Origin
Woodlawn, MD
Late night in Woodlawn on Saturday
Local time
1:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Woodlawn, MD to Bethesda, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
19.1 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodlawn, MD
Phil Evenden
Bethesda, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 19.1-mile drive from Woodlawn, MD to Bethesda, MD takes about 30 minutes and is perfect for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate using Capital Beltway, Annapolis Road, and Jones Bridge Road, with a substantial 13.5-mile stretch on the Capital Beltway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $3, making it quite economical. Given its brevity and local road focus, this route offers a straightforward commute rather than an extensive exploration. It's a simple, direct path suitable for getting from point A to point B efficiently within the Northeast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 19.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway driving (0% highway share). While there's a significant 13.5-mile segment on the Capital Beltway, much of the journey involves navigating local roads. This means you'll likely encounter more traffic signals and intersections, especially as you transition between Annapolis Road and Jones Bridge Road. The character of the drive shifts from a more open highway feel to a more involved, stop-and-go local experience as you approach your destination.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 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 0.4 miles in near MD 450 / Annapolis Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 19.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (MD 450 / Annapolis Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
MD 450 / Annapolis Road
At end of road, turn left onto MD 450 / Annapolis Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
8.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
15.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
16 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South,...
6
16.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Jones Bridge Road
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Woodlawn, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Chevy Chase.
Silver Spring
8.2 mi in
|
~12m
|
via I 495
Chevy Chase
15.6 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| Annapolis Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Arlington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Gallatin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Edgemoor Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 13.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodlawn, MD and Bethesda, MD.
1
Start on 72nd Avenue
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
72nd Avenue
2
Turn right onto Gallatin Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Gallatin Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto MD 450
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Annapolis Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95; I 495
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto MD 185
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto MD 355
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on MD 355
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
13
Turn right onto Commerce Lane
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Lane
14
Continue on Edgemoor Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Edgemoor Lane
15
Turn left onto Arlington Road
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Arlington Road
16
Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue
510 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bethesda Avenue
17
Turn left
44 ft
·
3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.17 one way
$6.33 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.47 | $6.94 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.70 | $7.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.22 | $8.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Bethesda, MD
Late night in Bethesda on Saturday
Local time
1:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
3 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
30m 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 Woodlawn, MD to Bethesda, MD covers 19.1 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Annapolis Road, Jones Bridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.5 miles from Woodlawn, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.17 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 14 decision points packed into just 19.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (MD 450 / Annapolis Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Woodlawn, MD and Bethesda, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and Chevy Chase.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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