Bethesda, MD to Centreville, MD is 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m via Blue Star Memorial Highway and John Hanson Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Since the drive primarily uses surface roads with no highway segments, expect a more local feel as you travel. It's a straightforward, relatively short drive perfect for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.5 miles from Bethesda, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
27.3 mi
38m
John Hanson Highway
18.7 mi
21m
Capital Beltway
14.4 mi
18m
Centreville Road
2 mi
3m
Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
2m
Wisconsin Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Connecticut Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Edgemoor Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 27.3 mi, about 38m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,323 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~550 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 33 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Centreville, MD.
1
Start on this road
44 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft·24 sec·Bethesda Avenue
3
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi·55 sec·Arlington Road
4
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
0.3 mi·51 sec·Edgemoor Lane
5
Turn left onto MD 355
0.7 mi·1 min·Wisconsin Avenue
6
Continue on MD 355
0.1 mi·19 sec·Rockville Pike
7
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Jones Bridge Road
8
Turn left onto MD 185
0.3 mi·39 sec·Connecticut Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver SpringUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·18 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 19AToward US 50 East: AnnapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 50
19 mi·21 min·John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
22 mi·30 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301
5.7 mi·8 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 301 North
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward MD 213 North
16
Turn straight onto MD 213
2.0 mi·3 min·Centreville Road
17
Continue on MD 213
0.2 mi·15 sec·South Commerce Street
18
Turn right onto Kidwell Avenue
227 ft·9 sec·Kidwell Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Kidwell Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 32m duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stay. Consider leaving Bethesda in the late morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic. Since this is a shorter route with no highway segments, you have flexibility with stops; however, plan for potential delays due to traffic lights and local conditions. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, so ensure your tank is full before departing, as dedicated rest areas may be less frequent on surface roads.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.5 miles from Bethesda, MD, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.5 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centreville, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethesda, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethesda, MD
This is one driving day of about 67.1 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Bethesda, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 27.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Arlington Road
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Edgemoor Lane
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
Navigation decision point
7
2.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
5
3.1 mi into trip|~7m in|I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.21 one way
$22.42 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$12.34
$24.68
premium
$5.01
$13.24
$26.48
diesel
$5.60
$14.79
$29.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.05
$3.22
Efficient EV
16.8
0
$5.87
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Bethesda, MD
Late night
in Bethesda on Friday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 4:35PM EDT until September 2 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 4:34PM EDT until September 2 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washingt...
Destination
Centreville, MD
Late night
in Centreville on Friday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 4:35PM EDT until September 2 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 4:34PM EDT until September 2 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washingt...
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 32m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$20
Park Closure: Closures: Detours; Towpath; Points of Interest
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend the entire drive on surface roads, with 0% highway travel. The longest continuous stretch without a turn or significant interruption is 27.3 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Expect to navigate a series of local roads and intersections for the majority of this 67.1-mile trip. This profile suggests frequent changes in speed limits and potential for local traffic.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.3 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Arlington Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 12 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.
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.
Top landmarks
•Robert Llewellyn Wright House — historic house in Bethesda, Maryland
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.3 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. 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 Centreville, 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 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.
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 Centreville, MD before heading back.
