Origin
Bowie, MD
Late night in Bowie on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowie, MD to Wheaton, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
22.4 mi
36 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
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Wheaton, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Bowie to Wheaton, you are looking at a straightforward 22.9-mile transit across Maryland. Expect to spend about 33 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Evergreen Parkway, Collington Road, and US 50 West to complete the journey. With fuel costs estimated at just $4, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute within the Northeast region. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around local traffic patterns. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Maryland communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| John Hanson Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| University Boulevard West | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| Collington Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| University Boulevard East | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Veirs Mill Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 10.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Wheaton, 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
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 29
Toward MD 193: Wheaton, Langley Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
267 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MD 193 West: University Boulevard, Wheaton
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto MD 193
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
University Boulevard East
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on MD 193
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
University Boulevard West
15
Turn left onto MD 586
162 ft
·
16 sec
·
Veirs Mill Road
16
Arrive at destination
MD 586
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 7.3 and 18.8 — 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
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
18.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward MD 193: Wheaton, Langley Park
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 29
Toward MD 193: Wheaton, Langley Park
9
18.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 193 West: University Boulevard, Wheaton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward MD 193 West: University Boulevard, Wheat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.71 one way
$7.43 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.07 | $8.13 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.34 | $8.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.95 | $9.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.43 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Wheaton, MD
Late night in Wheaton on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
15 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
34m 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 defined as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will notice that the highway share is 0%, meaning you won't be dealing with long, monotonous stretches of open road. Instead, your focus will be on navigating local intersections and connecting thoroughfares as you move through the region. Because there are no major highway legs, the pace remains steady and requires your full attention at turns. It lacks a long, uninterrupted stretch, so prepare for a drive that demands consistent engagement with your surroundings.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.2 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 12 decision points packed into just 22.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
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. 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.
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 Wheaton, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Langley Park.
Silver Spring
7.3 mi in
|
~10m
Langley Park
18.6 mi in
|
~25m
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 34m. Total distance: 22.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m 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 10.2 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 Wheaton, 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wheaton, 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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