Origin
Bowie, MD
Afternoon in Bowie on Thursday
Local time
4:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowie, MD to Clarksburg, MD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
43.8 mi
70 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 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Clarksburg, MD
Jonathan Borba
Trip Overview
This 43.8-mile drive from Bowie, MD, to Clarksburg, MD, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour. You'll primarily be on I 270 and the Capital Beltway, with a portion on John Hanson Highway, making it a predominantly highway experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this is a budget-friendly excursion. Given its short length and manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited as a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The drive keeps you within the Northeast region, traversing familiar Maryland landscapes.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive with a significant highway share of 42%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.2 miles on I 270, offering a good period of consistent travel. While much of the route involves interstate driving, the transition between major highways like the Capital Beltway and I 270 provides some variation in your driving experience. This isn't a winding country road, but rather an efficient path connecting two points in Maryland.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 270 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 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 7.7 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 43.8 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 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.7 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
8
15.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
24.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
8
42.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward MD 121: Boyds, Clarksburg
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 18
Toward MD 121: Boyds, Clarksburg
9
43.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 121 North: Clarksburg, Little Bennett Regional Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward MD 121 North: Clarksburg, Little Bennett...
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 Bowie, MD to Clarksburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
7.3 mi in
|
~10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 18.2 mi | 24m |
| Capital Beltway | 16.4 mi | 21m |
| John Hanson Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Collington Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Stringtown Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Clarksburg Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 270
— 18.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Clarksburg, MD.
1
Start on this road
110 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
259 ft
·
20 sec
3
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
4
At end of road, turn left onto MD 197
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 50 West: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto US 50
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
John Hanson Highway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 7B
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 7B
Toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 95; I 495
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270
Exit 35
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 North
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 18
Toward MD 121: Boyds, Clarksburg
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward MD 121 North: Clarksburg, Little Bennett Regional Park
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto MD 121
489 ft
·
10 sec
·
Clarksburg Road
16
Continue on Stringtown Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Stringtown Road
17
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Frederick Road
18
Arrive at destination
MD 355
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.9 mi from Bowie, MD · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 21.9 miles from Bowie, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clarksburg, MD
The final approach into Clarksburg, 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
$7.26 one way
$14.52 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.95 | $15.91 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.49 | $16.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.67 | $19.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.83 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Clarksburg, MD
Afternoon in Clarksburg on Thursday
Local time
4:28 PM
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 Bowie, MD to Clarksburg, MD covers 43.8 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 270, Capital Beltway, John Hanson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.9 miles from Bowie, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.26 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 43.8 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 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.7 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bowie, MD to Clarksburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
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