Origin
Shady Side, MD
Late night in Shady Side on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shady Side, MD to North Bethesda, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shady Side, MD
Wikimedia Commons
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Trip Overview
This 48.5-mile drive from Shady Side to North Bethesda, Maryland, is a straightforward 1-hour and 3-minute journey. With no highway driving, expect a local feel for the entire trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $8, making it an economical option for a day trip. As you travel within the Northeast region of Maryland, this route is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a simple transit between these two points without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 18.2 mi | 23m |
| Largo Road | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Bay Front Road | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| Stephanie Roper Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Shady Side Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Rockville Pike | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Deale Churchton Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Landover Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 18.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shady Side, MD and North Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on Snug Harbor Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Snug Harbor Road
2
Turn left onto MD 468
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Shady Side Road
3
Turn left onto MD 256
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Deale Churchton Road
4
Enter roundabout onto MD 258
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bay Front Road
5
Continue on MD 258
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Bay Front Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto MD 794
512 ft
·
12 sec
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward MD 4 North: Washington
8
Merge onto MD 4
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto MD 717
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Water Street
11
Turn right onto MD 725
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto MD 202
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Largo Road
13
Continue on MD 202
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Landover Road
14
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: College Park, Baltimore
15
Merge onto I 95; I 495
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 34
Toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto MD 355
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Rockville Pike
19
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicholson Lane
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
347 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commonwealth Drive
21
Turn right onto Tudor Lane
338 ft
·
15 sec
·
Tudor Lane
22
Continue on Tudor Lane
146 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tudor Lane
23
Arrive at destination
Tudor Lane
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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Shady Side, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 11.7 and 47.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the ramp toward MD 4 North: Washington
Navigation decision point
Toward MD 4 North: Washington
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
8
36.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
45.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
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 34
Toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
6
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Nicholson Lane
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.97 one way
$15.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.73 | $17.47 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.33 | $18.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 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 | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
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
North Bethesda, MD
Late night in North Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
16 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 14m 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?
The character of this drive is distinctly turn-heavy and local, with 0% highway share. You'll be navigating primarily on Shady Side Road, Deale Churchton Road, and Bay Front Road. This means you should anticipate frequent turns and a more engaged driving experience as you pass through various local communities. There isn't a significantly long uninterrupted stretch, so keep your attention focused on the road as it winds through the Maryland landscape. The journey maintains its local character from start to finish, offering a consistent driving feel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.1 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 11.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Shady Side, MD and North Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Silver Spring and Rockville.
Baltimore
26.6 mi in
|
~43m
Silver Spring
36.2 mi in
|
~56m
|
via I 495
Rockville
45.4 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 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 North 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 11.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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