How far is Gaithersburg, MD from Charlestown, MD?

The driving distance from Gaithersburg, MD to Charlestown, MD is about 86.9 miles (139.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 72 miles (115.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 50m 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
86.95 mi
01h 55m
Flight
71.95 mi
115.79 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
71.95 mi
Kilometers
115.79 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
86.95 mi
Kilometers
139.94 km
Drive Time
01h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlestown
Thu, May 7, 5:03 AM EDT
Return by in Gaithersburg
Thu, May 7, 6:58 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gaithersburg
2026-05-07T03:08
Arrive Charlestown
Thu, May 7, 5:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:55 AM to 11:55 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:40 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
Dundalk
MD

Census-designated place in Maryland, United States

From Gaithersburg
43.4 mi
00h 57m
To Charlestown
43.5 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, May 7 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW
Destination
52°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, May 7 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    15.3 mi · 18 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville

    1572 ft · 38 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville

    1329 ft · 32 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 22 East: Aberdeen

    100 m · 8 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on MD 22 East: Aberdeen

    769 ft · 19 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Aberdeen Thruway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Aberdeen Thruway

  27. 27

    Take the exit right toward US 40 East

    1225 ft · 34 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto North Philadelphia Boulevard

    2562 ft · 52 sec · North Philadelphia Boulevard

  29. 29

    Continue on Pulaski Highway

    9 mi · 12 min · Pulaski Highway

  30. 30

    Turn right onto West Old Philadelphia Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West Old Philadelphia Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Baltimore Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Baltimore Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Cecil Street

    994 ft · 27 sec · Cecil Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Market Street

    794 ft · 31 sec · Market Street

  34. 34

    Turn left

    79 m · 19 sec

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
35 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
40.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Intercounty Connector
15.9 mi · 18%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
15.3 mi · 18%
MD 198 West
13 mi · 15%
Pulaski Highway
8.95 mi · 10%
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
8.76 mi · 10%
Express Toll Lanes
8.6 mi · 10%
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 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.9 mi
72 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dundalk
00h 57m from Gaithersburg
Leave By
2:40 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Gaithersburg and Chance Rain Showers near Charlestown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 86.9 miles (139.9 km) and usually takes 01h 55m 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?

Dundalk is a useful midpoint, sitting about 43.4 miles from Gaithersburg and 43.5 miles from Charlestown.

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

The direct path is about 72 miles (115.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.9 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 2:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.54 one way or $25.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Dundalk

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

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

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

11 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

16 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
BUS

Kent Island, MD

40 mi away
3206 Main Street
RAIL

Aberdeen

42 mi away
18 East Bel Air Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gaithersburg and Charlestown. Straight-line distance: 71.95 mi (115.79 km).

Gaithersburg

#1 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Charlestown

#2 Charlestown

Town in Cecil County, Maryland

Population1,198
Coordinates39.5737300, -75.9749500
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Start: Gaithersburg (-77.20137, 39.14344)
End: Charlestown (-75.97495, 39.57373)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 140 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.07 gal
11.62 L · about $12.54
Round trip
$25.09
6.14 gal · 23.24 L
Estimated CO2
27.3 kg one way
Round trip: 54.6 kg / 120 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $12.54 $25.09
Mid-grade $4.60 $14.12 $28.24
Premium $4.95 $15.21 $30.42
Diesel $5.98 $18.36 $36.72

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 · May 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Gaithersburg and Charlestown. The current time is 03:08:21.

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.