Origin
Bethesda, MD
Evening in Bethesda on Sunday
Local time
6:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethesda, MD to Beltsville, MD
Drive Time
22m
Distance
13.3 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
RDNE Stock project
Beltsville, MD
Carly Dernetz
Trip Overview
Spanning just 13.3 miles, this quick trip from Bethesda to Beltsville is a straightforward journey through Maryland’s Northeast region. You can expect to reach your destination in about 22 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of roughly $2, it is an incredibly economical drive for commuters or locals heading across the county. Navigating this route involves a mix of local roads like Jones Bridge Road and Baltimore Avenue, supplemented by a segment of the Capital Beltway. Because of the short duration, you have total flexibility in your schedule, allowing you to easily manage the transit without complex planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.7 miles from Bethesda, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition between suburban streets and major arteries. While you will spend time on the Capital Beltway, there is no high-speed highway-exclusive stretch, as the highway share is 0%. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Capital Beltway, lasting 7.3 miles before you head back toward local roads. The personality of this drive is defined by frequent transitions and technical maneuvers rather than long, monotonous highway cruising. You will feel the shift in pace as you move off the Beltway and navigate the local corridors that define the final approach to Beltsville.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.1 miles in near Arlington Road.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 13.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Arlington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Arlington Road
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
8
10.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward US 1: College Park, Laurel
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 25B-A
Toward US 1: College Park, Laurel
8
11.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Laurel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Exit 25A
Toward US 1 North: Laurel
10
11.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 North: Laurel, Baltimore Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward US 1 North: Laurel, Baltimore Avenue
Towns Along This Route
Between Bethesda, MD and Beltsville, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Laurel.
Silver Spring
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
Laurel
10.4 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| Baltimore Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rockville Pike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 7.3 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Beltsville, MD.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
24 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
3
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
5
Turn left onto MD 355
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
6
Continue on MD 355
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Rockville Pike
7
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the none lane.
8
Turn left onto MD 185
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 495
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25B-A
Toward US 1: College Park, Laurel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 25A
Toward US 1 North: Laurel
Use the none lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 25A
Toward US 1 North: Laurel, Baltimore Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 1
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Avenue
Use the none lane.
15
Turn left onto MD 212A
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Powder Mill Road
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
MD 212A
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 22-minute drive, you do not need to worry about extensive rest stops or rigid pacing. Your primary consideration should be timing your departure to avoid peak local congestion, as the route relies heavily on local roads that can slow down during busy periods. Fill up before you leave or upon arrival to keep your $2 fuel budget on track. Because there are no scheduled stops required for a trip of this length, you have the freedom to head out whenever your day allows. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep a close eye on your navigation during the transition from the Capital Beltway onto Baltimore Avenue to ensure you don't miss your local turn.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.7 miles from Bethesda, MD, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 13.3 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.7 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beltsville, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethesda, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethesda, MD
This is one driving day of about 13.3 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bethesda, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Capital Beltway for about 7.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.7 mi from Bethesda, MD · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.7 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Beltsville, MD
The final approach into Beltsville, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Beltsville, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.20 one way
$4.40 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $2.41 | $4.82 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.58 | $5.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.95 | $5.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.16 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Beltsville, MD
Evening in Beltsville on Sunday
Local time
6:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
1 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
22m 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 Bethesda, MD to Beltsville, MD covers 13.3 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Baltimore Avenue, Jones Bridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.7 miles from Bethesda, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.20 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 13.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Arlington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bethesda, MD and Beltsville, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Laurel.
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