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

The driving distance from Gaithersburg, MD to Bel Air, MD is about 71.2 miles (114.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.1 miles (85.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 08m 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
71.24 mi
01h 34m
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 Gaithersburg.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
71.24 mi
Kilometers
114.65 km
Drive Time
01h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bel Air
Thu, Apr 23, 4:18 AM EDT
Return by in Gaithersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 5:52 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gaithersburg
2026-04-23T02:43
Arrive Bel Air
Thu, Apr 23, 4:18 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gaithersburg
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 Gaithersburg
35.6 mi
00h 47m
To Bel Air
35.7 mi
00h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW
Destination
75°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    26 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Frederick Avenue

    993 ft · 17 sec · North Frederick Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on South Frederick Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South Frederick Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Frederick Road

    1906 ft · 43 sec · Frederick Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Shady Grove Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Shady Grove Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto MD 200 Toll East

    2888 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Intercounty Connector

    15.9 mi · 20 min · Intercounty Connector

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville

    2257 ft · 51 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198: Konterra Drive

    2986 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville

    1.5 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198 West: Burtonsville

    2970 ft · 39 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    1.2 km · 50 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    11.7 mi · 14 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  15. 15

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway

  16. 16

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  17. 17

    Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

  18. 18

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Express Toll Lanes

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    91 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight right onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

    7.3 mi · 8 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood

    1781 ft · 38 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 24 North: Bel Air

    825 ft · 22 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    5.3 mi · 8 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Marketplace Drive

    1326 ft · 38 sec · Marketplace Drive

  26. 26

    Continue on South Atwood Road

    1217 ft · 40 sec · South Atwood Road

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Baltimore Pike

    1707 ft · 51 sec · Baltimore Pike

  28. 28

    Continue on Fulford Avenue

    111 m · 18 sec · Fulford Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    754 ft · 27 sec · South Main Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Courtland Place

    33 m · 5 sec · Courtland Place

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Courtland Place

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Intercounty Connector
15.9 mi · 22%
MD 198 West
13 mi · 18%
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
8.76 mi · 12%
Express Toll Lanes
8.6 mi · 12%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7.34 mi · 10%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
5.32 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Intercounty Connector

Merge slight left onto Intercounty Connector

15.9 mi · 00h 20m

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 34m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.1 mi
53.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elkridge
00h 47m from Gaithersburg
Leave By
3:22 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gaithersburg and Sunny near Bel Air.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 71.2 miles (114.6 km) and usually takes 01h 34m 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 35.6 miles from Gaithersburg and 35.7 miles from Bel Air.

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 18.1 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:22 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.26 one way or $20.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Gaithersburg and Bel Air. Straight-line distance: 53.04 mi (85.36 km).

Gaithersburg

#1 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Bel Air

#2 Bel Air

Town in Harford County, Maryland, United States

Population10,266
Coordinates39.5359400, -76.3482900
Altitude118
CountryUnited States
Start: Gaithersburg (-77.20137, 39.14344)
End: Bel Air (-76.34829, 39.53594)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 115 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.51 gal
9.52 L · about $10.26
Round trip
$20.51
5.02 gal · 19.04 L
Estimated CO2
22.3 kg one way
Round trip: 44.6 kg / 98 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $10.26 $20.51
Mid-grade $4.60 $11.54 $23.09
Premium $4.95 $12.43 $24.87
Diesel $5.98 $15.01 $30.02

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 Gaithersburg and Bel Air. The current time is 02:43:41.

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.