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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Baden, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

33.2 mi

53 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Bethesda, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Baden, MD, MD

Baden, MD

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

This 33.2-mile drive from Bethesda, MD to Baden, MD is a straightforward, single-day trip, easily completed in about 1 hour and 3 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Branch Avenue and Brandywine Road, with a small highway share of 8%. Given its short duration and local road focus, it's ideal for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay. This journey offers a simple, direct path through the Northeast region of Maryland.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Branch Avenue 11.1 mi 15m
Brandywine Road 6.7 mi 11m
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest 3.9 mi 11m
Little Falls Parkway 1.4 mi 2m
Marion Barry Avenue Southeast 1.2 mi 2m
Southeast Freeway 1.2 mi 1m
Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest 0.7 mi 1m
Massachusetts Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Branch Avenue — 11.1 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Baden, MD.

1

Start on this road

44 ft · 5 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue

510 ft · 21 sec · Bethesda Avenue
3

Turn right onto Arlington Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Arlington Road
4

At end of road, turn left onto Little Falls Parkway

1.4 mi · 2 min · Little Falls Parkway
Use the straight / left lanes.
5

At end of road, turn left onto MD 396

0.7 mi · 1 min · Massachusetts Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
6

Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

340 ft · 5 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
7

Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

1.1 mi · 2 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
8

Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

225 ft · 5 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
9

Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

2.6 mi · 7 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
10

Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

272 ft · 4 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
11

Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

486 ft · 19 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
12

Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest

0.1 mi · 16 sec · 22nd Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on 23rd Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 50 sec · 23rd Street Northwest
14

Enter roundabout onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
15

Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

0.6 mi · 1 min · Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Use the right lane.
16

Turn right onto 17th Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 51 sec · 17th Street Northwest
17

Continue on 17th Street Southwest

0.3 mi · 40 sec · 17th Street Southwest
18

Turn straight onto Independence Avenue Southwest

293 ft · 9 sec · Independence Avenue Southwest
19

Continue on Independence Avenue Southwest

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Independence Avenue Southwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Maine Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Maine Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 52 sec
Toward I 395 North
23

Merge onto I 395

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Southwest Freeway
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 695

1.2 mi · 1 min · Southeast Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 1С Toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
26

Turn right onto 11th Street Southeast

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 11th Street Southeast
Use the right lane.
27

Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
28

Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

1.2 mi · 2 min · Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
29

Turn right onto Naylor Road Southeast

0.7 mi · 1 min · Naylor Road Southeast
Use the right lane.
30

At end of road, turn left onto Southern Avenue Southeast

204 ft · 6 sec · Southern Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
31

Continue on MD 637

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Naylor Road
32

Enter roundabout onto MD 637

104 ft · 2 sec · Naylor Road
33

Continue on MD 637

386 ft · 11 sec · Naylor Road
34

Enter roundabout onto MD 637

112 ft · 2 sec · Naylor Road
35

Continue on MD 637

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Naylor Road
36

Merge onto MD 5

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Branch Avenue
Use the right lane.
37

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 5

11 mi · 14 min · Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
38

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 40 sec
Use the slight right lane.
39

Turn left onto Spine Road

494 ft · 14 sec · Spine Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
40

Turn right onto Brandywine Road

6.7 mi · 11 min · Brandywine Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
41

Arrive at destination

MD 381

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Seat Pleasant, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Seat Pleasant, MD

17 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Dunkirk Town Center, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Forestville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.6 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 31

5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 14.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
2 mi into trip | ~4m in | MD 396 / Massachusetts Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto MD 396 / Massachusetts Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.
7
9.1 mi into trip | ~22m in | Maine Avenue Southwest

Keep slight right at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.4 mi into trip | ~22m in | Maine Avenue Southwest

Keep slight left at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
11.3 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1С Toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Bouleva...
7
14.4 mi into trip | ~33m in | Southern Avenue Southeast

At end of road, turn left onto Southern Avenue Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.50 one way

$11.01 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.03 $12.06
premium $4.93 $6.44 $12.88
diesel $5.61 $7.33 $14.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10 0 $3.49 $1.59
Efficient EV 8.3 0 $2.91 $1.33
EV Truck/SUV 13.3 0 $4.65 $2.12

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Bethesda, MD

Late night in Bethesda on Sunday

Local time

1:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Baden, MD

Late night in Baden on Sunday

Local time

1:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 3m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a high-speed highway experience. Only 8% of the journey involves highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time navigating local streets and roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.1 miles on Branch Avenue. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be making frequent turns and adjustments, keeping you engaged behind the wheel as you transition through various local landscapes within Maryland.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.1 mi on Branch Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near MD 396 / Massachusetts Avenue.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.2 miles you will encounter 31 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (MD 396 / Massachusetts Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Baden, MD, road signs begin pointing toward 11Th Street Southeast along the way.

11Th Street Southeast

11.3 mi in | ~26m

About the Cities

Starting in Bethesda, MD

Full guide →

Bethesda is in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1½ miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Wealthy and well-educated, Bethesda is best known for its numerous restaurants and as the headquarters of the National Institutes of Health.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 33.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 11.1 miles on Branch Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Baden, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (MD 396 / Massachusetts Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Baden, MD before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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