How far is Gaithersburg, MD from Poolesville, MD?

The driving distance from Gaithersburg, MD to Poolesville, MD is about 14.5 miles (23.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.6 miles (18.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
14.56 mi
00h 26m
Flight
11.55 mi
18.59 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gaithersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.55 mi
Kilometers
18.59 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.56 mi
Kilometers
23.44 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Poolesville
Sun, Apr 19, 8:18 AM EDT
Return by in Gaithersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 8:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gaithersburg
2026-04-19T07:51
Arrive Poolesville
Sun, Apr 19, 8:18 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Gaithersburg
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Darnestown
MD

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

From Gaithersburg
7.3 mi
00h 13m
To Poolesville
7.3 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Diamond Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Quince Orchard Road

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Quince Orchard Road

  6. 6

    Turn slight right

    47 m · 6 sec

  7. 7

    Turn slight right onto Darnestown Road

    5.8 mi · 11 min · Darnestown Road

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Whites Ferry Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Whites Ferry Road

  9. 9

    Continue on White Ferry Crossing

    1336 ft · 27 sec · White Ferry Crossing

  10. 10

    Continue on Fisher Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Fisher Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Elgin Road

    18 m · 3 sec · Elgin Road

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Elgin Road

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
82.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Darnestown Road
5.8 mi · 40%
Quince Orchard Road
2.67 mi · 18%
Whites Ferry Road
2.36 mi · 16%
Fisher Avenue
2.17 mi · 15%
West Diamond Avenue
0.89 mi · 6%
Chestnut Street
0.32 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Darnestown Road

Turn slight right onto Darnestown Road

5.8 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
11.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Darnestown
00h 13m from Gaithersburg
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Gaithersburg and Rain Showers near Poolesville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14.5 miles (23.4 km) and usually takes 00h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Darnestown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.3 miles from Gaithersburg and 7.3 miles from Poolesville.

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

The direct path is about 11.6 miles (18.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.12 one way or $4.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Gaithersburg and Rain Showers near Poolesville.

Stop Ideas Near Darnestown

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 Darnestown and the surrounding midpoint area.
Griffith Park at City Hall
Scenic stop 6.4 mi away

Griffith Park at City Hall

Gaithersburg , MD
29 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, United States
Rating 4.6/5 57 reviews Park
Gaithersburg City Hall
Meeting point 6.3 mi away

Gaithersburg City Hall

Gaithersburg , MD
31 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Rating 4.1/5 14 reviews City Hall,City clerk's office,City government office
Herndon Old Town Hall
Scenic stop 10.7 mi away

Herndon Old Town Hall

Herndon , VA
730 Station St, Herndon, VA 20170
Rating 4.5/5 45 reviews Historical landmark
Town Hall Garage
Scenic stop 14 mi away

Town Hall Garage

Leesburg , VA
VA-7 BUS, Leesburg, VA 20176
Rating 3.8/5 6 reviews Parking garage

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Darnestown.

RAIL

Rockville station

13 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

Washington Union Station

34 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Burke Centre

34 mi away
10399 Premier Court
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

36 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gaithersburg and Poolesville. Straight-line distance: 11.55 mi (18.59 km).

Gaithersburg

#1 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

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

#2 Poolesville

Town in Maryland, United States

Population5,249
Coordinates39.1459400, -77.4169300
Altitude125
CountryUnited States
Start: Gaithersburg (-77.20137, 39.14344)
End: Poolesville (-77.41693, 39.14594)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 23 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.95 L · about $2.12
Round trip
$4.25
1.04 gal · 3.9 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.12 $4.25
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.39 $4.78
Premium $4.95 $2.58 $5.15
Diesel $5.98 $3.11 $6.22

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Gaithersburg and Poolesville. The current time is 07:51:18.

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.