Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Photo: RDNE Stock project
The drive from Charlotte Hall, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 57.3 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Charlotte Hall Road, Golden Beach Road, Three Notch Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.22 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
28.6 miles from Charlotte Hall, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 57.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Hall Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden Beach Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Three Notch Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leonardtown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mattawoman Beantown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Crain Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Branch Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Naylor Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte Hall, MD and Bethesda, MD.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Charlotte Hall Road
Turn right onto Golden Beach Road
Turn left onto Three Notch Road
Continue on Leonardtown Road
Turn right onto Mattawoman Beantown Road
Merge slight left onto Crain Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Branch Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue
Take the exit left
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
Turn straight
Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
Continue on 11th Street Southeast
Take the ramp left toward I 695 West
Merge slight left onto Southeast Freeway
Continue on Southwest Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Keep slight right to continue on 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Keep slight left to continue on D Street
Turn right onto 12th Street Southwest
Turn left onto Independence Avenue Southwest
Keep slight right to continue on 17th Street Southwest
Continue on 17th Street Northwest
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest
Turn left onto P Street Northwest
Turn right
Turn straight onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
Turn slight right onto Massachusetts Avenue
Continue on Waterside Drive Northwest
Turn left 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 3 toward Westmoreland Circle
Exit the rotary onto Massachusetts Avenue
Turn right onto Little Falls Parkway
Turn right onto Arlington Road
Turn left onto Bethesda Avenue
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 57.3 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.6 miles or 38m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethesda, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Charlotte Hall, 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 Charlotte Hall, MD
This is one driving day of about 57.3 miles and 1h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.6 mi from Charlotte Hall, MD · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 57.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Charlotte Hall, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bethesda, 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 Bethesda, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$9.22 one way
$18.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $10.37 | $20.75 |
| premium | $4.95 | $11.18 | $22.35 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $13.49 | $26.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Charlotte Hall on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
29 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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