Origin
Greenbelt, MD
Morning in Greenbelt on Saturday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greenbelt, MD to Bowie, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
12.6 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greenbelt, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Greenbelt, MD to Bowie, MD is 12.6 miles and takes about 20m via John Hanson Highway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, same-day trip stays within Maryland, connecting two Northeast communities. The drive primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a straightforward journey for those looking for a quick transit between these two points. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a simple commute or a brief excursion without requiring extensive planning.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bowie, MD
Full guide →Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 12.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a highway share of just 4%. While it includes stretches on the John Hanson Highway and Capital Beltway, expect a dynamic driving experience that transitions between faster highway segments and more intricate local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.7 miles on the John Hanson Highway, offering a brief period of consistent speed before you navigate through more varied intersections and road conditions. The journey is not a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a route that demands attention to turns and traffic patterns.
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.
John Hanson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 12.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond, Andrews Air Force Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond, Andre...
5
1.5 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.
7
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward MD 197: Bowie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward MD 197: Bowie
7
11.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 197
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward MD 197
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greenbelt, MD and Bowie, MD, road signs point toward Washington and Andrews Air Force Base.
Washington
0.7 mi in
|
~1m
Andrews Air Force Base
1.2 mi in
|
~2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Capital Beltway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Collington Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Crescent Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Baltimore-Washington Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Southway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Hanson Highway
— 5.7 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenbelt, MD and Bowie, MD.
1
Start on Crescent Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Crescent Road
2
Turn left onto Southway
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Southway
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Washington
4
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond, Andrews Air Force Base
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95; I 495
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 50
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
John Hanson Highway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 11
Toward MD 197: Bowie
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
273 ft
·
6 sec
Toward MD 197
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto MD 197
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
13
Turn right
259 ft
·
20 sec
14
Turn left
110 ft
·
8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.09 one way
$4.18 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.44 | $4.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Bowie, MD
Morning in Bowie on Saturday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
20m 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 Bowie, MD covers 12.6 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Hanson Highway, Capital Beltway, Collington Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.3 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 $2.09 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 12.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Greenbelt, MD and Bowie, MD, road signs point toward Washington and Andrews Air Force Base.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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