How far is Bethesda, MD from Mountain Lake Park, MD?

The driving distance from Bethesda, MD to Mountain Lake Park, MD is about 171.2 miles (275.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 125.5 miles (202 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
171.25 mi
03h 34m
Flight
125.54 mi
202.03 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethesda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
125.54 mi
Kilometers
202.03 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
171.25 mi
Kilometers
275.6 km
Drive Time
03h 34m

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 03h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mountain Lake Park
Sun, Apr 19, 8:10 AM EDT
Return by in Bethesda
Sun, Apr 19, 11:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethesda
2026-04-19T04:35
Arrive Mountain Lake Park
Sun, Apr 19, 8:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:50 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bethesda
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Sharpsburg
MD

Town in Maryland, United States

From Bethesda
85.5 mi
01h 47m
To Mountain Lake Park
85.7 mi
01h 47m

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
57°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 16 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bethesda and Mountain Lake Park.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethesda and Mountain Lake Park.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    14 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Bethesda Avenue

    48 m · 10 sec · Bethesda Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Clarendon Road

    701 ft · 31 sec · Clarendon Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Fairfax Road

    140 m · 23 sec · Fairfax Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Bradley Boulevard

    1667 ft · 49 sec · Bradley Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Goldsboro Road

    2 mi · 5 min · Goldsboro Road

  7. 7

    Turn slight right onto MacArthur Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · MacArthur Boulevard

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Clara Barton Access Road

    88 m · 6 sec · Clara Barton Access Road

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto I 495: Clara Barton Parkway

    1077 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Clara Barton Parkway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Clara Barton Parkway

  11. 11

    Take the ramp straight toward Virginia Dulles Airport

    2984 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    1.1 km · 46 sec · Capital Beltway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Capital Beltway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal

    1998 ft · 49 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal

    1517 ft · 37 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    64.3 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke

    1 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke

    3.2 mi · 4 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 48, VA 55: Strasburg

    1539 ft · 38 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    49 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto John Marshall Highway

    8.6 mi · 10 min · John Marshall Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Wardensville Pike

    5.5 mi · 6 min · Wardensville Pike

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    5 mi · 6 min

  24. 24

    Turn slight right

    37 m · 6 sec

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Main Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Carpenter Avenue

    48.9 mi · 57 min · Carpenter Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Communications Drive

    893 ft · 20 sec · Communications Drive

  28. 28

    Turn right

    756 ft · 23 sec

  29. 29

    Turn sharp left

    4.4 mi · 8 min

  30. 30

    Turn left onto George Washington Highway

    7.4 mi · 11 min · George Washington Highway

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Gorman Road

    8.7 mi · 15 min · Gorman Road

  32. 32

    Continue on Lothian Street

    1049 ft · 21 sec · Lothian Street

  33. 33

    Continue on East 3rd Avenue

    834 ft · 18 sec · East 3rd Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Paul Street

    952 ft · 25 sec · Paul Street

  35. 35

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Maryland Highway

    2542 ft · 43 sec · Maryland Highway

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Maryland Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bethesda and Mountain Lake Park.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
36 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 66 West
64.9 mi · 38%
Carpenter Avenue
48.9 mi · 29%
Wardensville Pike
10.5 mi · 6%
Gorman Road
8.69 mi · 5%
John Marshall Highway
8.63 mi · 5%
George Washington Highway
7.43 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 66 West

Merge slight left

64.3 mi · 01h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 34m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.7 mi
125.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sharpsburg
01h 47m from Bethesda
Leave By
9:50 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Bethesda and Rain Showers Likely near Mountain Lake Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bethesda to Mountain Lake Park?

The road trip is about 171.2 miles (275.6 km) and usually takes 03h 34m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Sharpsburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.5 miles from Bethesda and 85.7 miles from Mountain Lake Park.

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

The direct path is about 125.5 miles (202 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:50 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.68 one way or $49.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Bethesda and Rain Showers Likely near Mountain Lake Park.

Stop Ideas Near Sharpsburg

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Sharpsburg, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Harpers Ferry

15 mi away
Potomac St. & Shenandoah St.
RAIL

Martinsburg station

18 mi away
229 East Martin St.
BUS

Hagerstown, MD

21 mi away
123 West Franklin Street
RAIL

Frederick, MD

30 mi away
100 South East Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethesda and Mountain Lake Park. Straight-line distance: 125.54 mi (202.03 km).

Bethesda

#1 Bethesda

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

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Mountain Lake Park

#2 Mountain Lake Park

Town of the United States

Population2,065
Coordinates39.3984300, -79.3817100
Altitude748
CountryUnited States
Start: Bethesda (-77.10026, 38.98067)
End: Mountain Lake Park (-79.38171, 39.39843)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 276 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.04 gal
22.87 L · about $24.68
Round trip
$49.36
12.08 gal · 45.74 L
Estimated CO2
53.7 kg one way
Round trip: 107.4 kg / 237 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $24.68 $49.36
Mid-grade $4.60 $27.78 $55.56
Premium $4.95 $29.92 $59.84
Diesel $5.98 $36.12 $72.24

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 Mountain Lake Park. The current time is 04:35:57.

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.