Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
24.2 mi
39 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Kingsley, MD
Los Muertos Crew
Bethesda, MD to Kingsley, MD is 24.2 miles and takes about 38m via I 270, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive is largely focused on highway travel, making it an efficient option for getting between these locations. Given its short duration and minimal stop requirement, it's a convenient choice for a quick transit or a short excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 17.9 mi | 24m |
| Clarksburg Road | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Rockville Pike | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Gateway Center Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bethesda Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~6,103 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~397 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Kingsley, 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
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto MD 121
Turn left onto MD 121
At end of road, turn right onto MD 121
Turn right onto Hyattstown Mill Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 21.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 121: Boyds, Clarksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 121 North: Clarksburg, Little Bennett Regional Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$4.28 one way
$8.56 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $4.69 | $9.38 |
| premium | $5.24 | $5.00 | $9.99 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $5.10 | $10.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.54 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Afternoon in Bethesda on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Kingsley on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 74% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 17.9 miles on I 270, offering consistent speed and minimal interruptions. The drive begins on Rockville Pike and transitions to I 270, providing a blend of local access and interstate cruising. Expect a relatively smooth and direct experience, characteristic of a highway-centric path, with the main roads guiding you efficiently.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Clarksburg Road. 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.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 24.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
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 6.6 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
490 ft
Total Descent
359 ft
Highest Point
652 ft
~22.4 mi in
Elevation Range
383 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bethesda, MD and Kingsley, MD, road signs point toward Clarksburg and Little Bennett Regional Park.
Clarksburg
Little Bennett Regional Park
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 24.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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