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Trip from Bowie, MD to Chevy Chase, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

36m

Distance

24.5 mi

39 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Bowie, MD

Wikimedia Commons

group of communities in Montgomery County, Maryland that straddles the northwest border of Washington, D.C., United States

Chevy Chase, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling the 24.5 miles from Bowie to Chevy Chase is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 36 minutes. Because this trip is entirely contained within Maryland, you will spend your time navigating the transition from the Northeast region toward the suburban corridors near the capital. It is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You can expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the journey, making it a very cost-effective drive. Whether you are heading out for work or visiting friends, the simplicity of this route allows for a quick and predictable transit.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Capital Beltway 14.3 mi 18m
John Hanson Highway 5.6 mi 6m
Collington Road 1 mi 1m
Connecticut Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Jones Bridge Road 0.3 mi 1m
Evergreen Parkway 0.2 mi <1m
Stewart Driveway 0.1 mi <1m
Kensington Parkway 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Capital Beltway — 14.3 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Chevy Chase, 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: Washington Use 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 7B Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 7B Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway Use 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

7.4 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 33 Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

246 ft · 8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase Use the left lane.
13

Turn left onto MD 185

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
14

Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
15

Continue on Jones Bridge Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jones Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
16

Turn left onto Kensington Parkway

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Kensington Parkway
17

Turn right onto Montrose Driveway

520 ft · 27 sec · Montrose Driveway
18

Turn left onto Stewart Driveway

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Stewart Driveway
19

Continue on Montgomery Avenue

444 ft · 19 sec · Montgomery Avenue
20

Continue on Kenilworth Driveway

363 ft · 21 sec · Kenilworth Driveway
21

Turn left onto Clifford Avenue

450 ft · 23 sec · Clifford Avenue
22

Turn right onto Hutch Place

133 ft · 5 sec · Hutch Place
23

Arrive at destination

Hutch Place

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.3 and 23.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
7.3 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 7B Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silv...
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
22.6 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase

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 33 Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
23.1 mi into trip | ~31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South,...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.06 one way

$8.12 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.45 $8.90
premium $4.93 $4.75 $9.50
diesel $5.61 $5.41 $10.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.4 0 $2.57 $1.18
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.14 $0.98
EV Truck/SUV 9.8 0 $3.43 $1.57

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Bowie, MD

Late night in Bowie on Tuesday

Local time

5:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chevy Chase, MD

Late night in Chevy Chase on Tuesday

Local time

5:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

36m 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 trip is characterized by a 100% highway share, relying on a mix of the John Hanson Highway, Collington Road, and the Capital Beltway. You will settle into a rhythm on the Capital Beltway, which accounts for the longest stretch of your drive at 14.3 miles. Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition between these major arteries, requiring your full attention during interchanges. While the route is fast-paced, the constant need for navigation through these specific roads defines the personality of the experience. It is a functional, high-speed connection that prioritizes efficiency over leisurely cruising.

Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.3 mi on Capital Beltway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 19 decision points packed into just 24.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.

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 Bowie, MD to Chevy Chase, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.

Silver Spring

7.3 mi in | ~10m

About the Cities

Starting in Bowie, MD

Full guide →

Founded 1882

Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Top landmarks

  • • Belair Mansion — mansion located in Collington, Maryland, United States of America
  • • Bowie Railroad Buildings — railway building and museum in Bowie, Maryland, USA

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 24.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 14.3 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Chevy Chase, 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 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chevy Chase, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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