Origin
Chevy Chase Village, MD
Morning in Chevy Chase Village on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chevy Chase Village, MD to Bowie, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
25.3 mi
41 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 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chevy Chase Village, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 25.3-mile drive from Chevy Chase Village, MD, to Bowie, MD, is a manageable 37-minute trip, perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate using the Capital Beltway and the John Hanson Highway, with a brief stint on Connecticut Avenue. Given its short duration and modest estimated fuel cost of $4, this route doesn't require an overnight stay. It's a straightforward transit between two points within Maryland's Northeast region, offering a practical way to connect these communities. You'll find it to be a functional drive, ideal for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 14.4 mi | 18m |
| John Hanson Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Collington Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Irving Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 14.4 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chevy Chase Village, MD and Bowie, MD.
1
Start on West Irving Street
501 ft
·
27 sec
·
West Irving Street
2
Turn left onto MD 185
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Connecticut Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 495
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 50
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
John Hanson Highway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 11
Toward MD 197: Bowie
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
273 ft
·
6 sec
Toward MD 197
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto MD 197
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
11
Turn right
259 ft
·
20 sec
12
Turn left
110 ft
·
8 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 24.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
7
23.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward MD 197: Bowie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward MD 197: Bowie
7
24.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 197
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward MD 197
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.19 one way
$8.39 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.59 | $9.19 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.59 | $11.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 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 | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.21 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
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.
Destination
Bowie, MD
Morning in Bowie on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
8 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
37m 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' profile for this journey, despite a highway share of 100%. While you'll be on major roadways, the character suggests frequent transitions. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 14.4 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a period of steady travel. However, the overall experience is shaped by the numerous road changes and connections you'll encounter, making it more engaging than a simple point-to-point interstate cruise. You’ll likely experience a dynamic mix of highway cruising and directional adjustments.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.4 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 25.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.1 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 Chevy Chase Village, MD to Bowie, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
2.5 mi in
|
~6m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 37m. Total distance: 25.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m 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 14.4 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 Bowie, 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 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Bowie, 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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