Origin
Fairland, MD
Late night in Fairland on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairland, 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
23m
Distance
12.2 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairland, MD
Jonathan Borba
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 12.2-mile drive from Fairland, MD to Bethesda, MD is a quick 23-minute trip that stays within the Northeast region of Maryland. It's definitely a one-day affair, with a minimal fuel cost estimated at just $2. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Columbia Pike and Jones Bridge Road, with no highway driving involved. Given its short distance and turn-heavy profile, it's best suited for a straightforward commute or a quick errand rather than an extended road trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Capital Beltway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Colesville Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fairland Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 4.1 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairland, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on Fairland Road
175 ft
·
30 sec
·
Fairland Road
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on Fairland Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Fairland Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 29
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Columbia Pike
4
Continue on US 29
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Colesville Road
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 495 West: Bethesda, Northern Virginia
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 495
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto MD 185
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
13
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
14
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
15
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
16
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
17
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Fairland Road
Continue onto Fairland Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Bethesda, Northern Virginia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 495 West: Bethesda, Northern Virginia
8
8.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
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 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South,...
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
Jones Bridge Road
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.02 one way
$4.05 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.22 | $4.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.37 | $4.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.69 | $5.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.28 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
3:29 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
1 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
23m 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 on this route, with a 0% highway share. The road's personality is that of a connected urban and suburban network. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be about 4.1 miles along Columbia Pike before you'll encounter more turns and intersections. The drive progresses through various local thoroughfares, offering a feel for the immediate Maryland landscape without the high speeds of interstate travel.
Only 0% 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: 4.1 mi on Columbia Pike.
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 early in the drive near Fairland Road.
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 13 decision points packed into just 12.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Fairland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Fairland, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Northern Virginia and Chevy Chase.
Northern Virginia
5.4 mi in
|
~10m
Chevy Chase
8.7 mi in
|
~14m
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 23m. Total distance: 12.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m 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 4.1 miles on Columbia Pike. 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: near the start (Fairland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 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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