How far is Charlestown, MD from Gaithersburg, MD?

The driving distance from Charlestown, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is about 127.8 miles (205.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 98.9 miles (159.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 20m 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
127.8 mi
02h 10m
Flight
98.95 mi
159.24 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charlestown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
98.95 mi
Kilometers
159.24 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
127.8 mi
Kilometers
205.67 km
Drive Time
02h 10m

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 02h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gaithersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 3:29 AM EDT
Return by in Charlestown
Sun, Apr 19, 5:39 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlestown
2026-04-19T01:19
Arrive Gaithersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 3:29 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:10 AM to 12:10 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlestown
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
Clear Spring
MD

Town of the United States

From Charlestown
63.7 mi
01h 05m
To Gaithersburg
64.1 mi
01h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 to 18 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlestown and Gaithersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on Charlestown Road

    52 m · 8 sec · Charlestown Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Jackson Run Road Southwest

    1007 ft · 44 sec · Jackson Run Road Southwest

  3. 3

    Continue on Jackson Street

    2475 ft · 2 min · Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Union Street

    118 m · 18 sec · Union Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street

    3260 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Lower Georges Creek Road Southwest

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Lower Georges Creek Road Southwest

  7. 7

    Continue on New Georges Creek Road Southwest

    1579 ft · 40 sec · New Georges Creek Road Southwest

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Paradise Street Southwest

    1 km · 2 min · Paradise Street Southwest

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto New Georges Creek Road Southwest

    3.3 mi · 5 min · New Georges Creek Road Southwest

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right

    2717 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto National Freeway

    45.7 mi · 52 min · National Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    4.7 mi · 5 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)

    3.3 mi · 4 min · I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)

  14. 14

    Continue on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    43.5 mi · 47 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270 South: Washington

    2112 ft · 52 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Eisenhower Memorial Highway

    19.9 mi · 25 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road

    1.3 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue

    39 m · 5 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Quince Orchard Road

    2237 ft · 45 sec · Quince Orchard Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North Frederick Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Frederick Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right

    26 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
48.3 mi · 38%
National Freeway
45.7 mi · 36%
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
19.9 mi · 16%
New Georges Creek Road Southwest
4.15 mi · 3%
Lower Georges Creek Road Southwest
1.72 mi · 1%
I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
1.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

National Freeway

Merge slight left onto National Freeway

45.7 mi · 00h 52m

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
02h 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.9 mi
98.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clear Spring
01h 05m from Charlestown
Leave By
2:10 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Charlestown and Rain Showers Likely near Gaithersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlestown to Gaithersburg?

The road trip is about 127.8 miles (205.7 km) and usually takes 02h 10m 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?

Clear Spring is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.7 miles from Charlestown and 64.1 miles from Gaithersburg.

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

The direct path is about 98.9 miles (159.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.9 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 2:10 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.43 one way or $36.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 40.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Charlestown and Rain Showers Likely near Gaithersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Clear Spring

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Clear Spring, 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 Clear Spring.

BUS

Hagerstown, MD

18 mi away
123 West Franklin Street
BUS

Hancock, MD

20 mi away
434 East Main Street
RAIL

Martinsburg station

22 mi away
229 East Martin St.
RAIL

Harpers Ferry

41 mi away
Potomac St. & Shenandoah St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlestown and Gaithersburg. Straight-line distance: 98.95 mi (159.24 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Charlestown

Town in Cecil County, Maryland

Population1,202
Coordinates39.5562000, -78.9747500
Altitude513
CountryUnited States
Gaithersburg

#2 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Start: Charlestown Road Southwest (-78.97483, 39.556496)
End: (-77.201269, 39.143361)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 206 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.51 gal
17.07 L · about $18.43
Round trip
$36.86
9.02 gal · 34.14 L
Estimated CO2
40.1 kg one way
Round trip: 80.2 kg / 177 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $18.43 $36.86
Mid-grade $4.60 $20.74 $41.48
Premium $4.95 $22.34 $44.69
Diesel $5.98 $26.97 $53.94

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Charlestown and Gaithersburg. The current time is 01:19:23.

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.