About this Location

Facility Overview

The Gaithersburg Quince Orchard Rd. Park & Ride is an essential public transit commuter parking facility situated at 401 Quince Orchard Blvd in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Configured as an open-air, ground-level paved surface lot, the facility offers a straightforward layout with standard single-level perpendicular parking stalls. Because it is completely open without an overhead garage deck or structural height barriers, there are no vertical clearance restrictions, making it exceptionally accommodating for full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, utility vans, and high-profile passenger vehicles, in addition to standard compact and mid-size sedans.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned on the western edge of Gaithersburg near the intersection of Quince Orchard Road (MD 124) and Clopper Road (MD 117), this facility is strategically located within Montgomery County’s bustling I-270 biotech and technology corridor. Prominent landmarks and local attractions in close vicinity include:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Located just across Interstate 270, roughly 1.5 miles away, making this lot a viable staging ground for contractors and government visitors.
Quince Orchard High School & Cougar Dome: Positioned within 0.5 miles along Quince Orchard Road, convenient for community athletics and neighborhood events.
Kentlands & Lakelands Neighborhoods: The vibrant downtown Kentlands commercial district—featuring restaurants, boutique shops, CineBistro, and grocery stores—is located approximately 1.5 miles southwest (a 5-minute drive or short bus connection).
Seneca Creek State Park: Located just 2 miles to the west, providing access to Clopper Lake, hiking trails, picnic shelters, and seasonal disc golf.
Firstfield Road Business Parks: Surrounding corporate offices, biotech research complexes, and medical facilities are within easy walking distance (5 to 10 minutes).

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The lot provides seamless ingress and egress via Quince Orchard Boulevard, which directly ties into MD 124 (Quince Orchard Road) and offers immediate connectivity to Interstate 270 at Exit 10 and Exit 11. Drivers heading south toward Rockville, Bethesda, and Washington, D.C., or northbound toward Germantown and Frederick can quickly merge onto the highway. For transit riders, the lot serves as an active boarding node for Montgomery County Ride On bus routes connecting to the Shady Grove Metro Station (Red Line terminus) and the MARC Brunswick Line train stations at Gaithersburg or Metropolitan Grove, facilitating rapid multi-modal regional commutes.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Lot: Spaciously configured single-level asphalt parking with clearly marked driving aisles.
Zero Overhead Clearance Limits: Unrestricted vertical clearance suited for taller vehicles, roof-box carriers, and commercial work vans.
Complimentary Commuter Parking: State and county park-and-ride service provided free of charge for daily commuters and transit passengers.
ADA Accessible Spaces: Designated handicap-accessible parking stalls located adjacent to bus boarding areas with curb-cut sidewalk ramps.
Overnight Lighting: High-mast pole lighting installed across the lot to support safe early-morning departures and late-evening arrivals.
Direct Transit Stops: On-site bus shelters and informational route signage for Montgomery County Ride On transit connections.

Ideal For

Daily Commuters: Suburban commuters traveling toward Washington, D.C. or Bethesda using Ride On buses to link with the Shady Grove Red Line Metro.
Carpoolers & Vanpoolers: Drivers organizing registered carpools, casual slugging, or corporate vanpools taking advantage of I-270 HOV lanes.
Local Workforce: Employees and contractors working at nearby life science campuses, medical offices, and technology parks along Quince Orchard Boulevard and Firstfield Road.
Park & Event Visitors: Visitors seeking hassle-free staging space before venturing into Seneca Creek State Park or nearby high school sporting events.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Spaces operate on a first-come, first-served basis; while spaces are generally abundant, arriving before 7:45 AM on peak mid-week mornings (Tuesdays through Thursdays) guarantees a parking stall closest to the bus stops. Overnight parking is generally permitted for standard multi-day transit travel, but vehicles must not be left unattended for extended periods or display signs of abandonment. Always check Ride On bus timetables in advance to coordinate your arrival smoothly with departing feeder routes to the Shady Grove Metro.