Origin
North Beach, MD
Late night in North Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Beach, 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 14m
Distance
47 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Beach, MD
David Kanigan
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from North Beach to Bethesda, you are looking at a 47-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes. This trip is best suited as a quick day outing rather than an overnight excursion, allowing you plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Budget roughly $8 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Maryland locations. Since the entire route stays within the Northeast region, you will not experience any drastic changes in climate or terrain. Because this path avoids major highways entirely, it is a straightforward drive for those who prefer local roads over high-speed traffic. Keep in mind that this is a turn-heavy route, so you should be prepared for active navigation throughout your time behind the wheel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 16.5 mi | 21m |
| East Chesapeake Beach Road | 8.4 mi | 13m |
| Largo Road | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Stephanie Roper Highway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Southern Maryland Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Landover Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 16.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Beach, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on Bay Avenue
419 ft
·
25 sec
·
Bay Avenue
2
Turn left onto MD 261
348 ft
·
19 sec
·
7th Street
3
Turn left onto MD 261
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Chesapeake Avenue
4
Continue on MD 261
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
5
Turn right onto MD 260
8.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Chesapeake Beach Road
6
Take the ramp onto MD 260
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
MD 260
Toward Maryland 4, Prince Frederick, Washington
7
Merge onto MD 4
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on MD 4
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto MD 717
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Water Street
11
Turn right onto MD 725
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto MD 202
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Largo Road
13
Continue on MD 202
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Landover Road
14
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: College Park, Baltimore
15
Merge onto I 95; I 495
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto MD 185
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
23
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
24
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
25
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
26
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
27
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 23.5 miles from North Beach, 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 16.3 and 44.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
8
36.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
43.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
44 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
44.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Jones Bridge Road
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.79 one way
$15.58 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.53 | $17.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.12 | $18.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.38 | $20.75 |
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 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
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
Bethesda, MD
Late night in Bethesda on Sunday
Local time
12:17 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 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 14m 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 interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating via 7th Street, Chesapeake Avenue, and Bayside Road, which keep you off the main expressways. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the drive requires your full attention as you transition between local road segments. The personality of this trip is defined by the constant shifts in direction, making it a more engaged experience than a typical highway cruise. Whether you are navigating the initial sections or approaching your final destination, the lack of high-speed lanes means you will maintain a steady, manageable pace throughout the entire 47-mile duration.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 16.3 miles in.
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 47 miles you will encounter 21 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 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.6 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 North Beach, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Maryland 4, Prince Frederick, Washington, Baltimore, Silver Spring and Chevy Chase.
Maryland 4
9.5 mi in
|
~17m
|
via MD 260
Prince Frederick
9.5 mi in
|
~17m
|
via MD 260
Washington
9.5 mi in
|
~17m
|
via MD 260
Baltimore
26.5 mi in
|
~43m
Silver Spring
36.1 mi in
|
~56m
|
via I 495
Chevy Chase
43.6 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 47 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m 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 16.5 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 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 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.6 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 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (4 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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