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Trip from Bethesda, MD to Salisbury, MD

Data updated 1 second ago

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

123.6 mi

199 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 42m ★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Bethesda, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Salisbury, MD, MD

Salisbury, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bethesda, MD to Salisbury, MD covers 123.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, Sussex Highway, John Hanson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.6 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.49 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

61.8 miles from Bethesda, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 123.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Arlington Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 123.6 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 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 17 key points

These 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
7
17.5 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 19A Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
6
58.8 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | US 50

Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Salisbury, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Rehoboth along the way.

Rehoboth

58.8 mi in | ~1h 20m | via US 50

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway 21.6 mi 30m
Sussex Highway 18.9 mi 25m
John Hanson Highway 18.7 mi 21m
Capital Beltway 14.4 mi 18m
Shore Highway 13.5 mi 18m
Seashore Highway 7.5 mi 9m
North Salisbury Boulevard 7.1 mi 11m
US 50 6.9 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Blue Star Memorial Highway — 21.6 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda, MD and Salisbury, 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

14 mi · 18 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Exit 19A Toward US 50 East: Annapolis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto US 50

19 mi · 21 min · John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2

22 mi · 30 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 50

6.9 mi · 9 min · US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
15

Turn left onto MD 404

6.2 mi · 8 min · Queen Anne Highway
Use the left lane.
16

Continue on Shore Highway

5.3 mi · 7 min · Shore Highway
Use the left lane.
17

Take the exit onto MD 404 Business

1.4 mi · 2 min · MD 404 Business
18

Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Franklin Street
19

Turn right onto South 5th Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · South 5th Avenue
20

Turn left onto Legion Road

282 ft · 7 sec · Legion Road
21

Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404

8.1 mi · 11 min · Shore Highway
22

Continue on DE 404

7.5 mi · 9 min · Seashore Highway
23

At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business

0.4 mi · 46 sec · Market Street
24

At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
25

Turn right onto US 13

19 mi · 25 min · Sussex Highway
26

Continue on US 13

3.8 mi · 5 min · North Salisbury Boulevard
27

Continue on US 13 BUS

3.3 mi · 6 min · North Salisbury Boulevard
28

Turn right onto West Vine Street

241 ft · 7 sec · West Vine Street
29

Continue on West Vine Street

525 ft · 17 sec · West Vine Street
30

Turn right

76 ft · 5 sec
31

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.8 miles from Bethesda, MD, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.6 miles.

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 80 miles or 1h 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61.8 miles or 1h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salisbury, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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 123.6 miles and 2h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bethesda, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 21.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61.8 mi from Bethesda, MD · 1h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

62 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.8 miles from Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Salisbury, MD

The final approach into Salisbury, 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 Salisbury, MD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.49 one way

$40.98 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $22.44 $44.89
premium $4.93 $23.97 $47.94
diesel $5.61 $27.29 $54.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.1 0 $12.98 $5.93
Efficient EV 30.9 0 $10.82 $4.94
EV Truck/SUV 49.4 0 $17.30 $7.91

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Bethesda, MD

Morning in Bethesda on Wednesday

Local time

7:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Salisbury, MD

Morning in Salisbury on Wednesday

Local time

7:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 14 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 4:18AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

8 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

2h 52m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bethesda, MD to Salisbury, MD covers 123.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, Sussex Highway, John Hanson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.8 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 $20.49 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 123.6 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.
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.
On the drive from Bethesda, MD to Salisbury, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Rehoboth along the way.

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