How far is Bethesda, MD from Capitol Heights, MD?

The driving distance from Bethesda, MD to Capitol Heights, MD is about 23.3 miles (37.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.31 mi
00h 36m
Flight
11.91 mi
19.17 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethesda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.91 mi
Kilometers
19.17 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.31 mi
Kilometers
37.52 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Capitol Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 5:41 PM EDT
Return by in Bethesda
Sun, Apr 19, 6:17 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethesda
2026-04-19T17:04
Arrive Capitol Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 5:41 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Bethesda
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Beltsville
MD

Census designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

From Bethesda
11.6 mi
00h 18m
To Capitol Heights
11.7 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph W
Destination
63°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bethesda and Capitol Heights.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda and Capitol Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    14 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue

    156 m · 25 sec · Bethesda Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Arlington Road

    1403 ft · 56 sec · Arlington Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Edgemoor Lane

    1451 ft · 51 sec · Edgemoor Lane

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Wisconsin Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Rockville Pike

    628 ft · 20 sec · Rockville Pike

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Jones Bridge Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue

    1615 ft · 39 sec · Connecticut Avenue

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring

    1292 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    11.2 mi · 14 min · Capital Beltway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward South Washington

    2426 ft · 59 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Baltimore-Washington Parkway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Richmond, Annapolis

    2902 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Kenilworth Avenue Freeway

    817 ft · 12 sec · Kenilworth Avenue Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Eastern Avenue, Aquatic Gardens

    585 ft · 14 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Kenilworth Avenue

    127 m · 18 sec · Kenilworth Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Eastern Avenue Northeast

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Eastern Avenue Northeast

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 63rd Street Northeast

    1015 ft · 17 sec · 63rd Street Northeast

  19. 19

    Continue on Southern Avenue Northeast

    796 ft · 16 sec · Southern Avenue Northeast

  20. 20

    Continue on Southern Avenue Southeast

    130 m · 16 sec · Southern Avenue Southeast

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Davey Street

    87 m · 8 sec · Davey Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Chamber Avenue

    1457 ft · 40 sec · Chamber Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chamber Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bethesda and Capitol Heights.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
23 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
98.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Capital Beltway
11.2 mi · 48%
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
5.13 mi · 22%
Eastern Avenue Northeast
1.79 mi · 8%
Jones Bridge Road
1.12 mi · 5%
Wisconsin Avenue
0.65 mi · 3%
US 50 East
0.55 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Capital Beltway

Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

11.2 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.4 mi
11.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Beltsville
00h 18m from Bethesda
Leave By
7:16 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Bethesda and Rain Showers near Capitol Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bethesda to Capitol Heights?

The road trip is about 23.3 miles (37.5 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Beltsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.6 miles from Bethesda and 11.7 miles from Capitol Heights.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.35 one way or $6.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Bethesda and Rain Showers near Capitol Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Beltsville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Beltsville and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 10 mi away

United States Capitol

Washington , DC
First St SE, Washington, DC 20004, United States
Rating 4.6/5 4,243 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical place,Historical landmark,Landmark,Federal government office
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 8.8 mi away

D C Government

Washington , DC
77 P St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office,Telephone answering service
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
Meeting point 12.4 mi away

THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus

Washington , DC
1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020
Rating 4.7/5 64 reviews Recreation center,City Hall
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 2 mi away

Town Hall Liquor And Bar

College Park , MD
8135 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Rating 4.3/5 319 reviews Liquor store,Bar

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Beltsville.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

10 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Washington Union Station

18 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Rockville station

21 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

25 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethesda and Capitol Heights. Straight-line distance: 11.91 mi (19.17 km).

Bethesda

#1 Bethesda

A census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Capitol Heights

#2 Capitol Heights

Town in Maryland, United States

Population4,514
Coordinates38.8851100, -76.9158100
Altitude38
CountryUnited States
Start: Bethesda (-77.10026, 38.98067)
End: Capitol Heights (-76.91581, 38.88511)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 38 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.82 gal
3.11 L · about $3.35
Round trip
$6.70
1.64 gal · 6.22 L
Estimated CO2
7.3 kg one way
Round trip: 14.6 kg / 32 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.35 $6.70
Mid-grade $4.60 $3.77 $7.54
Premium $4.95 $4.06 $8.12
Diesel $5.98 $4.90 $9.81

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maryland · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Bethesda and Capitol Heights. The current time is 17:04:33.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.