Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
14.2 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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.
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Brentwood, MD
RDNE Stock project
This 14.2-mile drive from Bowie to Brentwood in Maryland is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 21 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate via the John Hanson Highway, Landover Road, and Collington Road. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $2, this route is budget-friendly. The drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local experience, suggesting you'll encounter frequent intersections and traffic signals rather than long, open stretches. Given its short distance and duration, it's an ideal local hop rather than requiring an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 8.6 mi | 10m |
| Landover Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Collington Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Annapolis Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bladensburg Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 38th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 38th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Brentwood, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto MD 197
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 50
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto MD 202
Continue on MD 450
Continue on MD 450
Turn right onto MD 208
Continue on MD 208
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto MD 197 / Collington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward US 50 West: Washington
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 202: Landover Road, Upper Marlboro, Bladensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.35 one way
$4.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.58 | $5.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.75 | $5.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.14 | $6.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in Bowie on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this 14.2-mile journey. While 100% of the route involves highway driving in terms of road types used, the character is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating local thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.6 miles on the John Hanson Highway. As you progress, you’ll transition between these main roads, likely experiencing a mix of traffic lights and moderate speeds, typical of a drive connecting suburban areas. It’s a route that keeps you engaged with frequent directional changes.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MD 197 / Collington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bowie, MD and Brentwood, MD, road signs point toward Upper Marlboro and Bladensburg.
Upper Marlboro
Bladensburg
Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 14.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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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