Gaithersburg

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).

By plane

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is a 45 minute drive from Gaithersburg. It is also accessible via ICC Bus 201.
Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is a 35 minute drive from Gaithersburg and is accessible via the Metrorail.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a 40 minute drive from Gaithersburg but takes significantly longer using public transportation.

• Montgomery County Airpark

  phone: +1 301 963-7100, +1 877 435-9424
  address: 7940 Airpark Dr
  Serves private planes only.

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 on weekends. is located at 5 S Summit Ave.

By bus

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

By car

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.

By car

A car is best used to get around the city. However, Ride-on-Bus can be used if traveling between popular destinations.

• Gaithersburg Community Museum

  phone: +1 301 258-6160
  address: 9 South Summit Avenue
  In the 1884 B&O Railroad Station complex.

Parks

• Seneca Creek State Park

  phone: +1 301 924 2127
  address: 11950 Clopper Rd
  A 6,300-acre historic park featuring hiking/mountain biking trails, a lake where visitors can rent canoes or paddle boats and go fishing, picnic areas, and hunting for deer and other game. Scenes from the movie The Blair Witch Project were filmed within the park boundaries.

• Water Park at Bohrer Park

  phone: +1 301 258-6445
  address: 512 S Frederick Ave
  Features a 250-foot water slide.

• Agricultural History Farm Park

  phone: +1 301 948-5053
  address: 18400 Muncaster Rd

• Lake Bernard Frank TrailsOver 7 miles of trails.

Festivals and events

• The Montgomery County Fair

  phone: +1 301 926-3100
  Features Maryland farm and livestock displays, rides and carnival attractions.

• Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade

  address: downtown Gaithersburg
  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.

• Gaithersburg Book Festival

  address: Gaithersburg City Hall, 31 South Summit Ave
  Features more than 100 nationally known authors and includes book signings, writing workshops, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and food trucks.

• Lakeforest Mall

  address: 701 Russell Ave
  Sears, Macy's, J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, and more.

• Washingtonian Center

  address: 9811 Washingtonian Blvd
  Target, Barnes & Noble, Pier 1, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's, and more.

• Wonderbook

  phone: +1 301 977-9166
  address: 15976 Shady Grove Rd
  Used books, DVDs, video games, CDs and large collection of used records for sale.

• Downtown Crown

  phone: +1 301 657-0700
  address: Sam Eig Highway at Fields Road
  Vibrant walkable downtown neighborhood in a suburban setting with numerous restaurants, bars, shops and green space.

• Barking Mad Cafe

  phone: +1 240 297-6230
  address: 239 Spectrum Ave
  Open kitchen.

• BoneFish Grill

  phone: +1 240 631-2401
  address: 82 Market St
  A lively seafood restaurant with amazing food and great service. 215 locations nationwide.

• Buca di Beppo

  phone: +1 301 947-7346
  address: 122 Kentlands Blvd
  Italian, family style restaurant. 92 locations nationwide.

• Coastal Flats

  phone: +1 301 869-8800
  address: 135 Crown Park Ave
  Steak, seafood & pasta.

• Copper Canyon Grill

  phone: +1 240 631-0003
  address: 100 Boardwalk Pl
  Known for its rotisserie chicken.

• Famous Dave's Barbecue Restaurant

  phone: +1 240 683-0435
  address: 917 Quince Orchard Rd

• Neal's Bagels

  phone: +1 301 216-0070
  address: 12141 Darnestown Road
  Excellent homemade bagels and all the other good stuff to go with them.

• New Fortune

  phone: +1 301 548-8886
  address: 16515 South Frederick Ave
  One of the best Chinese restaurants in the Washington area, serving Dim Sum along with delicacies like sea cucumber and abalone.

• Outta the Way Cafe

  phone: +1 301 963-6895
  As the name would suggest, this is way out of the way from downtown Gaithersburg.

• Paladar

  phone: +1 301 330-4400
  address: 203 Crown Park Ave
  Latin eatery & rum bar.

• Pho Nam

  phone: +1 240 632-9500
  address: 15942 Shady Grove Rd
  Small Vietnamese restaurant with excellent pho.

• Red, Hot & Blue

  phone: +1 301 948-7333
  address: 16811 Crabbs Branch Way
  Memphis pit barbecue. 22 locations nationwide.

• Sardi's

  phone: +1 301 977-3222
  address: 430 N Frederick Ave
  Peruvian chicken.

• Ted's Montana Grill

  phone: +1 301 330-0777
  address: 105 Ellington Blvd
  Known for its bison burgers.

• Thai Express Restaurant

  phone: +1 301 337-6166
  address: 351 Kentlands Blvd
  Thai food.

• Tortacos

  phone: +1 240 632-9423
  address: 9629 Lost Knife Rd
  Family-owned taqueria.

• Vasilis Mediterranean Grill

  phone: +1 240 977-1011
  address: 353 Main St
  Greek food made from scratch.

• Ziki Japanese Steakhouse

  phone: +1 301 330-3868
  address: 10009 Fields Rd
  Hibatchi tables and sushi

• Yuraku Japanese Restaurant

  phone: +1 301-515-7448
  address: 19773 Frederick Rd
  Excellent sushi and Japanese cuisine

• Dogfish Head Ale House

  phone: +1 301 963-4847
  address: 800 West Diamond Ave
  This bar is popular with the happy hour crowd from the many local biotechnology companies. It features award-winning beer and a wide and varied menu.

• iRock Karaoke Lounge

  phone: +1 301 355-6177
  address: 15964 Shady Grove Rd
  Private karaoke rooms. Beer, sake, and Asian food.

• Old Town Pour House

  phone: +1 301 963-6281
  address: 212 Ellington Blvd
  90+ craft brews.

• Peppers Taco & Wine Bar

  phone: +1 301 888-1049
  address: 216 Market St W
  90+ craft brews.

• Shishababa's House of Hookah

  phone: +1 301 820-8200
  address: 8600 Zetts Ave

• Union Jack's British Pub

  phone: +1 240 780-7139
  address: 9811 Washingtonian Blvd
  Billiards, darts, and live music.

• Greene Growlers

  phone: +1 240 261-6196
  address: 227 E. Diamond Ave.
  Restaurant, craft brewery and whiskey bar in Olde Town. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Comfort Inn Shady Grove - Gaithersburg - Rockville

  phone: +1 301 330-0023
  address: 16216 N Frederick Rd

• Courtyard Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center

  phone: +1 301 527-9000
  address: 204 Boardwalk Place
  210-rooms.

• Extended Stay America - Washington D.C. - Gaithersburg - South

  phone: +1 301 963-3539
  address: 201 Professional Dr

• Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

  phone: +1 301 590-0044
  address: 9751 Washingtonian Blvd

• Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg

  phone: +1 301 977-8900
  address: 620 Perry Pkwy
  Free shuttle service within a 5-mile radius.

• Homewood Suites Gaithersburg

  phone: +1 301 670-0008
  address: 805 Russell Ave

• Hyatt House Gaithersburg

  phone: +1 301 527-6000
  address: 200 Skidmore Blvd

• Motel 6 Washington DC - Gaithersburg

  phone: +1 301 977-3311
  address: 497 Quince Orchard Rd

• Residence Inn Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center

  phone: +1 301 590-3003
  address: 9721 Washingtonian Blvd

• SpringHill Suites Gaithersburg

  phone: +1 301 987-0900
  address: 9715 Washingtonian Blvd

• TownePlace Suites Gaithersburg

  phone: +1 301 590-2300
  address: 212 Perry Pkwy

• Tusculum Farm

  address: 4601 Damascus Rd

• Rockville
• Frederick
• Germantown
• Washington, D.C. About 25 minutes south via Interstate 270 or Metro.