How far is Poolesville, MD from College Park, MD?

The driving distance from Poolesville, MD to College Park, MD is about 36.5 miles (58.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.1 miles (45.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 57m 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
36.46 mi
00h 58m
Flight
28.17 mi
45.33 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Poolesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.17 mi
Kilometers
45.33 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.46 mi
Kilometers
58.67 km
Drive Time
00h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in College Park
Sun, Apr 19, 8:47 AM EDT
Return by in Poolesville
Sun, Apr 19, 9:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Poolesville
2026-04-19T07:48
Arrive College Park
Sun, Apr 19, 8:47 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:32 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Poolesville
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
Rockville
MD

The most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

From Poolesville
16.9 mi
00h 29m
To College Park
19.6 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW
Destination
63°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Poolesville and College Park.

  1. 1

    Start on Elgin Road

    18 m · 5 sec · Elgin Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Fisher Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Fisher Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on White Ferry Crossing

    1336 ft · 27 sec · White Ferry Crossing

  4. 4

    Continue on Whites Ferry Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Whites Ferry Road

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Darnestown Road

    8.3 mi · 16 min · Darnestown Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Darnestown Road

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Darnestown Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West Montgomery Avenue

    2657 ft · 54 sec · West Montgomery Avenue

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight toward I 270 South: Washington

    1719 ft · 44 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  10. 10

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

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Capital Beltway

    7.3 mi · 10 min · Capital Beltway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 650 South: New Hampshire Avenue South, Takoma Park

    1571 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto New Hampshire Avenue

    2137 ft · 56 sec · New Hampshire Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Adelphi Road

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Adelphi Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Campus Drive

    1980 ft · 1 min · Campus Drive

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mowatt Lane

    14 m · 1 sec · Mowatt Lane

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto Mowatt Lane

    2155 ft · 1 min · Mowatt Lane

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Knox Road

    2096 ft · 1 min · Knox Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Knox Road

Car Route Details

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

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Darnestown Road
10.2 mi · 28%
Capital Beltway
7.3 mi · 20%
I 270 South
6.78 mi · 19%
Whites Ferry Road
2.36 mi · 6%
Adelphi Road
2.31 mi · 6%
Fisher Avenue
2.17 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Darnestown Road

Turn straight onto Darnestown Road

8.31 mi · 00h 16m

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
00h 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.4 mi
28.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rockville
00h 29m from Poolesville
Leave By
4:32 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Poolesville and Showers And Thunderstorms near College Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Poolesville to College Park?

The road trip is about 36.5 miles (58.7 km) and usually takes 00h 58m 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?

Rockville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.9 miles from Poolesville and 19.6 miles from College Park.

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

The direct path is about 28.1 miles (45.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.4 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 4:32 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.27 one way or $10.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Poolesville and Showers And Thunderstorms near College Park.

Stop Ideas Near Rockville

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 Rockville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Griffith Park at City Hall
Scenic stop 5 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
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 14 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
The John Wilson Building
Meeting point 14 mi away

The John Wilson Building

Washington , DC
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Rating 4.6/5 21 reviews City government office
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 13.5 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 Rockville.

RAIL

Rockville station

1 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

Washington Union Station

24 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

New Carrollton station

29 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Union Station

32 mi away
110 Callahan Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Poolesville and College Park. Straight-line distance: 28.17 mi (45.33 km).

Poolesville

#1 Poolesville

Town in Maryland, United States

Population5,249
Coordinates39.1459400, -77.4169300
Altitude125
CountryUnited States
College Park

#2 College Park

Public research university in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland

Population32,173
Coordinates38.9806700, -76.9369200
Altitude21
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin Road (-77.416798, 39.145908)
End: Knox Road (-76.936921, 38.980668)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 59 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.29 gal
4.87 L · about $5.27
Round trip
$10.54
2.58 gal · 9.74 L
Estimated CO2
11.5 kg one way
Round trip: 22.9 kg / 50 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.27 $10.54
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.93 $11.87
Premium $4.95 $6.39 $12.78
Diesel $5.98 $7.71 $15.43

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 Poolesville and College Park. The current time is 07:48:20.

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.