Origin
Buckeystown, MD
Morning in Buckeystown on Tuesday
Local time
8:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckeystown, MD to North Bethesda, 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
45m
Distance
29.9 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckeystown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Buckeystown to North Bethesda is a straightforward 29.9-mile journey that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance and short duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day outing. You can expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a budget-friendly commute between these two Maryland locations. The route relies on a combination of Michaels Mill Road, Fingerboard Road, and I-270 South to get you to your destination. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent atmosphere throughout the trip. It is an ideal excursion if you need to move between these areas efficiently without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 16.5 mi | 21m |
| I 270 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Fingerboard Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Michaels Mill Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Josiah Henson Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Montrose Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Old Georgetown Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Towne Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
— 16.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeystown, MD and North Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on MD 85
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Buckeystown Pike
2
Turn left onto Michaels Mill Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Michaels Mill Road
3
Turn left onto MD 80
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Fingerboard Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 80
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Fingerboard Road
5
Enter roundabout
17 ft
·
0 sec
Toward I 270 South
6
Continue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 270 South
7
Merge onto I 270
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 4A
Toward Montrose Road East
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto Montrose Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Montrose Road
11
Continue on Josiah Henson Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Josiah Henson Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn sharp right onto Towne Road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Towne Road
13
Continue on MD 187
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Old Georgetown Road
14
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Nicholson Lane
15
Turn right onto Commonwealth Drive
347 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commonwealth Drive
16
Turn right onto Tudor Lane
338 ft
·
15 sec
·
Tudor Lane
17
Continue on Tudor Lane
146 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tudor Lane
18
Arrive at destination
Tudor Lane
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 29.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Enter roundabout toward I 270 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 270 South
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
26.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Montrose Road East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 4A
Toward Montrose Road East
5
29.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
Towne Road
Turn sharp right onto Towne Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
29.6 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Nicholson Lane
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.96 one way
$9.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.43 | $10.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.80 | $11.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
North Bethesda, MD
Morning in North Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
8:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
45m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the initial segments. While the route eventually connects to I-270 South, you will spend your time navigating local roads like Michaels Mill Road and Fingerboard Road rather than cruising on long highway stretches. With a highway share of 0%, this trip offers a more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a standard interstate trek. The character of the road is defined by its technical nature, keeping you engaged as you transition between local paths. Because there are no designated stops scheduled along the way, you should prepare for a continuous drive from start to finish.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Eisenhower Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 29.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.6 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Buckeystown, MD to North Bethesda, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Montrose Road East along the way.
Montrose Road East
26.8 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 29.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m 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 16.5 miles on Eisenhower Memorial Highway. 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 North Bethesda, 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 4.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.6 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Bethesda, 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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