How far is Ellicott City, MD from Rockville, MD?

The driving distance from Ellicott City, MD to Rockville, MD is about 30 miles (48.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.8 miles (36.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
30 mi
00h 40m
Flight
22.82 mi
36.73 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ellicott City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.82 mi
Kilometers
36.73 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30 mi
Kilometers
48.28 km
Drive Time
00h 40m

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 00h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockville
Wed, Apr 22, 10:12 PM EDT
Return by in Ellicott City
Wed, Apr 22, 10:53 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ellicott City
2026-04-22T21:31
Arrive Rockville
Wed, Apr 22, 10:12 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:41 AM to 7:41 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ellicott City
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Burtonsville
MD

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

From Ellicott City
13.5 mi
00h 20m
To Rockville
16.5 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W
Destination
74°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ellicott City and Rockville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ellicott City and Rockville.

  1. 1

    Start on Old Columbia Pike

    1.5 mi · 4 min · Old Columbia Pike

  2. 2

    Turn slight right onto Montgomery Road

    676 ft · 23 sec · Montgomery Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward US 29 South: Washington

    1302 ft · 32 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Columbia Pike

    10.4 mi · 14 min · Columbia Pike

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Laurel, Burtonsville

    1740 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Columbia Pike

    45 m · 3 sec · Old Columbia Pike

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Columbia Pike

    1.4 km · 2 min · Old Columbia Pike

  8. 8

    Continue on Old Columbia Pike

    1864 ft · 57 sec · Old Columbia Pike

  9. 9

    Continue on Spencerville Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · Spencerville Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Norbeck Road

    8.7 mi · 14 min · Norbeck Road

  11. 11

    Continue on First Street

    2575 ft · 57 sec · First Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Veirs Mill Road

    2936 ft · 1 min · Veirs Mill Road

  13. 13

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    1622 ft · 54 sec · East Jefferson Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Washington Street

    91 m · 10 sec · South Washington Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Washington Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ellicott City and Rockville.

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
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Columbia Pike
10.4 mi · 35%
Norbeck Road
8.65 mi · 29%
Spencerville Road
3.09 mi · 10%
Old Columbia Pike
2.74 mi · 9%
Veirs Mill Road
0.56 mi · 2%
First Street
0.49 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Columbia Pike

Merge slight left onto Columbia Pike

10.4 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 40m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.2 mi
22.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burtonsville
00h 20m from Ellicott City
Leave By
7:08 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Ellicott City and Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Rockville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ellicott City to Rockville?

The road trip is about 30 miles (48.3 km) and usually takes 00h 40m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Burtonsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.5 miles from Ellicott City and 16.5 miles from Rockville.

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

The direct path is about 22.8 miles (36.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.33 one way or $8.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Ellicott City and Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Rockville.

Stop Ideas Near Burtonsville

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Burtonsville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Griffith Park at City Hall
Scenic stop 14 mi away

Griffith Park at City Hall

Gaithersburg , MD
29 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, United States
Rating 4.6/5 57 reviews Park
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 14.5 mi away

D C Government

Washington , DC
77 P St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office,Telephone answering service
Gaithersburg City Hall
Meeting point 14.1 mi away

Gaithersburg City Hall

Gaithersburg , MD
31 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Rating 4.1/5 14 reviews City Hall,City clerk's office,City government office
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 8.3 mi away

Town Hall Liquor And Bar

College Park , MD
8135 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Rating 4.3/5 319 reviews Liquor store,Bar

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Rockville station

19 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

New Carrollton station

19 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

22 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Washington Union Station

25 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ellicott City and Rockville. Straight-line distance: 22.82 mi (36.73 km).

Ellicott City

#1 Ellicott City

Unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Population65,834
Coordinates39.2673300, -76.7983100
Altitude55
CountryUnited States
Rockville

#2 Rockville

The most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population69,512
Coordinates39.0840000, -77.1527600
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Start: Old Columbia Pike (-76.798274, 39.267288)
End: South Washington Street (-77.152887, 39.083997)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 48 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.06 gal
4.01 L · about $4.33
Round trip
$8.66
2.12 gal · 8.02 L
Estimated CO2
9.4 kg one way
Round trip: 18.8 kg / 41 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $4.33 $8.66
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.87 $9.75
Premium $4.95 $5.25 $10.50
Diesel $5.98 $6.34 $12.68

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 Ellicott City and Rockville. The current time is 21:31:38.

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.