Origin
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Late night in Hillcrest Heights on Saturday
Local time
1:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillcrest Heights, MD to North Bethesda, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
23.4 mi
38 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Wikimedia Commons
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Hillcrest Heights, MD to North Bethesda, MD covers 23.4 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Clara Barton Parkway Northwest, Canal Road Northwest, Cabin John Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.4 miles on Clara Barton Parkway Northwest. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 23.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Hillcrest Heights, MD to North Bethesda, MD covers 23.4 miles and takes about 46m, 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 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Clara Barton Parkway Northwest is the longest continuous segment at about 3.4 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 6.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 32 decision points packed into just 23.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
6.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
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 4B-A
Toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Nort...
10
6.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
7
8.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Whitehurst Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Whitehurst Freeway
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rock Creek Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Rock Creek Parkway
8
20.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Democracy Boulevard East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Democracy Boulevard East
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hillcrest Heights, MD and North Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12Th Street Northwest, Downtown, Frederick and Democracy Boulevard East.
Maine Avenue Southwest
6.3 mi in
|
~14m
12Th Street Northwest
6.3 mi in
|
~14m
Downtown
6.3 mi in
|
~14m
Frederick
19.5 mi in
|
~38m
|
via I 270 Spur
Democracy Boulevard East
20.7 mi in
|
~40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Clara Barton Parkway Northwest | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Canal Road Northwest | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Cabin John Parkway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Old Georgetown Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Capital Beltway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Marion Barry Avenue Southeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| I 270 Spur | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Clara Barton Parkway Northwest
— 3.4 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillcrest Heights, MD and North Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on 23rd Parkway
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
23rd Parkway
2
At end of road, turn right onto Oxon Run Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Oxon Run Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto MD 637
177 ft
·
3 sec
·
Naylor Road
4
Continue on MD 637
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Naylor Road
5
Turn straight
295 ft
·
10 sec
6
Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Naylor Road Southeast
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
9
Continue on 11th Street Southeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
11th Street Southeast
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 695 West
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 695
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Freeway
12
Continue on I 395
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 4B-A
Toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 4B
Toward 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
513 ft
·
16 sec
Toward D Street
16
Turn right onto 12th Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
12th Street Southwest
17
Turn left onto Independence Avenue Southwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Independence Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto 17th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
17th Street Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on 17th Street Northwest
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
17th Street Northwest
20
Turn left onto New York Avenue Northwest
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
New York Avenue Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on E Street Northwest
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
E Street Northwest
22
Continue on E Street Expressway
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
E Street Expressway
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Whitehurst Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto I 66
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Potomac Freeway
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Rock Creek Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
166 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto 27th Street Northwest
178 ft
·
4 sec
·
27th Street Northwest
28
Take the exit
99 ft
·
8 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
29
Merge onto US 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Whitehurst Freeway
Toward US 29 South
30
Turn left onto Canal Road Northwest
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Canal Road Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Continue on Clara Barton Parkway Northwest
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Clara Barton Parkway Northwest
32
Keep slight right at fork onto Cabin John Parkway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabin John Parkway
33
Keep slight left at fork onto Cabin John Parkway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cabin John Parkway
Toward I 495 North
Use the slight left lane.
34
Merge onto I 495
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Capital Beltway
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 Spur
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 270 Spur
Exit 38
Toward I 270: Rockville, Frederick
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 1
Toward Democracy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Democracy Boulevard East
Use the slight right lane.
38
Turn straight onto Democracy Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Democracy Boulevard
39
Turn left onto MD 187
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Georgetown Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
40
Turn right onto Nicholson Lane
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Nicholson Lane
41
Turn right onto Commonwealth Drive
347 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commonwealth Drive
42
Turn right onto Tudor Lane
338 ft
·
15 sec
·
Tudor Lane
43
Continue on Tudor Lane
146 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tudor Lane
44
Arrive at destination
Tudor Lane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.88 one way
$7.76 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.25 | $8.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.54 | $9.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.17 | $10.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.05 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
North Bethesda, MD
Late night in North Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
1:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
46m 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 Hillcrest Heights, MD to North Bethesda, MD covers 23.4 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Clara Barton Parkway Northwest, Canal Road Northwest, Cabin John Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.7 miles from Hillcrest Heights, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.88 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 32 decision points packed into just 23.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hillcrest Heights, MD and North Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12Th Street Northwest, Downtown, Frederick and Democracy Boulevard East.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield.
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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