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Trip from West Elkridge, MD to North 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

43m

Distance

30.5 mi

49 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 40m ★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m

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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Downtown West Elkridge, MD, MD

West Elkridge, MD

Jason Morrison

Downtown North Bethesda, MD, MD

North Bethesda, MD

Kelly

Trip Overview

West Elkridge, MD to North Bethesda, MD is 30.5 miles and takes about 43m via I 95, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and Maryland, making it a straightforward local journey. The drive features a mix of highway and surface roads, offering a practical commute rather than an extended scenic adventure. Given its short distance and reasonable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times without feeling rushed.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 14.8 mi 17m
Capital Beltway 8.2 mi 10m
Washington Boulevard 1.9 mi 3m
Rockville Pike 1.8 mi 3m
Nicholson Lane 0.3 mi 1m
MD 100 0.2 mi <1m
Tudor Lane <0.1 mi <1m
Commonwealth Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 14.8 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Elkridge, MD and North Bethesda, MD.

1

Start on this road

61 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto US 1

1.9 mi · 3 min · Washington Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 55 sec
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto MD 100

0.2 mi · 15 sec · MD 100
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 5A-B Toward I 95: Baltimore, Washington Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 5B Toward I 95 South: Washington Use the slight left lane.
7

Merge onto I 95

15 mi · 17 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
10

Merge onto I 495

8.2 mi · 10 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 37 sec
Exit 34 Toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto MD 355

1.8 mi · 3 min · Rockville Pike
13

Turn left onto Nicholson Lane

0.3 mi · 1 min · Nicholson Lane
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive

347 ft · 17 sec · Commonwealth Drive
15

Turn right onto Tudor Lane

338 ft · 15 sec · Tudor Lane
16

Continue on Tudor Lane

146 ft · 6 sec · Tudor Lane
17

Arrive at destination

Tudor Lane

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 1 / Washington Boulevard

Turn left onto US 1 / Washington Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
9
2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 95: Baltimore, Washington

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 5A-B Toward I 95: Baltimore, Washington
8
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Washington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 5B Toward I 95 South: Washington
8
18.2 mi into trip | ~23m 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...
8
27.8 mi into trip | ~37m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.06 one way

$10.11 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $5.54 $11.08
premium $4.93 $5.92 $11.83
diesel $5.61 $6.73 $13.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.2 0 $3.20 $1.46
Efficient EV 7.6 0 $2.67 $1.22
EV Truck/SUV 12.2 0 $4.27 $1.95

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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

West Elkridge, MD

Morning in West Elkridge on Sunday

Local time

7:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Bethesda, MD

Morning in North Bethesda on Sunday

Local time

7:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°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

43m 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 presents a mixed profile, with about 49% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on major routes like I 95 and the Capital Beltway, which are designed for faster travel. The longest continuous segment on a highway is 14.8 miles on I 95, providing a period of consistent speed. As you approach your destination, the drive will likely transition to more local roads, requiring adjustments to your speed and attention.

49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.8 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1 / Washington Boulevard.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 30.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1 / Washington Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between West Elkridge, MD and North Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Washington, Bethesda, College Park and Rockville.

Washington

2.4 mi in | ~4m

Bethesda

18.2 mi in | ~23m

College Park

18.2 mi in | ~23m

Rockville

27.8 mi in | ~37m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 30.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 14.8 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 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: near the start (US 1 / Washington Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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