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Trip from Waldorf, 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 4m

Distance

34 mi

55 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census designated place in Charles County, Maryland, United States

Waldorf, MD

Wikimedia Commons

unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Bethesda, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Waldorf, MD to Bethesda, MD is 34 miles and takes about 1 hour 4 minutes via Indian Head Highway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than a high-speed highway cruise. With a duration under two hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward connection between these two Maryland locations.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Indian Head Highway 11.4 mi 17m
Berry Road 3.9 mi 6m
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest 3.2 mi 9m
Southeast Freeway 2.3 mi 3m
Anacostia Freeway 2.2 mi 3m
McDaniel Road 1.9 mi 3m
Little Falls Parkway 1.4 mi 2m
South Capitol Street 1.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Indian Head Highway — 11.4 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waldorf, MD and Bethesda, MD.

1

Start on Lancaster Circle

0.3 mi · 1 min · Lancaster Circle
2

Turn right onto Smallwood Drive West

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Smallwood Drive West
3

Turn right onto McDaniel Road

1.9 mi · 3 min · McDaniel Road
4

Turn right onto Middletown Road

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Middletown Road
5

Turn left onto MD 228

3.9 mi · 6 min · Berry Road
6

Continue on MD 210

11 mi · 17 min · Indian Head Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on South Capitol Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · South Capitol Street
8

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 295 North: Malcolm X Avenue, Dorothea Dix Avenue, DHS Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 295 North
10

Merge onto I 295

2.2 mi · 3 min · Anacostia Freeway
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 695

2.3 mi · 3 min · Southeast Freeway
Exit 5A Toward I 695: Downtown, Capitol Hill Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12

Continue on I 395

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 4B-A Toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 4B Toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

513 ft · 16 sec
Toward D Street
16

Turn right onto 12th Street Southwest

0.2 mi · 31 sec · 12th Street Southwest
17

Turn left onto Independence Avenue Southwest

0.6 mi · 1 min · Independence Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto 17th Street Southwest

0.3 mi · 40 sec · 17th Street Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Continue on 17th Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 53 sec · 17th Street Northwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
20

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
21

Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 1 min · 22nd Street Northwest
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
22

Turn left onto P Street Northwest

209 ft · 7 sec · P Street Northwest
23

Turn right

521 ft · 19 sec
24

Turn straight onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
25

Turn slight right

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Massachusetts Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on Waterside Drive Northwest

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Waterside Drive Northwest
27

Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

2.1 mi · 5 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
28

Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

213 ft · 5 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
29

Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

1.1 mi · 2 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
30

Enter roundabout onto MD 396

199 ft · 3 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
31

Continue on MD 396

0.7 mi · 1 min · Massachusetts Avenue
32

Turn right onto Little Falls Parkway

1.4 mi · 2 min · Little Falls Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33

Turn right onto Arlington Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Arlington Road
34

Turn left onto Bethesda Avenue

510 ft · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue
35

Turn left

44 ft · 3 sec
36

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital city of the United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, DC

17 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

Chevy Chase, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alexandria, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17 miles from Waldorf, 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 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 19.2 and 24.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
19.2 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 295 North
9
21.5 mi into trip | ~36m in | I 695 / Southeast Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 695 / Southeast Freeway toward I 695: Downtown, Capitol Hill

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 5A Toward I 695: Downtown, Capitol Hill
9
24.1 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown

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 4B-A Toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Nort...
10
24.4 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 4B Toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
6
24.5 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward D Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward D Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.64 one way

$11.27 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.17 $12.35
premium $4.93 $6.59 $13.19
diesel $5.61 $7.51 $15.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.2 0 $3.57 $1.63
Efficient EV 8.5 0 $2.97 $1.36
EV Truck/SUV 13.6 0 $4.76 $2.18

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (67% 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

Waldorf, MD

Late night in Waldorf on Sunday

Local time

12:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bethesda, MD

Late night in Bethesda on Sunday

Local time

12:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Washington, DC

17 mi in

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 4m 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 drive features only 19% on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 11.4 miles on Indian Head Highway. You'll transition from highway driving to more local roads relatively quickly. Be prepared for numerous turns as you navigate through communities and urban areas. This means you'll be encountering more intersections and traffic lights than you would on a pure interstate trip.

Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.4 mi on Indian Head Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 19.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34 miles you will encounter 25 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 19.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.5 miles (I 695 / Southeast Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Waldorf, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Dhs, Capitol Hill, Maine Avenue Southwest, 12Th Street Northwest and Downtown.

Dhs

19.1 mi in | ~32m

Capitol Hill

21.5 mi in | ~36m | via I 695

Maine Avenue Southwest

24.1 mi in | ~40m

12Th Street Northwest

24.1 mi in | ~40m

Downtown

24.1 mi in | ~40m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 34 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m 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 11.4 miles on Indian Head Highway. 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 19.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.5 miles (I 695 / Southeast Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park 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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