Origin
Bethesda, MD
Afternoon in Bethesda on Friday
Local time
12:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethesda, MD to Arlington, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Arlington, MD covers 40.8 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Capital Beltway, Garrison Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.4 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.76 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 40.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Arlington, MD covers 40.8 miles and takes about 1h 4m, 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 26 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 22.4 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 40.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 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
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
33.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Caton Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50A-B
Toward Caton Avenue
7
33.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95: Caton Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 95: Caton Avenue North
8
33.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Caton Ave North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 50B
Toward Caton Ave North
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 Arlington, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring, New York and Caton Ave North.
Silver Spring
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
New York
9.9 mi in
|
~16m
Caton Ave North
33.9 mi in
|
~46m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 22.4 mi | 26m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Garrison Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 6m |
| Hilton Parkway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Caton Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Hilton Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 22.4 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Arlington, 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
22 mi
·
26 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 50A-B
Toward Caton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 95: Caton Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 50B
Toward Caton Ave North
Use the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto US 1 Alternate
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Caton Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto South Hilton Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hilton Street
19
Continue on Hilton Parkway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Hilton Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on North Hilton Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Hilton Street
21
Turn slight left onto Bloomingdale Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Bloomingdale Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Garrison Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Garrison Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on Garrison Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Garrison Boulevard
24
Turn left onto MD 140
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Reisterstown Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Lewiston Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewiston Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Cuthbert Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Bethesda, MD · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, MD
The final approach into Arlington, 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
$6.76 one way
$13.53 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.41 | $14.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Arlington, MD
Afternoon in Arlington on Friday
Local time
12:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
4 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 4m 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 Arlington, MD covers 40.8 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Capital Beltway, Garrison Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.4 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 $6.76 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 40.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bethesda, MD and Arlington, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring, New York and Caton Ave North.
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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