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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Elkridge, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

44m

Distance

30.6 mi

49 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 41m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

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

unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Bethesda, MD

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Elkridge, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 30.6-mile drive from Bethesda, MD to Elkridge, MD is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 44 minutes, making it perfect for a single day. Primarily using I-95 and the Capital Beltway, with a portion on Washington Boulevard, this route offers a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $5, it's an economical choice for a short journey. Since the origin and destination are both within the Northeast region and the drive is so brief, there's no need to consider an overnight stay. This route is ideal for a quick transfer or a short excursion within Maryland.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 15.1 mi 17m
Capital Beltway 6.5 mi 8m
Washington Boulevard 3 mi 5m
Jones Bridge Road 1.1 mi 2m
Wisconsin Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
MD 100 0.4 mi <1m
Connecticut Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Edgemoor Lane 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 15.1 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Elkridge, 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

15 mi · 17 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 53 sec
Exit 43A Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto MD 100

0.4 mi · 29 sec · MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 6B Toward US 1 North: Elkridge Use the right lane.
17

Turn straight onto US 1

3.0 mi · 5 min · Washington Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18

Turn right onto Old Washington Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Old Washington Road
19

Arrive at destination

Old Washington Road

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 27.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
7
26.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 43A Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie
7
27.1 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward US 1 North: Elkridge

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

Use the right lane. Exit 6B Toward US 1 North: Elkridge

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.07 one way

$10.15 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $5.56 $11.11
premium $4.93 $5.93 $11.87
diesel $5.61 $6.76 $13.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.2 0 $3.21 $1.47
Efficient EV 7.7 0 $2.68 $1.22
EV Truck/SUV 12.2 0 $4.28 $1.96

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 21, 2026

Origin

Bethesda, MD

Morning in Bethesda on Tuesday

Local time

6:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elkridge, MD

Morning in Elkridge on Tuesday

Local time

6:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°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 cooler at arrival

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

Road read

44m 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 mixed drive on this route, with about 50% of the journey taking place on major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 15.1 miles on I-95, offering a period of consistent speed. As you transition from the Capital Beltway to Washington Boulevard, you'll notice a change in the road's character, moving from a high-speed interstate environment to a more active arterial road. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and sections with more local traffic and signal lights.

50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.1 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 30.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: 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; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Elkridge, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and New York.

Silver Spring

2.8 mi in | ~7m

New York

9.9 mi in | ~16m

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 44m. Total distance: 30.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.1 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 Elkridge, 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 2.8 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; at 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Elkridge, 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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