Origin
Bethesda, MD
Morning in Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
11:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethesda, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Carly Dernetz
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD covers 47.2 miles and takes about 1h 13m 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, Edgemoor Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 47.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 47.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bethesda Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Avenue | — | — |
| Arlington Road | — | — |
| Edgemoor Lane | — | — |
| Wisconsin Avenue | — | — |
| Rockville Pike | — | — |
| Jones Bridge Road | — | — |
| Connecticut Avenue | — | — |
| I 495 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Bethesda Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD.
1
Start on the route
46 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
512 ft
·
25 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
3
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
Arlington Road
4
Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
5
Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
6
Continue on Rockville Pike
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Rockville Pike
7
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
8
Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
9
Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
10
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
20 mi
·
26 min
·
Capital Beltway
11
Take the exit slight right toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
12
Keep slight left to continue on East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Ritchie Marlboro Road
285 ft
·
5 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
14
Exit the roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Ritchie Marlboro Road
141 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
16
Exit the roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
17
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
5.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
18
Take the ramp straight toward MD 4 South: Prince Frederick
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
MD 4 South: Prince Frederick
19
Merge slight right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
20
Continue on Stephanie Roper Highway
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
21
Continue on Southern Maryland Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
22
Take the exit slight right toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Recreation Areas
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Recreation Areas
23
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayside Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
24
Turn left onto 17th Street
479 ft
·
32 sec
·
17th Street
25
Turn right onto C Street
56 ft
·
3 sec
·
C Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.6 mi from Bethesda, MD · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chesapeake Beach, MD
The final approach into Chesapeake Beach, 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
$7.83 one way
$15.65 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.57 | $17.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.15 | $18.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.42 | $20.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Morning in Chesapeake Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:43 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
1h 13m 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD covers 47.2 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bethesda Avenue, Arlington Road, Edgemoor Lane. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.6 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 $7.83 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.
The drive from Bethesda, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD is easy. At 1h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bethesda, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bethesda, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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