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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Riverside, 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 26m

Distance

64.9 mi

104 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

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

Downtown Riverside, MD, MD

Riverside, MD

Sjuan Dogjani

Trip Overview

Bethesda, MD to Riverside, MD is 64.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within Maryland's Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience that's manageable for a single day trip. Given its relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a day excursion without significant planning.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 18.4 mi 21m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 11.6 mi 15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 11 mi 12m
Express Toll Lanes 8.5 mi 9m
Capital Beltway 6.5 mi 8m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Jones Bridge Road 1.1 mi 2m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 18.4 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

18 mi · 21 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto I 895

5.7 mi · 6 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Exit 46 Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on I 895

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
16

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
18

Continue on I 895

3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

8.5 mi · 9 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork

297 ft · 3 sec
21

Merge onto I 95

11 mi · 12 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Exit 80 Toward MD 543: Belcamp Use the slight right lane.
23

Turn right onto MD 543

0.9 mi · 1 min · Riverside Parkway
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto Church Creek Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Church Creek Road
25

Turn right onto Allison Court

290 ft · 14 sec · Allison Court
26

Turn right onto Collier Lane

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Collier Lane
27

Continue on Collier Lane

102 ft · 4 sec · Collier Lane
28

Arrive at destination

Collier Lane

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Baltimore, MD

32 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

Laurel, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Catonsville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.5 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 63 — 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
29.4 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Take the exit onto I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thr...
7
63 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward MD 543: Belcamp

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 80 Toward MD 543: Belcamp

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.76 one way

$21.52 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $11.78 $23.57
premium $4.93 $12.59 $25.17
diesel $5.61 $14.33 $28.66

Estimated Tolls: $0.81

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (11.6 mi) $0.81

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Tolls

$1

Total

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.5 0 $6.81 $3.12
Efficient EV 16.2 0 $5.68 $2.60
EV Truck/SUV 26 0 $9.09 $4.15

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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

Night in Bethesda on Saturday

Local time

10:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, MD

Night in Riverside on Saturday

Local time

10:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°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 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 26m 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?

This drive features a 30% highway share, meaning you'll spend a notable portion of your time on high-speed roads like I 95 and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.4 miles on I 95, providing a good opportunity to maintain a steady pace. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' suggesting transitions between faster highway sections and potentially some local road segments as you approach your destination. You'll likely experience a blend of efficient travel and more varied road conditions.

30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.4 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 20 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 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.

On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Riverside, MD, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.

New York

9.9 mi in | ~16m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (30%). 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 18.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.81 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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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