Origin
Bethesda, MD
Morning in Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
13.3 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Calverton, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Bethesda, MD to Calverton, MD is 13.3 miles and takes about 25m via Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maryland and the Northeast region, making it an easy local excursion. Expect a drive that involves several turns and navigating local roads rather than a continuous highway journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick trip or as part of a larger travel plan.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Powder Mill Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Beltsville Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Calverton, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
Turn left onto MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
Turn left onto MD 185
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto MD 650
Turn right onto Powder Mill Road
At end of road, turn left onto MD 212
Turn left onto Beltsville Drive
Turn left onto Twinlakes Drive
Continue on Lakehouse Road
At end of road, turn left onto Beltsville Road
Turn right onto Bellevue Street
Turn right onto Ingleside Drive
Turn right onto Fullerton Street
Turn left onto Key Street
Turn left onto Dunnington Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 8.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 650 North: White Oak
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.20 one way
$4.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.41 | $4.83 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.58 | $5.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.94 | $5.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.16 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Calverton on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't be spending much time on highways, with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.7 miles on the Capital Beltway. The drive will likely involve navigating through various local streets and intersections as you transition from the Capital Beltway to Powder Mill Road and Jones Bridge Road. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction as you make your way to your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Arlington Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (Arlington Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Edgemoor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Calverton, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 13.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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