How far is California, MD from Bethesda, MD?
The driving distance from California, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 77 miles (123.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 56.9 miles (91.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 01h 39m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between California and Bethesda.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California and Bethesda.
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1
Start on Shady Mile Drive
995 ft · 48 sec · Shady Mile Drive
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2
Turn right onto Three Notch Road
21.7 mi · 31 min · Three Notch Road
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3
Continue on Leonardtown Road
10.6 mi · 15 min · Leonardtown Road
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4
Turn right onto Mattawoman Beantown Road
3.3 mi · 5 min · Mattawoman Beantown Road
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5
Merge slight left onto Crain Highway
2.5 mi · 4 min · Crain Highway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Branch Avenue
11.8 mi · 16 min · Branch Avenue
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue
2162 ft · 39 sec · Branch Avenue
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8
Take the exit left
982 ft · 28 sec
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road
39 m · 3 sec · Naylor Road
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10
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
116 m · 13 sec · Naylor Road
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11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road
15 m · 1 sec · Naylor Road
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12
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
1543 ft · 51 sec · Naylor Road
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13
Turn straight
90 m · 10 sec
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14
Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast
1.1 km · 2 min · Naylor Road Southeast
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15
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
1.2 mi · 3 min · Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
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16
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
2387 ft · 54 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
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17
Continue on 11th Street Southeast
1754 ft · 52 sec · 11th Street Southeast
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18
Take the ramp left toward I 695 West
1555 ft · 30 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Southeast Freeway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Southeast Freeway
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20
Continue on Southwest Freeway
1540 ft · 33 sec · Southwest Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
1102 ft · 27 sec
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22
Keep slight right to continue on 12th Street Northwest, Downtown
1010 ft · 25 sec
-
23
Keep slight left to continue on D Street
156 m · 16 sec
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24
Turn right onto 12th Street Southwest
945 ft · 31 sec · 12th Street Southwest
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25
Turn left onto Independence Avenue Southwest
3105 ft · 1 min · Independence Avenue Southwest
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26
Keep slight right to continue on 17th Street Southwest
1602 ft · 41 sec · 17th Street Southwest
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27
Continue on 17th Street Northwest
2444 ft · 54 sec · 17th Street Northwest
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28
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
2919 ft · 60 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
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29
Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest
2750 ft · 1 min · 22nd Street Northwest
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30
Turn left onto P Street Northwest
64 m · 8 sec · P Street Northwest
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31
Turn right
159 m · 19 sec
-
32
Turn straight onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
1135 ft · 28 sec · Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
-
33
Turn slight right onto Massachusetts Avenue
1075 ft · 26 sec
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34
Continue on Waterside Drive Northwest
1033 ft · 35 sec · Waterside Drive Northwest
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35
Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
2.1 mi · 6 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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36
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
65 m · 6 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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37
Exit the roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
1.1 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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38
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Westmoreland Circle
61 m · 3 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
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39
Exit the rotary onto Massachusetts Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · Massachusetts Avenue
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40
Turn right onto Little Falls Parkway
1.4 mi · 3 min · Little Falls Parkway
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41
Turn right onto Arlington Road
2833 ft · 2 min · Arlington Road
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42
Turn left onto Bethesda Avenue
156 m · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue
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43
Turn left
14 m · 3 sec
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between California and Bethesda.
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.
Three Notch Road
Turn right onto Three Notch Road
21.7 mi · 00h 31m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Sunny leaving California and Sunny near Bethesda.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from California to Bethesda?
The road trip is about 77 miles (123.9 km) and usually takes 01h 39m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Waldorf is a useful midpoint, sitting about 32.6 miles from California and 44.4 miles from Bethesda.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 56.9 miles (91.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:10 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.11 one way or $22.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 24.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around California and Sunny near Bethesda.
Stop Ideas Near Waldorf
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Waldorf.
Union Station
Lorton station
Woodbridge station
Washington Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between California and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 56.86 mi (91.5 km).
#1 California
California is a place in Maryland, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 38.3004000, -76.5074500 |
| Altitude | 30 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bethesda
A census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland.
| Population | 62,448 |
| Coordinates | 38.9806700, -77.1002600 |
| Altitude | 97 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-77.100214, 38.980669)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 124 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 02h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $11.11 | $22.23 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $12.51 | $25.02 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $13.47 | $26.95 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $16.27 | $32.53 |
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 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.