Origin
Essex, MD
Late night in Essex on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Essex, MD to North 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 6m
Distance
46.9 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Essex to North Bethesda, you are looking at a 47.6-mile trek across Maryland. This trip typically takes about 57 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of Eastern Boulevard, Eastern Avenue, and I-95 South to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, this drive is highly economical for a quick transition between the two areas. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the journey. It is a practical route for anyone needing to move efficiently between these Maryland points without the need for complex planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 30.7 mi | 37m |
| Capital Beltway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Rockville Pike | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Nicholson Lane | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Tudor Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Commonwealth Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 30.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and North Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on this road
359 ft
·
31 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
184 ft
·
15 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
4
Continue on MD 150
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
29 mi
·
34 min
·
I 95
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
10
Merge onto I 495
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 34
Toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto MD 355
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Rockville Pike
13
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicholson Lane
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
347 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commonwealth Drive
15
Turn right onto Tudor Lane
338 ft
·
15 sec
·
Tudor Lane
16
Continue on Tudor Lane
146 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tudor Lane
17
Arrive at destination
Tudor Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Essex, 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 6 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
34.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
6
35.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
8
44.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
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 34
Toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
6
46.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Nicholson Lane
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.78 one way
$15.55 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.52 | $17.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in North Bethesda on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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 6m 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 rather than a monotonous highway cruise. While you will utilize I-95 South, the route is defined more by its local road segments, including Eastern Boulevard and Eastern Avenue, which keep the experience dynamic. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. The path lacks a single long, uninterrupted stretch, so you will be navigating shifting road conditions from start to finish. This profile makes for an active drive that keeps you engaged with the local infrastructure throughout the entire 57-minute duration.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.7 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.9 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 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles: 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 Essex, MD and North Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda, College Park and Rockville.
Bethesda
34.6 mi in
|
~46m
College Park
34.6 mi in
|
~46m
Rockville
44.2 mi in
|
~1h
About the Cities
Starting in Essex, MD
Full guide →Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
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 6m. Total distance: 46.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.7 miles on I 95. 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 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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