Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from North Bethesda, MD to College Park, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

25m

Distance

13.9 mi

22 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

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 23m ★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown North Bethesda, MD, MD

North Bethesda, MD

Kelly

Downtown College Park, MD, MD

College Park, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip between North Bethesda and College Park, you are looking at a quick 13.9-mile transit across Maryland. Expect to spend about 25 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. Navigating this route involves a mix of Rockville Pike, the Capital Beltway, and Adelphi Road. With a fuel budget of approximately $2, this drive is exceptionally economical for any traveler. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the journey. It is a straightforward, practical connection that avoids the need for extensive travel planning.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Capital Beltway 7.1 mi 9m
Adelphi Road 2.3 mi 4m
Rockville Pike 1.8 mi 3m
Mowatt Lane 0.4 mi 1m
New Hampshire Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Knox Road 0.4 mi 1m
Campus Drive 0.4 mi 1m
Nicholson Lane 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Capital Beltway — 7.1 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Bethesda, MD and College Park, 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 · 17 sec · Commonwealth Drive
4

Turn right onto Nicholson Lane

0.3 mi · 58 sec · Nicholson Lane
5

Turn right onto MD 355

1.8 mi · 3 min · Rockville Pike
Use the right lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Merge onto I 495

7.1 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 28B Toward MD 650 South: New Hampshire Avenue South, Takoma Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn straight onto MD 650

0.4 mi · 55 sec · New Hampshire Avenue
10

Turn left onto Adelphi Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · Adelphi Road
Use the left lane.
11

Turn left onto Campus Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Campus Drive
12

Enter roundabout onto Mowatt Lane

46 ft · 1 sec · Mowatt Lane
13

Continue on Mowatt Lane

0.4 mi · 1 min · Mowatt Lane
14

Turn left onto Knox Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Knox Road
15

Arrive at destination

Knox Road

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.4 — 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 | Tudor Lane

At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane

Navigation decision point

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | MD 355 / Rockville Pike

Turn right onto MD 355 / Rockville Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
8
9.7 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward MD 650 South: New Hampshire Avenue South, Takoma Park

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 28B Toward MD 650 South: New Hampshire Avenue South...
6
10.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | Adelphi Road

Turn left onto Adelphi Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.30 one way

$4.61 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $2.52 $5.05
premium $4.93 $2.70 $5.39
diesel $5.61 $3.07 $6.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.2 0 $1.46 $0.67
Efficient EV 3.5 0 $1.22 $0.56
EV Truck/SUV 5.6 0 $1.95 $0.89

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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 17, 2026

Origin

North Bethesda, MD

Evening in North Bethesda on Sunday

Local time

5:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

College Park, MD

Evening in College Park on Sunday

Local time

5:52 PM

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

2 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

25m 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 that keeps you engaged rather than offering a monotonous highway grind. While you will spend a portion of your time on the Capital Beltway—including the longest stretch of 7.1 miles—the route maintains a 0% highway share for the total duration, emphasizing its local road personality. You will transition between major arteries and local streets, requiring you to remain alert for frequent changes in road type. The character of the drive shifts from the busier, more commercialized feel of Rockville Pike to the more localized flow of Adelphi Road. It is a functional path that favors utility over scenic interstate cruising.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.1 mi on Capital Beltway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Tudor Lane.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Tudor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MD 355 / Rockville Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

379 ft 72 ft

Total Climb

267 ft

Total Descent

574 ft

Highest Point

379 ft

~0.6 mi in

Elevation Range

307 ft

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 College Park, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Takoma Park.

Silver Spring

2.3 mi in | ~5m

Takoma Park

9.7 mi in | ~15m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 13.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 7.1 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 (Tudor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MD 355 / Rockville Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: 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 College Park, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From College Park, MD

Frostburg, MD 143.5 mi · 2h 56m Cumberland, MD 133.7 mi · 2h 39m Salisbury, MD 112.1 mi · 2h 40m South Bel Air, MD 59.6 mi · 1h 21m

More from North Bethesda, MD

Pittsville, MD 128.9 mi · 3h 1m Aberdeen, MD 69.2 mi · 1h 31m Carney, MD 50.2 mi · 1h 10m Riviera Beach, MD 45 mi · 1h 5m Annapolis, MD 40.5 mi · 54m Brooklyn, MD 39.4 mi · 57m

More trips to College Park, MD

North Bel Air, MD 59.5 mi Perry Hall, MD 46.8 mi Randallstown, MD 37 mi Severna Park, MD 32.5 mi Green Haven, MD 31.6 mi Baltimore, MD 31.4 mi
Escape planner: North Bethesda, MD Scenic drives in MD

Explore more options from North Bethesda, MD or browse trips ending in College Park, MD.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.