The drive from North Bethesda, MD to Kingstown, MD covers 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, John Hanson Highway, Capital Beltway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.3 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.81 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.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from North Bethesda, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 55m drive with frequent turns across 83.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.3 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 early in the drive near Tudor Lane.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.5 miles (MD 355 / Rockville Pike): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Tudor Lane
At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Commonwealth Drive
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|MD 355 / Rockville Pike
Turn right onto MD 355 / Rockville Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
7
18.7 mi into trip|~26m 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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
27.3 mi
38m
John Hanson Highway
18.7 mi
21m
Capital Beltway
16.1 mi
20m
Church Hill Road
14.5 mi
21m
Centreville Road
2 mi
3m
Rockville Pike
1.8 mi
3m
South Commerce Street
0.6 mi
1m
Nicholson Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 27.3 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Bethesda, MD and Kingstown, MD.
1
Start on Tudor Lane
146 ft·8 sec·Tudor Lane
2
At end of road, turn left onto Tudor Lane
338 ft·20 sec·Tudor Lane
3
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
347 ft·17 sec·Commonwealth Drive
4
Turn right onto Nicholson Lane
0.3 mi·58 sec·Nicholson Lane
5
Turn right onto MD 355
1.8 mi·3 min·Rockville Pike
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver SpringUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 495
16 mi·20 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 19AToward US 50 East: AnnapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 50
19 mi·21 min·John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
22 mi·30 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301
5.7 mi·8 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 301 North
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward MD 213 North
13
Turn straight onto MD 213
2.0 mi·3 min·Centreville Road
14
Continue on MD 213
0.6 mi·1 min·South Commerce Street
15
Continue on MD 213
14 mi·21 min·Church Hill Road
16
Turn right onto Fey Road
161 ft·7 sec·Fey Road
17
Arrive at destination
Fey Road
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 41.6 miles from North Bethesda, MD, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.3 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingstown, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Bethesda, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Bethesda, MD
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from North Bethesda, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 27.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.6 mi from North Bethesda, MD
· 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from North Bethesda, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kingstown, MD
The final approach into Kingstown, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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
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...
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.81 one way
$27.62 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.13
$30.25
premium
$4.93
$16.15
$32.31
diesel
$5.61
$18.39
$36.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
North Bethesda, MD
Late night
in North Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingstown, MD
Late night
in Kingstown on Saturday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
2 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
1h 55m 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 North Bethesda, MD to Kingstown, MD covers 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, John Hanson Highway, Capital Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.6 miles from North Bethesda, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.81 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 83.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Tudor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Commonwealth Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MD 355 / Rockville Pike): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from North Bethesda, MD to Kingstown, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
