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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Riverside, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

64.9 mi

104 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

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

unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Bethesda, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Riverside, MD, MD

Riverside, MD

Sjuan Dogjani

Trip Overview

Bethesda, MD to Riverside, MD is 64.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within Maryland's Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience that's manageable for a single day trip. Given its relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a day excursion without significant planning.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

This drive features a 30% highway share, meaning you'll spend a notable portion of your time on high-speed roads like I 95 and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.4 miles on I 95, providing a good opportunity to maintain a steady pace. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' suggesting transitions between faster highway sections and potentially some local road segments as you approach your destination. You'll likely experience a blend of efficient travel and more varied road conditions.

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 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.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 20 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 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 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 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
6
9.9 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
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...
7
63 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward MD 543: Belcamp

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 80 Toward MD 543: Belcamp

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 Riverside, MD, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.

New York

9.9 mi in | ~16m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 18.4 mi 21m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 11.6 mi 15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 11 mi 12m
Express Toll Lanes 8.5 mi 9m
Capital Beltway 6.5 mi 8m
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 Riverside, 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

6.5 mi · 8 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 27 Toward I 95 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

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

Merge onto I 95

18 mi · 21 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto I 895

5.7 mi · 6 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Exit 46 Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on I 895

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
16

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
18

Continue on I 895

3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

8.5 mi · 9 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork

297 ft · 3 sec
21

Merge onto I 95

11 mi · 12 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Exit 80 Toward MD 543: Belcamp Use the slight right lane.
23

Turn right onto MD 543

0.9 mi · 1 min · Riverside Parkway
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto Church Creek Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Church Creek Road
25

Turn right onto Allison Court

290 ft · 14 sec · Allison Court
26

Turn right onto Collier Lane

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Collier Lane
27

Continue on Collier Lane

102 ft · 4 sec · Collier Lane
28

Arrive at destination

Collier Lane

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.5 mi from Bethesda, MD · 43m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Baltimore, MD

32 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

Laurel, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Catonsville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.5 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Riverside, MD

The final approach into Riverside, 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

$10.76 one way

$21.52 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $11.78 $23.57
premium $4.93 $12.59 $25.17
diesel $5.61 $14.33 $28.66

Estimated Tolls: $0.81

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (11.6 mi) $0.81

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Tolls

$1

Total

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.5 0 $6.81 $3.12
Efficient EV 16.2 0 $5.68 $2.60
EV Truck/SUV 26 0 $9.09 $4.15

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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 as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Bethesda, MD

Late night in Bethesda on Saturday

Local time

2:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, MD

Late night in Riverside on Saturday

Local time

2:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°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

2 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 26m 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 Riverside, MD covers 64.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 95, Harbor Tunnel Thruway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 32.5 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 $10.76 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 64.9 miles you will encounter 20 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 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 9.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Riverside, MD, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.

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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