Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Bowleys Quarters, MD
Jonathan Cooper
North Bethesda, MD to Bowleys Quarters, MD is 52.1 miles and takes about 1h 15m via I 95 and Randolph Road, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and Maryland, making it a straightforward excursion. Expect a mix of highway speeds and surface road cruising, so it's not a route that requires extensive planning. With only one recommended day, this is a perfect option for a quick getaway or a day trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 25.8 mi | 32m |
| Randolph Road | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Intercounty Connector | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Pulaski Highway | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Martin Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Carroll Island Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,885 veh/hr typical · worst 8,088
Quietest
2 AM
~664 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 100 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between North Bethesda, MD and Bowleys Quarters, MD.
Start on Tudor Lane
At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Turn right onto MD 187
Continue on Towne Road
Turn right onto Josiah Henson Parkway
Continue on Randolph Road
Turn left onto MD 650
Take the ramp
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Continue on US 40
Take the exit
Continue on MD 700
Turn straight
Turn straight onto MD 150
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto Carroll Island Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 43 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 40 East: Pulaski Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.71 one way
$17.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $9.58 | $19.16 |
| premium | $5.01 | $10.28 | $20.56 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.48 | $22.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in North Bethesda on Friday
Local time
6:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Bowleys Quarters on Friday
Local time
6:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
About half of this 52.1-mile drive is on highways, specifically I 95. You'll encounter a 25.8-mile stretch on I 95 before transitioning to Randolph Road and the Intercounty Connector. Be prepared for dense exits and merging traffic as you navigate the highway portions, and then a change in pace on the surface roads.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 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 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
154 ft
Total Descent
507 ft
Highest Point
445 ft
~7.4 mi in
Elevation Range
431 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Bethesda, MD to Bowleys Quarters, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Burtonsville along the way.
Burtonsville
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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