How far is Gaithersburg, MD from Chester, MD?

The driving distance from Gaithersburg, MD to Chester, MD is about 62.5 miles (100.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 50.3 miles (80.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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
62.53 mi
01h 24m
Flight
50.29 mi
80.93 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
50.29 mi
Kilometers
80.93 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
62.53 mi
Kilometers
100.64 km
Drive Time
01h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chester
Sat, Nov 7, 4:12 PM EST
Return by in Gaithersburg
Sat, Nov 7, 5:36 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gaithersburg
2026-11-07T14:48
Arrive Chester
Sat, Nov 7, 4:12 PM EST
Route Timing
01h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM EST

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

Leave by
3:42 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gaithersburg
9:30 PM EST
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
Woodmore
MD

Census designated place in Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States

From Gaithersburg
31.3 mi
00h 42m
To Chester
31.3 mi
00h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
7 to 15 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    26 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Frederick Avenue

    77 m · 12 sec · North Frederick Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Chestnut Street

    1664 ft · 50 sec · Chestnut Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Diamond Avenue

    2663 ft · 1 min · West Diamond Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 270 South: Washington

    1531 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Eisenhower Memorial Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    6.6 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto Capital Beltway

    16.3 mi · 21 min · Capital Beltway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50 East: Annapolis

    1 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto John Hanson Highway

    18.7 mi · 22 min · John Hanson Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway

    14.4 mi · 21 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Cox Neck Road

    671 ft · 42 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Postal Road

    45 m · 4 sec · Postal Road

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Postal Road

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
John Hanson Highway
18.7 mi · 30%
Capital Beltway
16.3 mi · 26%
Blue Star Memorial Highway
14.4 mi · 23%
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
7.96 mi · 13%
I 270 South
3.05 mi · 5%
US 50 East
1.01 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

John Hanson Highway

Merge slight left onto John Hanson Highway

18.7 mi · 00h 22m

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 24m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.2 mi
50.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodmore
00h 42m from Gaithersburg
Leave By
3:42 PM EST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gaithersburg and Sunny near Chester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 62.5 miles (100.6 km) and usually takes 01h 24m 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?

Woodmore is a useful midpoint, sitting about 31.3 miles from Gaithersburg and 31.3 miles from Chester.

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

The direct path is about 50.3 miles (80.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:42 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.71 one way or $17.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gaithersburg and Sunny near Chester.

Stop Ideas Near Woodmore

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 Woodmore and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 11.1 mi away

United States Capitol

Washington , DC
First St SE, Washington, DC 20004, United States
Rating 4.6/5 4,243 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical place,Historical landmark,Landmark,Federal government office
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 10.6 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
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
Meeting point 11.2 mi away

THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus

Washington , DC
1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020
Rating 4.7/5 64 reviews Recreation center,City Hall
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 7.1 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 Woodmore.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

6 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Washington Union Station

18 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Union Station

26 mi away
110 Callahan Drive
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

31 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gaithersburg and Chester. Straight-line distance: 50.29 mi (80.93 km).

Gaithersburg

#1 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Chester

Chester is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.9753900, -76.2894000
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Gaithersburg (-77.20137, 39.14344)
End: Chester (-76.2894, 38.97539)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 101 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.21 gal
8.35 L · about $8.71
Round trip
$17.43
4.42 gal · 16.7 L
Estimated CO2
19.6 kg one way
Round trip: 39.3 kg / 87 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.94 $8.71 $17.43
Mid-grade $4.56 $10.08 $20.16
Premium $4.88 $10.79 $21.57
Diesel $6.29 $13.91 $27.82

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 · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Gaithersburg and Chester. The current time is 14:48:04.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.