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 (IATA: BWI) is a 45-minute drive from Gaithersburg. It is also accessible via ICC Bus 201.
Washington Reagan National Airport (IATA: DCA) is a 35-minute drive from Gaithersburg and is accessible via the Metrorail.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD) 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 on weekends. Gaithersburg station 📍 is located at 5 S Summit Ave.
By bus
RideOn 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.
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
- Seneca Creek State Park, 11950 Clopper Rd, 39.145°, -77.2564°, +1 301-924 2127. 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.
- {{do
| name=Water Park at Bohrer Park | url=http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/about-gaithersburg/city-facilities/water-park-at-bohrer-park (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=512 S Frederick Ave | lat= 39.132959 | long= -77.196149 | directions=
| phone=+1 301-258-6445 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=Residents: $5.75; non-residents: $10-16
| content=Features a 250-foot water slide.
}}
- Agricultural History Farm Park, 18400 Muncaster Rd, 39.158134°, -77.129853°, +1 301-948-5053.
Festivals and events
- The Montgomery County Fair, 39.145403°, -77.208869°, +1 301-926-3100. June and July. Features Maryland farm and livestock displays, rides, and carnival attractions.
- {{do
| name=Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade | alt= | url=http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/labor-day-parade (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address= Downtown Gaithersburg | lat= 39.140607 | long= -77.193699 | directions=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=September | price=free
| content=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, Gaithersburg City Hall, 31 South Summit Ave, 39.140429°, -77.193646°. May. Features more than 100 nationally known authors and includes book signings, writing workshops, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and food trucks.
Buy
- Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave, 39.153497°, -77.202684°. H&M, Macy's, JC Penney, Bath & Body Works, and more.
- Washingtonian Center, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd, 39.117794°, -77.199971°. 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, 39.118007°, -77.183735°, +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)), 39.114379°, -77.205654°, +1 301-657-0700. Vibrant walkable downtown neighborhood in a suburban setting with numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and green space. 2016-11-11
Eat
- Barking Mad Cafe, 239 Spectrum Ave, +1 240 297-6230. 9AM-3PM, 5-9PM. Hip all-day café/restaurant that feels more Adams Morgan than Gaithersburg. Extremely popular for brunch on weekends. Open kitchen. $10-20 2022-03-11
- Buca di Beppo, 122 Kentlands Blvd, +1 301-947-7346. Italian, family style restaurant. 92 locations nationwide.
- Coastal Flats, 135 Crown Park Ave, +1 301-869-8800. Steak, seafood & pasta.
- Copper Canyon Grill, 100 Boardwalk Pl, +1 240-631-0003. Known for its rotisserie chicken.
- Neal's Bagels, 12141 Darnestown Road, +1 301-216-0070. Excellent homemade bagels and all the other good stuff to go with them.
- New Fortune, 16515 South Frederick Ave (north of I-370, in the Walnut Hill shopping center), +1 301-548-8886. Su-Th 11AM-1AM, F Sa 11AM-2AM; Dim Sum served daily 11AM-3PM. 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, +1 301-963-6895. As the name would suggest, this is way out of the way from downtown Gaithersburg.
- Paladar, 203 Crown Park Ave, +1 301-330-4400. Latin eatery & rum bar.
- Pho Nam, 15942 Shady Grove Rd, +1 240-632-9500. Daily 11AM - 8PM. Small Vietnamese restaurant with excellent pho. under $10
- Red, Hot & Blue, 16811 Crabbs Branch Way, +1 301-948-7333. Memphis pit barbecue. 22 locations nationwide.
- Sardi's, 430 N Frederick Ave, +1 301-977-3222. Peruvian chicken.
- Ted's Montana Grill, 105 Ellington Blvd, +1 301-330-0777. Known for its bison burgers.
- Thai Express Restaurant, 351 Kentlands Blvd, +1 301-337-6166. Thai food.
- Tortacos, 9629 Lost Knife Rd, +1 240-632-9423. Family-owned taqueria.
- Vasilis Mediterranean Grill, 353 Main St, +1 240-977-1011. Greek food made from scratch.
- Ziki Japanese Steakhouse, 10009 Fields Rd, +1 301-330-3868. Hibatchi tables and sushi
- Yuraku Japanese Restaurant, 19773 Frederick Rd, +1 301-515-7448. Excellent sushi and Japanese cuisine 2019-07-01
Drink
- Dogfish Head Ale House, 800 West Diamond Ave, 39.141916°, -77.216960°, +1 301-963-4847. 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. 2017-08-02
- iRock Karaoke Lounge, 15964 Shady Grove Rd, 39.118007°, -77.184856°, +1 301-355-6177. Private karaoke rooms. Beer, sake, and Asian food. 2017-08-02
- Old Town Pour House, 212 Ellington Blvd, 39.114578°, -77.204989°, +1 301-963-6281. 90+ craft brews. 2017-08-02
- Peppers Taco & Wine Bar, 216 Market St W, 39.121713°, -77.235294°, +1 301-888-1049. More than 90 craft brews. 2017-08-02
- {{drink
| name=Shishababa's House of Hookah | url=http://www.shishababa.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=8600 Zetts Ave | lat=39.120703 | long=-77.178041 | directions=
| phone=+1 301-820-8200 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| lastedit=2017-08-02
| content=
}}
- {{drink
| name=Union Jack's British Pub | url=http://www.unionjacksrio.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=9811 Washingtonian Blvd | lat=39.115446 | long=-77.196959 | directions=
| phone=+1 240-780-7139 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| lastedit=2017-08-02
| content=Billiards, darts, and live music.
}}
- {{drink
| name=Greene Growlers | alt= | url=http://www.greenegrowlers.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=227 E. Diamond Ave | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1 240-261-6196 | tollfree=
| hours= | price=
| lastedit=2018-04-03
| content=Restaurant, craft brewery and whiskey bar in Olde Town. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
}}
Sleep
- Comfort Inn Shady Grove - Gaithersburg - Rockville, 16216 N Frederick Rd, +1 301-330-0023.
- Courtyard Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center, 204 Boardwalk Place, +1 301-527-9000. 210-rooms.
- Extended Stay America - Washington D.C. - Gaithersburg - South, 201 Professional Dr, +1 301-963-3539.
- Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center, 9751 Washingtonian Blvd, +1 301-590-0044.
- Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg, 620 Perry Pkwy, +1 301-977-8900. Free shuttle service within a 5-mile radius.
- Homewood Suites Gaithersburg, 805 Russell Ave, +1 301-670-0008.
- Hyatt House Gaithersburg, 200 Skidmore Blvd, +1 301-527-6000. From $155 2022-11-07
- Motel 6 Washington DC - Gaithersburg, 497 Quince Orchard Rd, +1 301-977-3311. From $76 2022-11-07
- Residence Inn Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center, 9721 Washingtonian Blvd, +1 301-590-3003.
- SpringHill Suites Gaithersburg, 9715 Washingtonian Blvd, +1 301-987-0900.
- TownePlace Suites Gaithersburg, 212 Perry Pkwy, +1 301-590-2300.
- Tusculum Farm, 4601 Damascus Rd, info@tusculumfarm.com. 2018-08-28
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