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

The driving distance from Frederick, MD to Ellicott City, MD is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 34.2 miles (55.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 32m 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
37.75 mi
00h 46m
Flight
34.26 mi
55.13 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Frederick.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
34.26 mi
Kilometers
55.13 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.75 mi
Kilometers
60.76 km
Drive Time
00h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ellicott City
Thu, Apr 23, 1:30 AM EDT
Return by in Frederick
Thu, Apr 23, 2:16 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Frederick
2026-04-23T00:43
Arrive Ellicott City
Thu, Apr 23, 1:30 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:46 AM to 10:46 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:58 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Frederick
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
Mount Airy
MD

City in Surry County, North Carolina, United States

From Frederick
18.8 mi
00h 23m
To Ellicott City
18.9 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph NW
Destination
77°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 Frederick and Ellicott City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Patrick Street

    37 m · 8 sec · East Patrick Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Market Street

    133 m · 19 sec · North Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Church Street

    1577 ft · 48 sec · East Church Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North East Street

    1 km · 2 min · North East Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Street

    31 m · 2 sec · East Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto East Street

    742 ft · 15 sec · East Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Buckeystown Pike

    807 ft · 18 sec · Buckeystown Pike

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 70 East, US 40 East

    1853 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    21 mi · 23 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    6.5 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Baltimore

    4.6 mi · 5 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington

    1.2 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Columbia Pike

    1.4 km · 55 sec · Columbia Pike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 40 East: Ellicott City

    1615 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Baltimore National Pike

    1.1 km · 1 min · Baltimore National Pike

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Rogers Avenue

    2226 ft · 45 sec · Rogers Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on Court House Drive

    1084 ft · 23 sec · Court House Drive

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Ellicott Mills Drive

    2709 ft · 1 min · Ellicott Mills Drive

  19. 19

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

    1060 ft · 44 sec · Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn sharp right onto Old Columbia Pike

    34 m · 4 sec · Old Columbia Pike

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Old Columbia Pike

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
55.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 East
27.9 mi · 74%
Baltimore
4.6 mi · 12%
Columbia Pike
0.85 mi · 2%
US 29 South
0.72 mi · 2%
Baltimore National Pike
0.69 mi · 2%
North East Street
0.65 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 70 East

Merge slight left

21 mi · 00h 23m

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
00h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.6 mi
34.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Airy
00h 23m from Frederick
Leave By
4:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Frederick and Sunny near Ellicott City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km) and usually takes 00h 46m 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?

Mount Airy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.8 miles from Frederick and 18.9 miles from Ellicott City.

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

The direct path is about 34.2 miles (55.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.6 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 4:58 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.43 one way or $10.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Frederick and Sunny near Ellicott City.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Airy

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mount Airy, 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 Mount Airy.

BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

20 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Frederick, MD

22 mi away
100 South East Street
RAIL

Rockville station

32 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

45 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Frederick and Ellicott City. Straight-line distance: 34.26 mi (55.13 km).

Frederick

#1 Frederick

The second most populous city in Frederick County, Maryland.

Population73,308
Coordinates39.4142700, -77.4105400
Altitude87
CountryUnited States
Ellicott City

#2 Ellicott City

Unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Population65,834
Coordinates39.2673300, -76.7983100
Altitude55
CountryUnited States
Start: Frederick (-77.41054, 39.41427)
End: Ellicott City (-76.79831, 39.26733)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.04 L · about $5.43
Round trip
$10.87
2.66 gal · 10.08 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.43 $10.87
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.12 $12.23
Premium $4.95 $6.59 $13.18
Diesel $5.98 $7.95 $15.91

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 Frederick and Ellicott City. The current time is 00:43:58.

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.