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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Charlotte Hall, 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 20m

Distance

45.7 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m

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 Charlotte Hall, MD, MD

Charlotte Hall, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Bethesda to Charlotte Hall, expect a straightforward 45.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the modest duration makes an overnight stay unnecessary. You can anticipate a fuel cost of approximately $8, making it a very budget-friendly excursion within Maryland. The path transitions from the urban environment of Bethesda into the more local, turn-heavy settings of Southern Maryland. Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about long-haul logistics.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Branch Avenue 12.6 mi 17m
Leonardtown Road 10.7 mi 15m
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest 3.9 mi 11m
Mattawoman Beantown Road 3.2 mi 4m
Crain Highway 1.9 mi 2m
Little Falls Parkway 1.4 mi 2m
Marion Barry Avenue Southeast 1.2 mi 2m
Southeast Freeway 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Branch Avenue — 12.6 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Charlotte Hall, 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

12 mi · 16 min · Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
38

Merge onto US 301; MD 5

1.9 mi · 2 min · Crain Highway
39

Take the exit onto MD 5

0.3 mi · 39 sec · MD 5
Toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown Use the slight left lane.
40

Merge onto MD 5

3.2 mi · 4 min · Mattawoman Beantown Road
Use the left lane.
41

Turn left onto MD 5

11 mi · 15 min · Leonardtown Road
Use the left lane.
42

Continue on MD 5

1.0 mi · 1 min · Three Notch Road
43

Turn right onto Golden Beach Road

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Golden Beach Road
44

Turn left onto Charlotte Hall Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Charlotte Hall Road
45

Turn left

170 ft · 12 sec
46

Arrive at destination

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

23 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

Washington, DC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Forestville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.9 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 35

5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.
7
29.5 mi into trip | ~56m in | MD 5

Take the exit onto MD 5 toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.58 one way

$15.15 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.30 $16.60
premium $4.93 $8.86 $17.73
diesel $5.61 $10.09 $20.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.7 0 $4.80 $2.19
Efficient EV 11.4 0 $4.00 $1.83
EV Truck/SUV 18.3 0 $6.40 $2.92

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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

12:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Charlotte Hall, MD

Late night in Charlotte Hall on Sunday

Local time

12:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°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

2 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 20m 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 that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 7% of the journey spent on highways, the experience is defined by navigating local roads like Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Branch Avenue, and Leonardtown Road. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 12.6-mile segment on Branch Avenue. As you progress toward Charlotte Hall, the road character shifts from dense metropolitan streets to more consistent local thoroughfares. Keep in mind that this is not a high-speed highway trek, so prepare for a more hands-on driving experience.

Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.6 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 9.1 miles in near Maine Avenue Southwest.

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 45.7 miles you will encounter 35 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 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; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Bethesda, MD and Charlotte Hall, MD, road signs point toward 11Th Street Southeast, Lexington Park and Leonardtown.

11Th Street Southeast

11.3 mi in | ~26m

Lexington Park

29.5 mi in | ~56m | via MD 5

Leonardtown

29.5 mi in | ~56m | via MD 5

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.6 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 Charlotte Hall, 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 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; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlotte Hall, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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