Origin
Bethesda, MD
Night in Bethesda on Thursday
Local time
9:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethesda, MD to Edgewater, MD
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
53m
Distance
37.7 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Edgewater, MD
Jonathan Borba
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Edgewater, MD covers 37.7 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on John Hanson Highway, Capital Beltway, Solomons Island Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.4 miles on John Hanson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 37.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m 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 53m drive with frequent turns across 37.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John Hanson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.4 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 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 37.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
7
17.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
8
33.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward MD 665: Aris T Allen Boulevard, Riva 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.
Exit 22
Toward MD 665: Aris T Allen Boulevard, Riva Roa...
6
34.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 665: Riva Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 22
Toward MD 665: Riva Road
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
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 Edgewater, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| Capital Beltway | 14.4 mi | 18m |
| Solomons Island Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Aris T Allen Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Hanson Highway
— 15.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Edgewater, 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
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
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
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 50
15 mi
·
17 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 22
Toward MD 665: Aris T Allen Boulevard, Riva Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 22
Toward MD 665: Riva Road
15
Continue on MD 665
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Aris T Allen Boulevard
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto MD 2
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Solomons Island Road
18
Continue on MD 2
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Solomons Island Road
19
Turn right onto Poplar Point Road
434 ft
·
19 sec
·
Poplar Point Road
20
Turn right
380 ft
·
27 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.8 mi from Bethesda, MD · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Edgewater, MD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Edgewater, MD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.25 one way
$12.50 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.85 | $13.69 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.32 | $16.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Edgewater, MD
Night in Edgewater on Thursday
Local time
9:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
23 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
53m 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 Edgewater, MD covers 37.7 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Hanson Highway, Capital Beltway, Solomons Island Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.8 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 $6.25 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 14 decision points packed into just 37.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 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 Edgewater, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
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