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Trip from Greenbelt, MD to Takoma Park, MD

Drive Time

17m

Distance

9.9 mi

16 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 16m ★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Greenbelt, MD, MD

Greenbelt, MD

Jonathan Borba

Downtown Takoma Park, MD, MD

Takoma Park, MD

JINISH RAJAGOPAL

Trip Overview

The drive from Greenbelt, MD to Takoma Park, MD covers 9.9 miles and takes about 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Capital Beltway, Carroll Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.7 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.64 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

4.9 miles from Greenbelt, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 17m drive with frequent turns across 9.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.7 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 around 1 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.9 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: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Coll...
5
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway

Merge onto I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
4 mi into trip | ~6m 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
7
6 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward MD 650 South: Takoma Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 28B Toward MD 650 South: Takoma Park
5
9.9 mi into trip | ~17m in | MD 410 / Philadelphia Avenue

Turn right onto MD 410 / Philadelphia Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Greenbelt, MD and Takoma Park, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Silver Spring.

College Park

1 mi in | ~2m

Silver Spring

4 mi in | ~6m | via I 495

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Capital Beltway 4.7 mi 5m
Carroll Avenue 1.9 mi 4m
New Hampshire Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Crescent Road 1 mi 2m
Piney Branch Road 0.5 mi <1m
Kenilworth Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Philadelphia Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Capital Beltway — 4.7 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Greenbelt, MD and Takoma Park, MD.

1

Start on Crescent Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Crescent Road
2

Turn left onto MD 201

512 ft · 16 sec · Kenilworth Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Merge onto I 95; I 495

2.6 mi · 3 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 495

2.0 mi · 2 min · Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 28B Toward MD 650 South: Takoma Park Use the right lane.
7

Turn straight onto MD 650

1.3 mi · 2 min · New Hampshire Avenue
8

Turn right onto MD 320

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Piney Branch Road
9

Turn left onto Carroll Avenue

1.9 mi · 4 min · Carroll Avenue
10

Turn right onto MD 410

50 ft · 1 sec · Philadelphia Avenue
Use the right lane.
11

Arrive at destination

MD 410

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 4.9 miles from Greenbelt, MD, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.7 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 9.9 miles or 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 4.9 miles or 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Takoma Park, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Greenbelt, 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 Greenbelt, MD

This is one driving day of about 9.9 miles and 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Greenbelt, 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 Capital Beltway for about 4.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 4.9 mi from Greenbelt, MD · 7m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

5 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

Washington, DC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 9.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4.9 miles from Greenbelt, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Takoma Park, MD

The final approach into Takoma Park, 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 Takoma Park, MD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour $20 near mile 9.9
Caution: DC Water Sewer Overflow
Caution: Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.64 one way

$3.28 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $1.79 $3.59
premium $4.92 $1.92 $3.84
diesel $5.64 $2.20 $4.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3 0 $1.04 $0.48
Efficient EV 2.5 0 $0.87 $0.40
EV Truck/SUV 4 0 $1.39 $0.63

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Greenbelt, MD

Morning in Greenbelt on Monday

Local time

8:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Takoma Park, MD

Morning in Takoma Park on Monday

Local time

8:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

88°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

21 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

17m 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 Greenbelt, MD to Takoma Park, MD covers 9.9 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Carroll Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.9 miles from Greenbelt, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.64 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 9.9 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: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Greenbelt, MD and Takoma Park, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Silver Spring.

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