Origin
Bowie, MD
Night in Bowie on Thursday
Local time
10:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowie, MD to Riverside, MD
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
39m
Distance
22.1 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, MD
Sjuan Dogjani
Trip Overview
This short 22.1-mile drive from Bowie to Riverside, Maryland, is easily manageable in about 39 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. The route is primarily on local roads, with a highway share of only 1%, so expect a more connected-to-the-ground feel. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest stretch is a manageable 11.5 miles, you can easily complete this journey without needing an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the travel context consistent.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 22.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so you'll be navigating a series of local roads rather than cruising on an open highway. With only a 1% highway share, most of your time will be spent on roads like Laurel Bowie Road, 7th Street, and Collington Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.5 miles on Laurel Bowie Road, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more turns are likely. Be prepared for frequent directional changes as you make your way through the area.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Laurel Bowie Road is the longest continuous segment at about 11.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 22.1 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MD 197 / Collington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
MD 197 / Collington Road
At end of road, turn left onto MD 197 / Collington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
19.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Enter roundabout toward US 29 North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward US 29 North
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 29 / Columbia Pike
Merge onto US 29 / Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Rivers Edge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Rivers Edge
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel Bowie Road | 11.5 mi | 18m |
| 7th Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Collington Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Columbia Pike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Talbott Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Rivers Edge Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Fort Meade Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Laurel Bowie Road
— 11.5 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Riverside, 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
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Collington Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on MD 197
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Laurel Bowie Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto MD 198
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Fort Meade Road
7
Continue on MD 198
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Talbott Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Turn right onto MD 216
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
7th Street
9
Enter roundabout
28 ft
·
0 sec
Toward US 29 North
10
Continue
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 29 North
11
Merge onto US 29
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
337 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Rivers Edge
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Rivers Edge Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Rivers Edge Road
14
Turn left onto Rivers View Court
390 ft
·
17 sec
·
Rivers View Court
15
Arrive at destination
Rivers View Court
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.66 one way
$7.33 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.01 | $8.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.29 | $8.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.88 | $9.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Riverside, MD
Night in Riverside on Thursday
Local time
10:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
20 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
39m 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 Riverside, MD covers 22.1 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Laurel Bowie Road, 7th Street, Collington Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11 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 $3.66 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 22.1 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MD 197 / Collington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Bowie, MD to Riverside, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Riverside, MD
More trips to Riverside, MD
Explore more options from Bowie, MD or browse trips ending in Riverside, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
Explore maps for Bowie, MD or Riverside, MD on MapSof.net.