Origin
Rossville, MD
Late night in Rossville on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rossville, 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
1h 5m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rossville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.3-mile drive from Rossville, MD to Bethesda, MD is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Designed as a single-day journey, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 68% of the travel occurring on major interstates like I-95 and the Capital Beltway, complemented by segments of Pulaski Highway. Expect a fuel cost of around $8 for this journey. Given its proximity within the Northeast region and its manageable length, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a short excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 32.3 mi | 39m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Pulaski Highway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 32.3 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rossville, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on US 40
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Pulaski Highway
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 95 South: Washington
3
Merge onto I 95
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 95
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
29 mi
·
34 min
·
I 95
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
7
Merge onto I 495
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto MD 185
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
14
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
15
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
16
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
17
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
18
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Rossville, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 44.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
36.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
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 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
6
36.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
8
43.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
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 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
44.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.84 one way
$15.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.59 | $17.18 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.17 | $18.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
3:50 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
4 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
1h 5m 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?
You'll find this drive to be predominantly highway-focused, making up 68% of the total mileage. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.3 miles on I-95, so be prepared for sustained interstate travel. While much of the route utilizes high-speed roads like I-95 and the Capital Beltway, you'll also navigate sections of Pulaski Highway, offering a slight variation in the driving experience. The character is largely about efficient travel across Maryland's northeastern corridor.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Rossville, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Chevy Chase.
College Park
36.1 mi in
|
~46m
Chevy Chase
43.9 mi in
|
~57m
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 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 Bethesda, 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 7.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 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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