Origin
Bethesda, MD
Evening in Bethesda on Thursday
Local time
6:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethesda, MD to Clinton, MD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
47m
Distance
21.9 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Clinton, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Clinton, MD covers 21.9 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Branch Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Old Branch Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.2 miles on Branch Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 21.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 47m drive with frequent turns across 21.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Branch Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 5.2 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 9.1 miles in near Maine Avenue Southwest.
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 31 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
9.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Maine Avenue Southwest
Keep slight right at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Maine Avenue Southwest
Keep slight left at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
11.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Boulevard
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 1С
Toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Bouleva...
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Southern Avenue Southeast
At end of road, turn left onto Southern Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
20.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Old Branch Avenue, Kirby Road
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.
Toward Old Branch Avenue, Kirby Road
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 Bethesda, MD to Clinton, MD, road signs begin pointing toward 11Th Street Southeast along the way.
11Th Street Southeast
11.3 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Branch Avenue | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Massachusetts Avenue Northwest | 3.9 mi | 11m |
| Old Branch Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Little Falls Parkway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Marion Barry Avenue Southeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Freeway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Branch Avenue
— 5.2 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Clinton, MD.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
21 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
3
Turn right onto Arlington Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Arlington Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Little Falls Parkway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Little Falls Parkway
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
At end of road, turn left onto MD 396
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
340 ft
·
5 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
7
Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
8
Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
225 ft
·
5 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
9
Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
2.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
272 ft
·
4 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
11
Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
486 ft
·
19 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
12
Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
22nd Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on 23rd Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
23rd Street Northwest
14
Enter roundabout onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
15
Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto 17th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
17th Street Northwest
17
Continue on 17th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
17th Street Southwest
18
Turn straight onto Independence Avenue Southwest
293 ft
·
9 sec
·
Independence Avenue Southwest
19
Continue on Independence Avenue Southwest
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Independence Avenue Southwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Maine Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto Maine Avenue Southwest
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Maine Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 395 North
23
Merge onto I 395
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Southwest Freeway
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 1С
Toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
26
Turn right onto 11th Street Southeast
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
11th Street Southeast
Use the right lane.
27
Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
28
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto Naylor Road Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Naylor Road Southeast
Use the right lane.
30
At end of road, turn left onto Southern Avenue Southeast
204 ft
·
6 sec
·
Southern Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on MD 637
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Naylor Road
32
Enter roundabout onto MD 637
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
Naylor Road
33
Continue on MD 637
386 ft
·
11 sec
·
Naylor Road
34
Enter roundabout onto MD 637
112 ft
·
2 sec
·
Naylor Road
35
Continue on MD 637
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Naylor Road
36
Merge onto MD 5
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Branch Avenue
Use the right lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 5
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Old Branch Avenue, Kirby Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Turn straight onto Old Branch Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Branch Avenue
40
Turn right onto MD 223
68 ft
·
7 sec
·
Piscataway Road
41
Turn left
43 ft
·
3 sec
42
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.63 one way
$7.26 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.98 | $7.95 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.25 | $8.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.84 | $9.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Clinton, MD
Evening in Clinton on Thursday
Local time
6:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
26 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
47m 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 Clinton, MD covers 21.9 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Branch Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Old Branch Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11 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 $3.63 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 is a short but busy drive. With 31 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (Maine Avenue Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Clinton, MD, road signs begin pointing toward 11Th Street Southeast along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Clinton, MD
Explore more options from Bethesda, MD or browse trips ending in Clinton, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
Explore maps for Bethesda, MD or Clinton, MD on MapSof.net.