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Trip from North Bethesda, MD to Arbutus, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

47m

Distance

32.4 mi

52 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown North Bethesda, MD, MD

North Bethesda, MD

Kelly

census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

Arbutus, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trip from North Bethesda to Arbutus, you are looking at a straightforward 32.4-mile journey. Under typical conditions, the drive takes about 47 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a simple day trip. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major thoroughfares, including Randolph Road, the Intercounty Connector, and I-95. With fuel costs estimated at just $5, this is a highly economical route that requires no overnight stops. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a brief excursion, the proximity of these two Maryland locations makes this a convenient and manageable drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 12.5 mi 14m
Randolph Road 6.6 mi 11m
Intercounty Connector 5.2 mi 6m
New Hampshire Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Hilltop Circle 0.5 mi 2m
Metropolitan Boulevard 0.4 mi <1m
UMBC Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Josiah Henson Parkway 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 12.5 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Bethesda, MD and Arbutus, MD.

1

Start on Tudor Lane

146 ft · 8 sec · Tudor Lane
2

At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane

338 ft · 20 sec · Tudor Lane
3

Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive

347 ft · 20 sec · Commonwealth Drive
4

Turn left onto Nicholson Lane

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Nicholson Lane
5

Turn right onto MD 187

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Old Georgetown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on Towne Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Towne Road
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto Josiah Henson Parkway

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Josiah Henson Parkway
8

Continue on Randolph Road

6.6 mi · 11 min · Randolph Road
9

Turn left onto MD 650

0.9 mi · 1 min · New Hampshire Avenue
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward MD 200 Toll East
11

Merge onto MD 200 Toll

5.2 mi · 6 min · Intercounty Connector
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 19C Toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 39 sec
Toward MD 198: Konterra Drive
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 39 sec
Toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 50 sec
17

Merge onto I 95

12 mi · 14 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec
Exit 47A-B Toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 47B Toward MD 166: Catonsville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20

Merge onto MD 166

0.4 mi · 25 sec · Metropolitan Boulevard
21

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 36 sec
Toward UMBC Campus Use the slight right lane.
22

Turn straight onto UMBC Boulevard

384 ft · 13 sec · UMBC Boulevard
23

Enter roundabout onto UMBC Boulevard

190 ft · 5 sec · UMBC Boulevard
24

Continue on UMBC Boulevard

0.2 mi · 34 sec · UMBC Boulevard
25

Enter roundabout onto Hilltop Circle

116 ft · 3 sec · Hilltop Circle
26

Continue on Hilltop Circle

0.5 mi · 2 min · Hilltop Circle
27

Turn right onto Poplar Avenue

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Poplar Avenue
28

Turn left onto Shelbourne Road

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Shelbourne Road
29

Arrive at destination

Shelbourne Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, Suburb of Washington DC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kemp Mill, MD

16 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

Catonsville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laurel, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from North Bethesda, 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 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 30 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road

Turn right onto MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
13.9 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville

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 19C Toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
7
15.9 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
8
29.6 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville

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 47A-B Toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshal...
8
30 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 166: Catonsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 47B Toward MD 166: Catonsville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.37 one way

$10.74 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $5.88 $11.77
premium $4.93 $6.28 $12.57
diesel $5.61 $7.15 $14.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.7 0 $3.40 $1.56
Efficient EV 8.1 0 $2.83 $1.30
EV Truck/SUV 13 0 $4.54 $2.07

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

North Bethesda, MD

Late night in North Bethesda on Tuesday

Local time

4:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arbutus, MD

Late night in Arbutus on Tuesday

Local time

4:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

47m 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?

This trip offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from local suburban roads to high-speed interstate travel. You will spend roughly 39% of your time on highways, providing a balanced experience behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 12.5-mile segment on I-95, where you can settle into a steady pace. Because the route shifts between the Intercounty Connector and major interstates, you should stay alert as the road character changes. Expect a blend of standard suburban navigation and a focused highway push that defines the core of this 47-minute transit.

39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.5 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 22 decision points packed into just 32.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between North Bethesda, MD and Arbutus, MD, road signs point toward Burtonsville, Catonsville and Umbc Campus.

Burtonsville

13.9 mi in | ~22m

Catonsville

29.6 mi in | ~41m

Umbc Campus

30.8 mi in | ~42m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.5 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 Arbutus, 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 0.3 miles (MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Arbutus, 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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