How far is Morningside, MD from Bethesda, MD?

The driving distance from Morningside, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 15.3 miles (24.6 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
28.89 mi
00h 44m
Flight
15.31 mi
24.64 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Morningside.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
15.31 mi
Kilometers
24.64 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
28.89 mi
Kilometers
46.49 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
Thu, Apr 23, 8:11 AM EDT
Return by in Morningside
Thu, Apr 23, 8:56 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Morningside
2026-04-23T07:26
Arrive Bethesda
Thu, Apr 23, 8:11 AM 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 Morningside
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
Hillcrest Heights
MD

City in Polk County, Florida, United States of America

From Morningside
9.4 mi
00h 22m
To Bethesda
19.5 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Larkspur Road

    37 m · 9 sec · Larkspur Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Maple Road

    150 m · 22 sec · Maple Road

  3. 3

    Turn right

    41 m · 6 sec

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Randolph Road

    742 ft · 33 sec · Randolph Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Suitland Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Suitland Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left toward Suitland Parkway

    1028 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Suitland Parkway

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Suitland Parkway

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Naylor Road

    973 ft · 31 sec · Naylor Road

  9. 9

    Turn straight

    90 m · 10 sec

  10. 10

    Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast

    1.1 km · 2 min · Naylor Road Southeast

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

    2387 ft · 54 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

  13. 13

    Continue on 11th Street Southeast

    1754 ft · 52 sec · 11th Street Southeast

  14. 14

    Take the ramp left toward I 695 West

    1555 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Southeast Freeway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Southeast Freeway

  16. 16

    Continue on Southwest Freeway

    1540 ft · 33 sec · Southwest Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Maine Avenue Southwest, 12th Street Northwest, Downtown

    1102 ft · 27 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on 12th Street Northwest, Downtown

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on D Street

    156 m · 16 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 12th Street Southwest

    945 ft · 31 sec · 12th Street Southwest

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Independence Avenue Southwest

    3105 ft · 1 min · Independence Avenue Southwest

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on 17th Street Southwest

    1602 ft · 41 sec · 17th Street Southwest

  23. 23

    Continue on 17th Street Northwest

    2444 ft · 54 sec · 17th Street Northwest

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

    2919 ft · 60 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

  25. 25

    Turn right onto 22nd Street Northwest

    2750 ft · 1 min · 22nd Street Northwest

  26. 26

    Turn left onto P Street Northwest

    64 m · 8 sec · P Street Northwest

  27. 27

    Turn right

    159 m · 19 sec

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest

    1135 ft · 28 sec · Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest

  29. 29

    Turn slight right onto Massachusetts Avenue

    1075 ft · 26 sec

  30. 30

    Continue on Waterside Drive Northwest

    1033 ft · 35 sec · Waterside Drive Northwest

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

    2.1 mi · 6 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

  32. 32

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

    65 m · 6 sec · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

  33. 33

    Exit the roundabout onto Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

  34. 34

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Westmoreland Circle

    61 m · 3 sec · Massachusetts Avenue

  35. 35

    Exit the rotary onto Massachusetts Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Little Falls Parkway

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Little Falls Parkway

  37. 37

    Turn right onto Arlington Road

    2833 ft · 2 min · Arlington Road

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Bethesda Avenue

    156 m · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue

  39. 39

    Turn left

    14 m · 3 sec

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Morningside 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
40 steps
26 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
138.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Suitland Parkway
3.44 mi · 12%
Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
3.25 mi · 11%
Little Falls Parkway
1.36 mi · 5%
Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
1.24 mi · 4%
Southeast Freeway
1.07 mi · 4%
Massachusetts Avenue
0.93 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Suitland Parkway

Merge slight left onto Suitland Parkway

3.25 mi · 00h 05m

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
+13.6 mi
15.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hillcrest Heights
00h 22m from Morningside
Leave By
7:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Morningside and Sunny near Bethesda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 28.9 miles (46.5 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?

Hillcrest Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.4 miles from Morningside and 19.5 miles from Bethesda.

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

The direct path is about 15.3 miles (24.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.6 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 $4.17 one way or $8.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Morningside and Sunny near Bethesda.

Stop Ideas Near Hillcrest Heights

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 Hillcrest Heights and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 1 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 2 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 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 8.9 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 Hillcrest Heights.

RAIL

Washington Union Station

8 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Union Station

9 mi away
110 Callahan Drive
RAIL

New Carrollton station

16 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Lorton station

27 mi away
8006 Lorton Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Morningside and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 15.31 mi (24.64 km).

Morningside

#1 Morningside

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

Population2,086
Coordinates38.8301100, -76.8913600
Altitude81
CountryUnited States
Bethesda

#2 Bethesda

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

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: Larkspur Road (-76.891364, 38.830075)
End: (-77.100214, 38.980669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 46 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.02 gal
3.86 L · about $4.17
Round trip
$8.34
2.04 gal · 7.72 L
Estimated CO2
9.1 kg one way
Round trip: 18.1 kg / 40 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $4.17 $8.34
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.69 $9.38
Premium $4.95 $5.05 $10.11
Diesel $5.98 $6.10 $12.20

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 Morningside and Bethesda. The current time is 07:26:13.

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.