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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Dundalk, 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

Distance

43 mi

69 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m

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

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Dundalk, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trip from Bethesda to Dundalk, you are looking at a straightforward 43-mile journey that typically takes about one hour. This route is designed as a direct highway-focused drive, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate the Capital Beltway and I-95 before transitioning onto Broening Highway to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, this trip is both affordable and efficient. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region of Maryland, the transition between these two points is seamless and familiar for local drivers. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of local travel, the simplicity of this route allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 28.8 mi 34m
Capital Beltway 6.5 mi 8m
Broening Highway 1.6 mi 3m
Jones Bridge Road 1.1 mi 2m
Keith Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Wisconsin Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Connecticut Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Edgemoor Lane 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 28.8 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Dundalk, 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 Spring Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto I 495

6.5 mi · 8 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 27 Toward I 95 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 2 min
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
13

Merge onto I 95

27 mi · 32 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 95
Use the slight right lane.
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn left onto Keith Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Keith Avenue
17

Keep slight right at fork onto Keith Avenue

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Keith Avenue
18

Turn straight onto Broening Highway

1.6 mi · 3 min · Broening Highway
19

Turn left onto Belclare Road

490 ft · 20 sec · Belclare Road
20

Turn right onto Dundalk Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Dundalk Avenue
21

Continue on Dundalk Avenue

285 ft · 12 sec · Dundalk Avenue
22

Arrive at destination

1 ft · Dundalk Avenue

Where to Stop

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

city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Laurel, MD

22 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

Essex, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laurel, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.5 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.8 — 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

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
7
9.6 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
6
9.9 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
6
37.8 mi into trip | ~50m in | I 95

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.13 one way

$14.26 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $7.81 $15.62
premium $4.93 $8.34 $16.68
diesel $5.61 $9.49 $18.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.9 0 $4.52 $2.06
Efficient EV 10.8 0 $3.76 $1.72
EV Truck/SUV 17.2 0 $6.02 $2.75

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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

12:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dundalk, MD

Late night in Dundalk on Sunday

Local time

12:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°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

3 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

1h 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 trip dominated by high-speed interstate travel, as highway driving accounts for 67% of your total time on the road. The most significant portion of your journey features a 28.8-mile stretch along I-95, which serves as the core of your navigation. While the initial leg involves the heavy traffic patterns of the Capital Beltway, the drive eventually shifts toward the more industrial corridors near Broening Highway as you approach Dundalk. You will find that the road maintains a consistent, fast-paced character throughout the majority of the trip. Because this is a highway-focused route, it emphasizes speed and directness over technical or winding backroads, keeping your focus steady on the flow of traffic.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.8 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway. 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 Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43 miles you will encounter 16 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Bethesda, MD and Dundalk, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and New York.

Silver Spring

2.8 mi in | ~7m

New York

9.9 mi in | ~16m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 28.8 miles on I 95. 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 Dundalk, 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Dundalk, 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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