Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
21.4 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
Damascus, MD
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from North Bethesda, MD to Damascus, MD covers 21.4 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 270, Ridge Road, Frederick Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.3 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 21.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from North Bethesda, MD to Damascus, MD covers 21.4 miles and takes about 37m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Tudor Lane.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Tudor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Commonwealth Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto MD 187 / Old Georgetown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 270 toward I 270 North
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Middlebrook Road East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Bethesda, MD to Damascus, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Middlebrook Road East along the way.
Middlebrook Road East
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Ridge Road | 6.5 mi | 13m |
| Frederick Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Josiah Henson Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Montrose Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Middlebrook Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Old Georgetown Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Towne Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between North Bethesda, MD and Damascus, MD.
Start on Tudor Lane
At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Turn right onto MD 187
Continue on Towne Road
Turn sharp left onto Josiah Henson Parkway
Continue on Montrose Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Middlebrook Road
Turn left onto MD 355
Turn right onto MD 27
Take the exit onto MD 27
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.55 one way
$7.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.89 | $7.77 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.72 | $9.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 57% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (57% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in North Bethesda on Friday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Damascus on Friday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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