Origin
Cavetown, MD
Late night in Cavetown on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cavetown, MD to Bethesda, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
59.3 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cavetown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59.3-mile journey from Cavetown, MD to Bethesda, MD is a straightforward, single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes. The route primarily utilizes Mapleville Road and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway before merging onto I-270 South. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $10, this drive is an accessible option for a quick getaway or an efficient commute. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path, it’s perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for ample time at your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Both locations are situated within the Northeast region, making for a cohesive regional exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 22.9 mi | 29m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 18.3 mi | 19m |
| I 270 | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| Mapleville Road | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Rockville Pike | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 70 Exit 53 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
— 22.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cavetown, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on Cavetown Church Road
17 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cavetown Church Road
2
Turn left onto MD 66
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Mapleville Road
3
Enter roundabout onto MD 66
155 ft
·
2 sec
·
Mapleville Road
4
Continue on MD 66
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mapleville Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto I 70
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
7
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 70 Exit 53
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 270
23 mi
·
29 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Toward MD 355 South: Bethesda
Use the slight left lane.
12
Turn straight onto MD 355
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Rockville Pike
13
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
14
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
15
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
16
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
17
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
18
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.7 miles from Cavetown, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 58.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 70 Exit 53
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53 toward I 270 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
47 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
6
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward MD 355 South: Bethesda
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward MD 355 South: Bethesda
5
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
Arlington Road
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.83 one way
$19.66 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.77 | $21.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.50 | $23.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.09 | $26.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.80 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Bethesda, MD
Late night in Bethesda on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
3 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 18m 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' for much of this 59.3-mile route, rather than a monotonous highway experience. While the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I-270 South offer stretches of faster travel, the initial and final segments will likely involve more frequent turns and adjustments. The highway share is 0%, indicating a focus on local and arterial roads. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, suggesting a continuous series of connections rather than long, uninterrupted segments, so keep your attention focused on navigation as the road personality shifts.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 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 23.7 miles in near I 70 Exit 53.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 23.7 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 270): 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.
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 Cavetown, MD to Bethesda, MD, road signs begin pointing toward College Park along the way.
College Park
53.6 mi in
|
~1h 7m
|
via I 270
About the Cities
Arriving in Bethesda, MD
Full guide →Bethesda is in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1½ miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Wealthy and well-educated, Bethesda is best known for its numerous restaurants and as the headquarters of the National Institutes of Health.
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 1h 18m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.9 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 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 23.7 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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