Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Photo: Lubomir Satko
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Charlotte Hall, MD covers 45.7 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bethesda Avenue, Arlington Road, Little Falls Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.35 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
22.9 miles from Bethesda, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 20m drive with frequent turns across 45.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Charlotte Hall, MD is easy. At 1h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bethesda, MD to Charlotte Hall, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arlington Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Little Falls Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Massachusetts Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westmoreland Circle | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Massachusetts Avenue Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sheridan Circle Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 22nd Street Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Charlotte Hall, MD.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
Turn right onto Arlington Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Little Falls Parkway
At the end of the road, turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Westmoreland Circle
Exit the rotary onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Exit the roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sheridan Circle Northwest
Exit the rotary onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest
Continue on 23rd Street Northwest
Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward Washington Circle Northwest
Exit the rotary onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 17th Street Northwest
Continue on 17th Street Southwest
Turn straight onto Independence Avenue Southwest
Continue on Independence Avenue Southwest
Keep slight right to continue on Maine Avenue Southwest
Keep slight left to continue on Maine Avenue Southwest
Take the ramp straight toward I 395 North
Merge slight right onto Southwest Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Southeast Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Boulevard
Turn right onto 11th Street Southeast
Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Naylor Road Southeast
At the end of the road, turn left onto Southern Avenue Southeast
Continue on Naylor Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Naylor Road
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Naylor Road
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
Merge slight left onto Branch Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue
Merge slight right onto Crain Highway
Take the exit slight left toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Merge slight right onto Mattawoman Beantown Road
Turn left onto Leonardtown Road
Continue on Three Notch Road
Turn right onto Golden Beach Road
Turn left onto Charlotte Hall Road
Turn left
Arrive at your 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 45.7 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.9 miles or 40m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte Hall, 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 45.7 miles and 1h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.9 mi from Bethesda, MD · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 45.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Charlotte Hall, 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 Charlotte Hall, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.35 one way
$14.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| premium | $4.95 | $8.91 | $17.83 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $10.76 | $21.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
1:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Charlotte Hall on Saturday
Local time
1:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
23 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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