Origin
Arbutus, MD
Evening in Arbutus on Thursday
Local time
6:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arbutus, MD to Wheaton, MD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
42m
Distance
28.8 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arbutus, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Wheaton, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arbutus, MD to Wheaton, MD covers 28.8 miles and takes about 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Intercounty Connector, Randolph Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.7 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 28.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Arbutus, MD to Wheaton, MD covers 28.8 miles and takes about 42m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 2.4 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 28.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward MD 200 Toll West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31B
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
23.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward MD 650: White Oak, Ashton
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 13
Toward MD 650: White Oak, Ashton
6
23.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 650 South: White Oak
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MD 650 South: White Oak
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arbutus, MD to Wheaton, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Ashton along the way.
Ashton
23.3 mi in
|
~30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 14.7 mi | 17m |
| Intercounty Connector | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Randolph Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Georgia Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Shelbourne Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Metropolitan Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Sulphur Spring Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 14.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arbutus, MD and Wheaton, MD.
1
Start on Shelbourne Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Shelbourne Road
2
Turn right onto Sulphur Spring Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sulphur Spring Road
3
Turn right onto Selford Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Selford Road
4
Continue on South Rolling Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Rolling Road
5
Take the ramp
399 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 195 East
6
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
this road
Toward I 195 East
7
Merge onto MD 166
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Metropolitan Boulevard
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 95
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31B
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 13
Toward MD 650: White Oak, Ashton
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
353 ft
·
11 sec
Toward MD 650 South: White Oak
14
Turn left onto MD 650
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
New Hampshire Avenue
15
Turn right onto Randolph Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Randolph Road
Use the right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
169 ft
·
8 sec
17
Turn left onto MD 97
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Georgia Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto MD 193
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
University Boulevard West
19
Turn left onto MD 586
162 ft
·
16 sec
·
Veirs Mill Road
20
Arrive at destination
MD 586
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.77 one way
$9.55 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.23 | $10.46 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.59 | $11.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Wheaton, MD
Evening in Wheaton on Thursday
Local time
6:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
42m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arbutus, MD to Wheaton, MD covers 28.8 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Intercounty Connector, Randolph Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.4 miles from Arbutus, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 28.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Arbutus, MD to Wheaton, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Ashton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield.
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