How far is Capitol Heights, MD from Bethesda, MD?
The driving distance from Capitol Heights, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 26.2 miles (42.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 40m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 40m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Special taxing area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers
Rain Showers Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Capitol Heights and Bethesda.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Capitol Heights and Bethesda.
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1
Start on Chamber Avenue
11 m · 3 sec · Chamber Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Old Central Avenue
810 ft · 18 sec · Old Central Avenue
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3
Continue on Central Avenue Southeast
1.2 km · 2 min · Central Avenue Southeast
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4
Turn left onto East Capitol Street Northeast
1.6 mi · 4 min · East Capitol Street Northeast
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5
Continue on Whitney Young Memorial Bridge
2042 ft · 50 sec · Whitney Young Memorial Bridge
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6
Continue on C Street Northeast
1.3 km · 2 min · C Street Northeast
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7
Keep slight right to continue on C Street Northeast
1.5 km · 2 min · C Street Northeast
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8
At the end of the road, turn right onto 6th Street Northeast
21 m · 3 sec · 6th Street Northeast
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9
Keep slight left to continue on C Street Northeast
665 ft · 16 sec · C Street Northeast
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10
Continue on Massachusetts Avenue Northeast
1724 ft · 49 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northeast
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11
Continue on Columbus Circle Northeast
140 m · 8 sec · Columbus Circle Northeast
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12
Turn slight left
30 m · 5 sec
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13
Turn left onto E Street Northeast
1.1 km · 2 min · E Street Northeast
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14
Turn right onto 6th Street Northwest
1945 ft · 37 sec · 6th Street Northwest
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15
Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
617 ft · 23 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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16
Continue on K Street Northwest
597 ft · 12 sec · K Street Northwest
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17
Continue on New York Avenue Northwest
765 ft · 15 sec · New York Avenue Northwest
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18
Turn slight right onto I Street Northwest
1.1 mi · 2 min · I Street Northwest
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19
Turn straight onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
677 ft · 14 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
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20
Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest
2750 ft · 1 min · 22nd Street Northwest
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21
Turn left onto P Street Northwest
64 m · 8 sec · P Street Northwest
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22
Turn right
159 m · 19 sec
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23
Turn straight onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
1135 ft · 28 sec · Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
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24
Turn slight right onto Massachusetts Avenue
1075 ft · 26 sec
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25
Continue on Waterside Drive Northwest
1033 ft · 35 sec · Waterside Drive Northwest
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26
Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
2.1 mi · 6 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
65 m · 6 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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28
Exit the roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
1.1 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
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29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Westmoreland Circle
61 m · 3 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
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30
Exit the rotary onto Massachusetts Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · Massachusetts Avenue
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31
Turn right onto Little Falls Parkway
1.4 mi · 3 min · Little Falls Parkway
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32
Turn right onto Arlington Road
2833 ft · 2 min · Arlington Road
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33
Turn left onto Bethesda Avenue
156 m · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue
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34
Turn left
14 m · 3 sec
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Capitol Heights 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.
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
2.13 mi · 00h 06m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Rain Showers leaving Capitol Heights and Rain Showers Likely near Bethesda.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Capitol Heights to Bethesda?
The road trip is about 26.2 miles (42.1 km) and usually takes 00h 40m 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?
Friendship Village is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.5 miles from Capitol Heights and 18.6 miles from Bethesda.
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 14.3 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 7:10 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.76 one way or $7.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Capitol Heights and Rain Showers Likely near Bethesda.
Stop Ideas Near Friendship Village
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
United States Capitol
D C Government
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Friendship Village.
Washington Union Station
Rockville station
Union Station
New Carrollton station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Capitol Heights and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 11.91 mi (19.17 km).
#1 Capitol Heights
Town in Maryland, United States
| Population | 4,514 |
| Coordinates | 38.8851100, -76.9158100 |
| Altitude | 38 |
| 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: 42 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $3.76 | $7.52 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $4.23 | $8.46 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $4.56 | $9.12 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $5.50 | $11.00 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.