118
CountryUnited States
Gaithersburg

#2 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Start: Courtland Place (-76.348189, 39.535847)
End: (-77.201269, 39.143361)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 113 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.47 gal
9.34 L · about $10.09
Round trip
$20.18
4.94 gal · 18.68 L
Estimated CO2
22 kg one way
Round trip: 43.9 kg / 97 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $10.09 $20.18
Mid-grade $4.60 $11.36 $22.72
Premium $4.95 $12.24 $24.47
Diesel $5.98 $14.77 $29.54

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maryland · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Bel Air and Gaithersburg. The current time is 01:17:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.