Origin
Olney, MD
Late night in Olney on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Olney, 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
27m
Distance
13.5 mi
22 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Olney, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Olney, MD to Bethesda, MD is 13.5 miles and takes about 27 minutes via Connecticut Avenue and Georgia Avenue, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Northeast region of Maryland, connecting two points in Montgomery County. Expect a fairly local feel throughout, with plenty of turns and traffic lights as you navigate through suburban areas. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a quick commute or an easy addition to a larger travel plan.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Avenue | 6.1 mi | 11m |
| Georgia Avenue | 4.9 mi | 9m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Rockville Pike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bethesda Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Connecticut Avenue
— 6.1 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olney, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on 18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD
4.9 mi
·
9 min
·
18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD
Use the left lane.
2
Turn right onto MD 185
6.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
6
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
7
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
8
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
9
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
10
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD / Georgia Avenue
Depart onto 18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD / Georgia Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
MD 185 / Connecticut Avenue
Turn right onto MD 185 / Connecticut Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
10.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Jones Bridge Road
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Arlington Road
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Navigation decision point
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
Bethesda Avenue
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.24 one way
$4.48 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.45 | $4.90 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 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 | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
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
Bethesda, MD
Late night in Bethesda on Sunday
Local time
3:42 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 warmer 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. You'll be navigating primarily through local roads like Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue, and Jones Bridge Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 6.1 miles on Connecticut Avenue. Be prepared for frequent intersections and traffic signals, as this is not a high-speed, open-road experience but rather a more engaged, stop-and-go journey through populated areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.1 mi on Connecticut Avenue.
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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD / Georgia Avenue.
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 13.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 (18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD / Georgia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (MD 185 / Connecticut Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (Jones Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bethesda, MD
Full guide →Bethesda is in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1½ miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Wealthy and well-educated, Bethesda is best known for its numerous restaurants and as the headquarters of the National Institutes of Health.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 13.5 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.
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 6.1 miles on Connecticut Avenue. 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 (18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD / Georgia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (MD 185 / Connecticut Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (Jones Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Monocacy National Battlefield and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 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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