Origin
Arlington, MD
Afternoon in Arlington on Friday
Local time
3:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, MD to Bethesda, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
40 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
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.
Arlington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 40 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Capital Beltway, Garrison Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 40 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Arlington, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 40 miles and takes about 1h 3m, 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 28 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 22 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 0.2 miles in near West Belvedere Avenue.
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 40 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.2 miles (West Belvedere Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Belvedere Avenue
Turn right onto West Belvedere Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
28.7 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
29.4 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
36.6 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
37 mi into trip
|
~56m 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,...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arlington, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Chevy Chase.
College Park
28.7 mi in
|
~44m
Chevy Chase
36.6 mi in
|
~55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 22 mi | 25m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Garrison Boulevard | 2 mi | 5m |
| Hilton Parkway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Hilton Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Caton Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 22 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on Cuthbert Avenue
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Cuthbert Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Belvedere Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Belvedere Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Belvieu Avenue
257 ft
·
9 sec
·
Belvieu Avenue
4
Turn right onto Garrison Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Garrison Boulevard
5
Turn left onto Windsor Avenue
321 ft
·
13 sec
·
Windsor Avenue
6
Turn right onto Denison Street
394 ft
·
15 sec
·
Denison Street
7
Turn left onto Bloomingdale Road
504 ft
·
19 sec
·
Bloomingdale Road
8
Turn right onto North Hilton Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Hilton Street
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 40 Truck
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Hilton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Hilton Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Hilton Street
11
Turn straight onto South Caton Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Caton Avenue
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 95
22 mi
·
25 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
16
Merge onto I 495
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto MD 185
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
23
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
24
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
25
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
26
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
27
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20 mi from Arlington, MD · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Arlington, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bethesda, MD
The final approach into Bethesda, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.63 one way
$13.26 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.76 | $15.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Bethesda, MD
Afternoon in Bethesda on Friday
Local time
3:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph
5% chance
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
8 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
1h 3m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 40 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Capital Beltway, Garrison Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20 miles from Arlington, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.63 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 40 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Belvedere Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Arlington, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Chevy Chase.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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