Origin
Bethesda, MD
Morning in Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 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
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Elkridge, MD
Wikimedia Commons
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.
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Elkridge, 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
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 100
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 1
Turn right onto Old Washington Road
Arrive at destination
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.
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Elkridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.07 one way
$10.15 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Elkridge on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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.
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.
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.
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.
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
New York
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 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.
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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