How far is Gaithersburg, MD from Lake Shore, MD?

The driving distance from Gaithersburg, MD to Lake Shore, MD is about 49.6 miles (79.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 14m 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
49.58 mi
01h 07m
Flight
38.48 mi
61.93 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
38.48 mi
Kilometers
61.93 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.58 mi
Kilometers
79.79 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Shore
Thu, Apr 16, 12:47 AM EDT
Return by in Gaithersburg
Thu, Apr 16, 1:55 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gaithersburg
2026-04-15T23:40
Arrive Lake Shore
Thu, Apr 16, 12:47 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:16 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
North Laurel
MD

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

From Gaithersburg
24.7 mi
00h 33m
To Lake Shore
24.8 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 10:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SW
Destination
91°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 10:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg and Lake Shore.

  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

    8.4 mi · 10 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie

    1 km · 53 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    12 mi · 16 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Arundel Expressway

    1653 ft · 26 sec · Arundel Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Mountain Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Mountain Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mountain Road

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Intercounty Connector
15.9 mi · 32%
MD 100 East
12.6 mi · 25%
MD 198 West
9.71 mi · 20%
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
4 mi · 8%
MD 198
1.51 mi · 3%
Mountain Road
1.47 mi · 3%
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 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.1 mi
38.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Laurel
00h 33m from Gaithersburg
Leave By
4:16 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gaithersburg and Sunny near Lake Shore.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gaithersburg to Lake Shore?

The road trip is about 49.6 miles (79.8 km) and usually takes 01h 07m 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?

North Laurel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.7 miles from Gaithersburg and 24.8 miles from Lake Shore.

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

The direct path is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.1 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 4:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.15 one way or $14.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gaithersburg and Sunny near Lake Shore.

Stop Ideas Near North Laurel

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

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

RAIL

BWI Rail Station

16 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

New Carrollton station

21 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Rockville station

25 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

Washington Union Station

29 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gaithersburg and Lake Shore. Straight-line distance: 38.48 mi (61.93 km).

Gaithersburg

#1 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Lake Shore

#2 Lake Shore

City in Cass County, Minnesota, United States of America

Population19,477
Coordinates39.1070500, -76.4849600
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Start: Gaithersburg (-77.20137, 39.14344)
End: Lake Shore (-76.48496, 39.10705)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.75 gal
6.62 L · about $7.15
Round trip
$14.30
3.5 gal · 13.24 L
Estimated CO2
15.6 kg one way
Round trip: 31.1 kg / 69 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $7.15 $14.30
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.05 $16.10
Premium $4.95 $8.67 $17.34
Diesel $5.98 $10.47 $20.93

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Gaithersburg and Lake Shore. The current time is 23:40:12.

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.