How far is District of Columbia, DC from Frederick, MD?
The driving distance from District of Columbia, DC to Frederick, MD is about 45.9 miles (73.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 40.8 miles (65.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 12m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between District of Columbia and Frederick.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between District of Columbia and Frederick.
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1
Start on the route
107 m · 31 sec
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2
Turn left onto V Street Northeast
46 m · 11 sec · V Street Northeast
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3
Turn right onto 4th Street Northeast
1.4 km · 2 min · 4th Street Northeast
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4
Continue on 4th Street Northeast
82 m · 7 sec · 4th Street Northeast
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5
Continue on Harewood Road Northeast
1.1 km · 2 min · Harewood Road Northeast
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6
At the end of the road, turn left onto Taylor Street Northeast
878 ft · 20 sec · Taylor Street Northeast
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7
Continue on Fort Drive Northeast
758 ft · 21 sec · Fort Drive Northeast
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8
Keep slight right
48 m · 8 sec
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9
Turn straight onto North Capitol Street Northeast
1096 ft · 41 sec · North Capitol Street Northeast
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10
Continue on Hawaii Avenue Northeast
136 m · 17 sec · Hawaii Avenue Northeast
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11
Continue on North Capitol Street Northwest
1.1 km · 2 min · North Capitol Street Northwest
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12
Turn right onto New Hampshire Avenue Northeast
1 km · 1 min · New Hampshire Avenue Northeast
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13
Turn slight right
32 m · 4 sec
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14
Turn straight onto Rittenhouse Street Northeast
110 m · 19 sec · Rittenhouse Street Northeast
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15
Turn sharp left onto Eastern Avenue Northeast
1.5 km · 3 min · Eastern Avenue Northeast
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16
Continue on Carroll Street Northwest
660 ft · 26 sec · Carroll Street Northwest
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17
Continue on Cedar Street Northwest
588 ft · 22 sec · Cedar Street Northwest
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18
Turn slight right onto Blair Road Northwest
1.4 km · 2 min · Blair Road Northwest
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19
Turn right onto Georgia Avenue
2.2 mi · 5 min · Georgia Avenue
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20
Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia
624 ft · 15 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Capital Beltway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 North: Frederick
3.6 mi · 5 min
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23
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 North
27.3 mi · 35 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
1678 ft · 49 sec
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25
Turn right onto Buckeystown Pike
1.3 mi · 3 min · Buckeystown Pike
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26
Continue on Buckeystown Pike
1354 ft · 31 sec · Buckeystown Pike
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27
Continue on East Street
773 ft · 15 sec · East Street
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28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Street
36 m · 2 sec · East Street
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29
Exit the roundabout onto East Street
1640 ft · 33 sec · East Street
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30
Turn left onto East South Street
610 ft · 24 sec · East South Street
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31
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
1280 ft · 45 sec · South Carroll Street
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32
Turn left onto East Patrick Street
812 ft · 25 sec · East Patrick Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Patrick Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between District of Columbia and Frederick.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 270 North
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 North
27.3 mi · 00h 35m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving District of Columbia and Partly Sunny near Frederick.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from District of Columbia to Frederick?
The road trip is about 45.9 miles (73.8 km) and usually takes 01h 12m 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?
Gaithersburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.9 miles from District of Columbia and 22.9 miles from Frederick.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 40.8 miles (65.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.1 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 EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:06 PM EDT.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around District of Columbia and Partly Sunny near Frederick.
Stop Ideas Near Gaithersburg
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Griffith Park at City Hall
Gaithersburg City Hall
City of Rockville City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gaithersburg.
Rockville station
Washington Union Station
Frederick Airport, MD
Frederick, MD
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between District of Columbia and Frederick. Straight-line distance: 40.78 mi (65.63 km).
#1 District of Columbia
The District of Columbia, a federal district, is located on the Potomac River, bordering Maryland and Virginia.
| Population | 712,816 |
| Coordinates | 38.9170600, -77.0002500 |
| Altitude | 27 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Frederick
The second most populous city in Frederick County, Maryland.
| Population | 73,308 |
| Coordinates | 39.4142700, -77.4105400 |
| Altitude | 87 |
| Country | United States |
End: Frederick (-77.41054, 39.41427)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 74 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 34m |