How far is Crofton, MD from Bethesda, MD?

The driving distance from Crofton, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.2 miles (35.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 29m 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
30.29 mi
00h 44m
Flight
22.21 mi
35.75 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Crofton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.21 mi
Kilometers
35.75 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.29 mi
Kilometers
48.74 km
Drive Time
00h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethesda
Wed, Apr 22, 9:06 PM EDT
Return by in Crofton
Wed, Apr 22, 9:51 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Crofton
2026-04-22T20:21
Arrive Bethesda
Wed, Apr 22, 9:06 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM EDT

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

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

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
Greenbelt
MD

City in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

From Crofton
15 mi
00h 22m
To Bethesda
15.3 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 10:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W
Destination
74°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crofton and Bethesda.

  1. 1

    Start on Stratton Road

    1581 ft · 1 min · Stratton Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Spring Green Avenue

    1050 ft · 52 sec · Spring Green Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Crofton Parkway

    642 ft · 19 sec · Crofton Parkway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Urby Drive

    2623 ft · 1 min · Urby Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Good Hope Drive

    616 ft · 21 sec · Good Hope Drive

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Defense Highway

    1612 ft · 36 sec · Defense Highway

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Robert Crain Highway

    1141 ft · 20 sec · Robert Crain Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on North West Crain Highway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North West Crain Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West: Washington

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto John Hanson Highway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · John Hanson Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring

    2347 ft · 57 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 495 North, I 95 North: Beltway

    3221 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    6.9 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital Beltway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase

    2221 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase

    75 m · 8 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue

    2403 ft · 51 sec · Connecticut Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Jones Bridge Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Rockville Pike

    676 ft · 26 sec · Rockville Pike

  20. 20

    Continue on Wisconsin Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Wisconsin Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Commerce Lane

    104 m · 17 sec · Commerce Lane

  22. 22

    Continue on Edgemoor Lane

    1112 ft · 40 sec · Edgemoor Lane

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Arlington Road

    1403 ft · 56 sec · Arlington Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue

    156 m · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left

    14 m · 3 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
85.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Capital Beltway
14.3 mi · 47%
John Hanson Highway
6.67 mi · 22%
North West Crain Highway
2.06 mi · 7%
Jones Bridge Road
1.12 mi · 4%
US 50 West
0.79 mi · 3%
Wisconsin Avenue
0.64 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Capital Beltway

Keep slight left to continue on Capital Beltway

7.44 mi · 00h 09m

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 44m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.1 mi
22.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greenbelt
00h 22m from Crofton
Leave By
7:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Crofton and Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bethesda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Crofton to Bethesda?

The road trip is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km) and usually takes 00h 44m 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?

Greenbelt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15 miles from Crofton and 15.3 miles from Bethesda.

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

The direct path is about 22.2 miles (35.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.37 one way or $8.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Crofton and Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bethesda.

Stop Ideas Near Greenbelt

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 Greenbelt and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 9.6 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 8.6 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 11.2 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 2.7 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 Greenbelt.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

6 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Washington Union Station

16 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Rockville station

25 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

26 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Crofton and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 22.21 mi (35.75 km).

Crofton

#1 Crofton

Census place in Maryland, USA

Population27,348
Coordinates39.0017800, -76.6874700
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Bethesda

#2 Bethesda

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

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: Stratton Road (-76.688081, 39.001623)
End: (-77.100214, 38.980669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.07 gal
4.05 L · about $4.37
Round trip
$8.74
2.14 gal · 8.1 L
Estimated CO2
9.5 kg one way
Round trip: 19 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $4.37 $8.74
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.92 $9.84
Premium $4.95 $5.30 $10.60
Diesel $5.98 $6.40 $12.80

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Crofton and Bethesda. The current time is 20:21:22.

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.