Origin
Bethesda, MD
Late night in Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethesda, MD to Westphalia, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
41m
Distance
26.7 mi
43 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 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Westphalia, MD
Wolfgang Weiser
Trip Overview
Bethesda, MD to Westphalia, MD is 26.7 miles and takes about 41m via Capital Beltway, Ritchie Marlboro Road, and Jones Bridge Road, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a very local trip, featuring a lot of turns and changes in direction, so don't expect a straight shot. This route is best suited for a quick hop between these two areas, ideal for a day trip or a simple commute.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 26.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction and road names. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be on any major interstates for extended periods. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 20 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before transitioning back to local roads. Expect a dynamic driving experience that requires your attention as you navigate through various suburban and local thoroughfares.
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.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 20 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Arlington Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (Arlington Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Edgemoor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: 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.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Arlington Road
Turn left onto Arlington Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Edgemoor Lane
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
Navigation decision point
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
8
23.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
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 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bethesda, MD and Westphalia, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Upper Marlboro.
Silver Spring
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
Upper Marlboro
23.1 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 20 mi | 26m |
| Ritchie Marlboro Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Orion Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 20 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Westphalia, 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
20 mi
·
26 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
13
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
286 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
14
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
16
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
17
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
18
Turn left onto Orion Lane
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Orion Lane
19
Turn right onto Polaris Drive
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Polaris Drive
20
Turn right onto Altair Lane
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Altair Lane
21
Arrive at destination
Altair Lane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.85 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.90 | $11.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Westphalia, MD
Late night in Westphalia on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 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
41m 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 Westphalia, MD covers 26.7 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Ritchie Marlboro Road, Jones Bridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.4 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 $4.43 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 26.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (Arlington Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Edgemoor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bethesda, MD and Westphalia, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Upper Marlboro.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield.
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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