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Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Saint James, MD
RDNE Stock project
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Saint James, MD covers 64.7 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 270, I 70, Sharpsburg Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.4 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.73 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
32.3 miles from Bethesda, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
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This is a 1h 24m highway drive covering 64.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 270 and I 70. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.4 miles on I 270.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near I 270.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 64.7 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 6.6 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 117, MD 124 North: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road, Watkins Mill Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 65: Sharpsburg, Hagerstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 65 South: Sharpsburg, National Parks, Maryland Correctional Facilities
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bethesda, MD and Saint James, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Hagerstown, National Parks and Maryland Correctional Facilities.
Baltimore
Hagerstown
National Parks
Maryland Correctional Facilities
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 31.4 mi | 40m |
| I 70 | 23.7 mi | 25m |
| Sharpsburg Pike | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Rockville Pike | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Lappans Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Saint James, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
Turn left onto MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Take the exit
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MD 65
Turn right onto MD 68
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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.
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 64.7 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.3 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint James, MD than in the middle of the route.
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 64.7 miles and 1h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.3 mi from Bethesda, MD · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 64.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Saint James, 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 Saint James, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.73 one way
$21.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.75 | $23.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 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 | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Bethesda on Tuesday
Local time
11:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Saint James on Tuesday
Local time
11:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
68°F
Washington, DC
32 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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