Origin
North Bethesda, MD
Late night in North Bethesda on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Bethesda, MD to Riverdale 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
27m
Distance
15.2 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Riverdale Park, MD
JINISH RAJAGOPAL
Trip Overview
North Bethesda, MD to Riverdale Park, MD is 15.2 miles and takes about 27 minutes via Capital Beltway and Adelphi Road, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a quick, local drive within Maryland's Northeast region, connecting two points without venturing onto major interstates for long stretches. Given its short duration and minimal highway share, this route is ideal for a simple, direct trip. You'll experience a more local feel for the majority of the journey. Consider this a straightforward connection between two nearby communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| Adelphi Road | 3.7 mi | 8m |
| Rockville Pike | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East-West Highway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Nicholson Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tudor Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Commonwealth Drive | <0.1 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 Riverdale 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
3.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Adelphi Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto MD 410
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East-West Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn slight left
386 ft
·
15 sec
13
Turn left onto 49th Avenue
268 ft
·
16 sec
·
49th Avenue
14
Turn left onto Ravenswood Road
236 ft
·
10 sec
·
Ravenswood Road
15
Arrive at destination
Ravenswood Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 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
$2.52 one way
$5.04 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.76 | $5.52 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.95 | $5.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.36 | $6.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
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.
Destination
Riverdale Park, MD
Late night in Riverdale Park on Sunday
Local time
5:57 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
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
27m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating surface streets for the entire 15.2 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.1 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a brief period of more consistent speed before transitioning back to local roads. Expect a dynamic driving experience with frequent turns and traffic lights as you make your way through suburban Maryland. The drive will likely involve navigating various intersections and local thoroughfares rather than long, straight highway segments.
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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 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
6/10
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 15.2 miles you will encounter 11 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.
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 Bethesda, MD and Riverdale 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 27m. Total distance: 15.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m 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 7.1 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 Riverdale Park, 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 (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 Riverdale 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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