Bowie, MD to Braddock Heights, MD is 62.7 miles and takes about 1h 24m via I 270 and Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maryland and the Northeast region, offering a relatively straightforward trip between two points. It's a good option if you're looking for a short, manageable drive with a significant portion on major highways. You'll spend over half the trip on interstates, making it a quick commute rather than a leisurely exploration. Consider this route for its efficiency and minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 270
31.8 mi
40m
Capital Beltway
16.4 mi
21m
John Hanson Highway
5.6 mi
6m
I 70
3.5 mi
3m
Old National Pike
1.2 mi
2m
Collington Road
1 mi
1m
Maryland Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 270
— 31.8 mi, about 40m
Traffic on I-270
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~6,085 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~400 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Braddock Heights, MD.
1
Start on this road
110 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right
259 ft·20 sec
3
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi·33 sec·Evergreen Parkway
4
At end of road, turn left onto MD 197
1.0 mi·1 min·Collington Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 50 West: WashingtonUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto US 50
5.6 mi·6 min·John Hanson Highway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 7BToward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 7BToward I 495 North, I 95 North: BeltwayUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 95; I 495
6.9 mi·8 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
9.5 mi·12 min·Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver SpringUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
3.6 mi·4 min·I 270
Exit 35Toward I 270 North: FrederickUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
28 mi·35 min·I 270
Toward I 270 NorthUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Exit 32Toward I 70: Hagerstown, BaltimoreUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 70 West: HagerstownUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 70
3.5 mi·3 min·I 70
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 49Toward US 40 Alternate: Braddock Heights, MiddletownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto US 40 ALT
1.2 mi·2 min·Old National Pike
18
Turn left onto Maryland Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Maryland Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto Schley Avenue
221 ft·11 sec·Schley Avenue
20
Turn right
62 ft·6 sec
21
Turn right
165 ft·12 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Bowie, 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.7 and 60.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
7.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
8
15.2 mi into trip|~21m in|I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
24.7 mi into trip|~33m in|I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
8
56.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32
Toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
8
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 40 Alternate: Braddock Heights, Middletown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward US 40 Alternate: Braddock Heights, Middl...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.26 one way
$20.52 round trip
$4.16/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.76
$11.75
$23.50
premium
$5.07
$12.51
$25.03
diesel
$6.34
$15.64
$31.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.8
0
$6.58
$3.01
Efficient EV
15.7
0
$5.49
$2.51
EV Truck/SUV
25.1
0
$8.78
$4.01
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Bowie, MD
Afternoon
in Bowie on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 14 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 16 at 6:16PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 4:42PM EDT until October 18 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Braddock Heights, MD
Afternoon
in Braddock Heights on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 15 to 18 mph49% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 16 at 6:16PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 4:42PM EDT until October 18 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 57% highway, featuring a longest stretch of 31.8 miles on I 270. You'll encounter mixed highway and surface road driving, so expect transitions between faster interstate speeds and more local road conditions. The extensive highway portion means you'll experience merging and higher speeds for a substantial part of the drive. Pay attention as you move from the interstate sections to the surface roads, as traffic patterns and speed limits will change.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on I 270.
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 7.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.7 miles you will encounter 19 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 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.7 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
925 ft115 ft
Total Climb
1,164 ft
Total Descent
366 ft
Highest Point
925 ft
~62.7 mi in
Elevation Range
810 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bowie, MD and Braddock Heights, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Baltimore.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 62.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). 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 31.8 miles on I 270. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Braddock Heights, 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 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.7 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield (5 total within detour distance). 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 Braddock Heights, MD before heading back.
