Origin
Ferndale, MD
Morning in Ferndale on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ferndale, MD to Bethesda, MD
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
53m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ferndale, MD
Jonathan Borba
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ferndale, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 37.1 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Capital Beltway, Metropolitan Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.2 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.15 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
18.5 miles from Ferndale, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Ferndale, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 37.1 miles and takes about 53m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 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 2.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 37.1 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 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 195 West: Baltimore, Washington
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 195 West: Baltimore, Washington
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 4B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
8
25.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
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 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
8
33.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
34.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South,...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ferndale, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Washington, College Park and Chevy Chase.
Washington
2.4 mi in
|
~5m
College Park
25.8 mi in
|
~33m
Chevy Chase
33.6 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Metropolitan Boulevard | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Aviation Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Ferndale Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferndale, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on Ferndale Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Ferndale Road
2
Turn right onto MD 162
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Aviation Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 195 West: Baltimore, Washington
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 195
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Metropolitan Boulevard
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 4B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 95
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
9
Merge onto I 495
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto MD 185
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
16
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
17
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
18
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
19
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
20
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
21
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 18.5 miles from Ferndale, MD, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 37.1 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.5 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethesda, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ferndale, 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 Ferndale, MD
This is one driving day of about 37.1 miles and 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ferndale, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.5 mi from Ferndale, MD · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.5 miles from Ferndale, 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.15 one way
$12.30 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.74 | $13.47 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.20 | $14.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Wednesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
53m 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 Ferndale, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 37.1 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Capital Beltway, Metropolitan Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.5 miles from Ferndale, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.15 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 37.1 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 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ferndale, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Washington, College Park and Chevy Chase.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bethesda, MD
More trips to Bethesda, MD
Explore more options from Ferndale, MD or browse trips ending in Bethesda, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
Explore maps for Ferndale, MD or Bethesda, MD on MapSof.net.