Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg is a city of 70,000 people (2020) in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Understand

Gaithersburg was settled in 1765 for agricultural purposes. It grew into a town after the opening of a stop on the B&O Railroad in 1872; however, the area remained predominately rural until the 1970s. It is now famous for being the site of the headquarters of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Get in

By plane

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI IATA) is a 45-minute drive from Gaithersburg. It is also accessible via ICC Bus 201.

Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA IATA) is a 35-minute drive from Gaithersburg and is accessible via the Metrorail (though this takes more time than driving).

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD IATA) is a 40-minute drive from Gaithersburg but takes significantly longer using public transportation.

By train

MARC offers service to/from Union Station in Washington, D.C. as well as service to/from Rockville, Germantown, Frederick, and Harpers Ferry via its Brunswick line. The schedule is geared towards commuters with relatively few trains during midday and none on weekends. 🌍 Gaithersburg station is located at 5 S Summit Ave and 🌍 Metropolitan Grove station is also in Gaithersburg.

The end of Metrorail's Red Line, Shady Grove Station, is very close to Gaithersburg.

By bus

RideOn Bus operates service between Gaithersburg and other locations in Montgomery County, including Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton.

By carMe

From D.C. and the south or west take the Capital Beltway (I-495) to Interstate 270 North. Exits 8, 9, 10, and 11 serve Gaithersburg.

Get around

By car

A car is best used to get around the city. The local public bus system, RideOn Bus, can be used if traveling along major routes.

See

Do

Parks

Festivals and events
  • 🌍 The Montgomery County Fair, ☏ +1 301-926-3100. June and July. Features Maryland farm and livestock displays, rides, and carnival attractions. 
  • 🌍 Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade, Downtown Gaithersburg. September. Fire trucks, bands, ethnic dance groups, antique cars, and giant ballons. Free parking in the Olde Towne garage, located at corner of Olde Towne and South Summit Avenues. free. 
  • 🌍 Gaithersburg Book Festival, Gaithersburg City Hall, 31 South Summit Ave. May. Features more than 100 nationally known authors and includes book signings, writing workshops, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and food trucks. 

Buy
  • 🌍 Washingtonian Center, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd. Outdoor shopping center with restaurants. Includes Target, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's, and more. Can rent paddleboats on the lake during warm weather. 
  • 🌍 Wonderbook, 15976 Shady Grove Rd, ☏ +1 301-977-9166. 10AM-7PM. Used books, DVDs, video games, CDs, and large collection of used records for sale. 
  • 🌍 Downtown Crown, Sam Eig Highway at Fields Road (off I-270 (exit 8 Fields Rd)), ☏ +1 301-657-0700. Vibrant walkable downtown neighborhood in a suburban setting with numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and green space. (updated Nov 2016)

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Go next
Routes through Gaithersburg
Frederick ← Germantown ←  W  E  → Rockville → Washington, D.C.
END ←  N  S  → Rockville → East End, Washington
Martinsburg ← Germantown ←  NW  SE  → Rockville → Washington, D.C.


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