Origin
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Morning in Chesapeake Beach on Saturday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
49.5 mi
80 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 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Carly Dernetz
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 17th Street, Bayside Road, East Chesapeake Beach Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 49.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m 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 4m drive with frequent turns across 49.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
17th Street 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD is easy. At 1h 4m 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 17th Street | — | — |
| Bayside Road | — | — |
| East Chesapeake Beach Road | — | — |
| Maryland 4 | — | — |
| Southern Maryland Boulevard | — | — |
| Stephanie Roper Highway | — | — |
| MD 717 | — | — |
| Water Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
17th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chesapeake Beach, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on C Street
56 ft
·
11 sec
·
C Street
2
Turn left onto 17th Street
479 ft
·
30 sec
·
17th Street
3
Turn right onto Bayside Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
4
Turn left onto East Chesapeake Beach Road
8.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Chesapeake Beach Road
5
Take the ramp straight toward Maryland 4, Prince Frederick, Washington
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Maryland 4, Prince Frederick, Washington
6
Merge slight left onto Southern Maryland Boulevard
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
7
Continue on Stephanie Roper Highway
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
8
Take the exit slight right toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
MD 717: Upper Marlboro
9
Turn right onto Water Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Water Street
10
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Main Street
11
Turn left onto Largo Road
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Largo Road
12
Continue on Landover Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Landover Road
13
Take the ramp straight toward I 95 North, I 495 North: College Park, Baltimore
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 North, I 495 North: College Park, Baltimore
14
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Capital Beltway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Capital Beltway
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Capital Beltway
16
Take the exit slight right toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
17
Keep slight left to continue on MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
246 ft
·
8 sec
·
MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
18
Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
19
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
20
Turn left onto Rockville Pike
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Rockville Pike
21
Continue on Wisconsin Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
22
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
341 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
23
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
24
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
Arlington Road
25
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
512 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
26
Turn left
46 ft
·
3 sec
27
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.8 mi from Chesapeake Beach, MD · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Chesapeake Beach, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bethesda, MD
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.21 one way
$16.41 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.99 | $17.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.60 | $19.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.93 | $21.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 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 | 14.9 | 0 | $5.20 | $2.38 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
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
Bethesda, MD
Morning in Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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 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 4m 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 17th Street, Bayside Road, East Chesapeake Beach Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.8 miles from Chesapeake Beach, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.21 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD is easy. At 1h 4m 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Bethesda, 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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