Origin
Pittsville, MD
Afternoon in Pittsville on Saturday
Local time
1:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
130.1 mi
209 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsville, MD
RDNE Stock project
North Bethesda, MD
Kelly
The drive from Pittsville, MD to North Bethesda, MD covers 130.1 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ocean Gateway, John Hanson Highway, Shore Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.5 miles on Ocean Gateway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.57 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.1 miles from Pittsville, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Gateway | 28.5 mi | 39m |
| John Hanson Highway | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| Shore Highway | 17.4 mi | 24m |
| Capital Beltway | 16.1 mi | 20m |
| Sussex Highway | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| Whitesville Road | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Seashore Highway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Queen Anne Highway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsville, MD and North Bethesda, MD.
Start on Railroad Avenue
Turn right onto MD 353
Continue on DE 26; DE 54
Turn left onto DE 30
Turn right onto Old Stage Road
Turn left onto Gordy Road
Turn right onto US 13
Take the exit
Continue on Rifle Range Road
Turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
Turn left onto DE 404 Business
Turn right onto DE 404 Business
Continue on MD 404
Continue on MD 404
Take the exit
Merge onto US 50
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; I 495
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto MD 355
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive
Turn right onto Tudor Lane
Continue on Tudor Lane
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 29 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.1 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Bethesda, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pittsville, 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 Pittsville, MD
This is one driving day of about 130.1 miles and 3h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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.
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 65.1 miles from Pittsville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 110.3 and 129.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 355: Bethesda, Rockville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Nicholson Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$21.57 one way
$43.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $23.62 | $47.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $25.23 | $50.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.72 | $57.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39 | 0 | $13.66 | $6.24 |
| Efficient EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52 | 0 | $18.21 | $8.33 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Pittsville on Saturday
Local time
1:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in North Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
1:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
49°F
Ridgely, MD
65 mi in
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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Scenic Trail
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!
National Seashore
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...
National Battlefield
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.
130.1 mi in 3h 2m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
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 110.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 130.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 110.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pittsville, MD to North Bethesda, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 130.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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