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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Parkville, MD

Drive Time

1h 12m

Distance

51.5 mi

83 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 7m ★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Bethesda, MD, MD

Bethesda, MD

RDNE Stock project

Downtown Parkville, MD, MD

Parkville, MD

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

The drive from Bethesda, MD to Parkville, MD covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, Harbor Tunnel Thruway, Capital Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.4 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.52 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

25.7 miles from Bethesda, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Bethesda, MD to Parkville, MD covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 12m, 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 27 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 18.4 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 2.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 51.5 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles (I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These 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
9.6 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
7
29.4 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Take the exit onto I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thr...
8
46.2 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Take the exit toward I 695 West, I 695 East: Towson, Essex

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 64 Toward I 695 West, I 695 East: Towson, Essex
7
50.3 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Take the exit toward MD 147 South: Parkville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 31A Toward MD 147 South: Parkville

Towns Along This Route

Between Bethesda, MD and Parkville, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring, New York and Essex.

Silver Spring

2.8 mi in | ~7m

New York

9.9 mi in | ~16m

Essex

46.2 mi in | ~1h 2m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 18.4 mi 21m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 12.7 mi 16m
Capital Beltway 6.5 mi 8m
Baltimore Beltway 2.6 mi 3m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Jones Bridge Road 1.1 mi 2m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 18.4 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Parkville, MD.

1

Start on the route

46 ft · 5 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue

512 ft · 25 sec · Bethesda Avenue
3

Turn left onto Arlington Road

0.3 mi · 56 sec · Arlington Road
4

Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane

0.3 mi · 51 sec · Edgemoor Lane
5

Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Wisconsin Avenue
6

Continue on Rockville Pike

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Rockville Pike
7

Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Jones Bridge Road
8

Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Connecticut Avenue
9

Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring

0.2 mi · 32 sec · I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
10

Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

6.5 mi · 8 min · Capital Beltway
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Baltimore

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I 95 North: Baltimore
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: Baltimore, New York

1.1 mi · 2 min · I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
13

Merge slight left

18 mi · 21 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway
15

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
16

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
17

Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
18

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
19

Keep slight right to continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
20

Merge slight left onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
21

Take the exit slight right toward I 695 West, I 695 East: Towson, Essex

0.5 mi · 44 sec · I 695 West, I 695 East: Towson, Essex
22

Keep slight left to continue on I 695 West: Towson

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 695 West: Towson
23

Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

2.6 mi · 3 min · Baltimore Beltway
24

Take the exit slight right toward MD 147 South: Parkville

0.2 mi · 1 min · MD 147 South: Parkville
25

Turn straight onto Harford Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Harford Road
26

Turn left onto Oak Forest Drive

33 ft · 1 sec · Oak Forest Drive
27

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 25.7 miles from Bethesda, MD, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.4 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 51.5 miles or 1h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 25.7 miles or 35m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkville, 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 51.5 miles and 1h 12m.

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 I 95 for about 18.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.7 mi from Bethesda, MD · 35m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

26 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Parkville, MD

The final approach into Parkville, 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 Parkville, MD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour $20
Caution: DC Water Sewer Overflow
Caution: Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
View on nps.gov
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!

26 mi from route ~64 min detour Free near mile 1.8
View on nps.gov
Monocacy National Battlefield

Monocacy National Battlefield

National Battlefield

During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour Free near mile 1.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.52 one way

$17.04 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $9.32 $18.65
premium $4.92 $9.98 $19.96
diesel $5.64 $11.44 $22.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.5 0 $5.41 $2.47
Efficient EV 12.9 0 $4.51 $2.06
EV Truck/SUV 20.6 0 $7.21 $3.30

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Bethesda, MD

Morning in Bethesda on Monday

Local time

8:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 12 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Destination

Parkville, MD

Morning in Parkville on Monday

Local time

8:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 12m 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 Bethesda, MD to Parkville, MD covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Harbor Tunnel Thruway, Capital Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.7 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 $8.52 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 19 significant decision points across 51.5 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles (I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bethesda, MD and Parkville, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring, New York and Essex.

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