How far is North Bethesda, MD from Arbutus, MD?

The driving distance from North Bethesda, MD to Arbutus, MD is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 26.7 miles (43 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
32.43 mi
00h 47m
Flight
26.73 mi
43.01 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from North Bethesda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
26.73 mi
Kilometers
43.01 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.43 mi
Kilometers
52.19 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arbutus
Sat, Apr 11, 5:07 PM EDT
Return by in North Bethesda
Sat, Apr 11, 5:55 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave North Bethesda
2026-04-11T16:19
Arrive Arbutus
Sat, Apr 11, 5:07 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in North Bethesda
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
West Laurel
MD

Census designated place

From North Bethesda
16.2 mi
00h 23m
To Arbutus
16.2 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Bethesda and Arbutus.

  1. 1

    Start on Tudor Lane

    45 m · 9 sec · Tudor Lane

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Tudor Lane

    103 m · 21 sec · Tudor Lane

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Commonwealth Drive

    106 m · 21 sec · Commonwealth Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Nicholson Lane

    710 ft · 27 sec · Nicholson Lane

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Old Georgetown Road

    1445 ft · 33 sec · Old Georgetown Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Towne Road

    1182 ft · 24 sec · Towne Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Josiah Henson Parkway

    1531 ft · 30 sec · Josiah Henson Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue on Randolph Road

    6.6 mi · 11 min · Randolph Road

  9. 9

    Turn left onto New Hampshire Avenue

    1.4 km · 1 min · New Hampshire Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the ramp right toward MD 200 Toll East

    1190 ft · 29 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Intercounty Connector

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Intercounty Connector

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville

    2257 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198: Konterra Drive

    2986 ft · 39 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville

    1.5 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198 West: Burtonsville

    2970 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    1.2 km · 50 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville

    1708 ft · 22 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 166: Catonsville

    2203 ft · 54 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight right onto Metropolitan Boulevard

    2089 ft · 25 sec · Metropolitan Boulevard

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward UMBC Campus

    1922 ft · 36 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto UMBC Boulevard

    117 m · 13 sec · UMBC Boulevard

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward UMBC Boulevard

    58 m · 5 sec · UMBC Boulevard

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto UMBC Boulevard

    1012 ft · 35 sec · UMBC Boulevard

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Hilltop Circle

    36 m · 3 sec · Hilltop Circle

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Hilltop Circle

    2757 ft · 2 min · Hilltop Circle

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Poplar Avenue

    1286 ft · 39 sec · Poplar Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Shelbourne Road

    994 ft · 34 sec · Shelbourne Road

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Shelbourne Road

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
89.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MD 198 West
13.8 mi · 42%
Randolph Road
6.56 mi · 20%
Intercounty Connector
5.22 mi · 16%
MD 198
1.51 mi · 5%
New Hampshire Avenue
0.85 mi · 3%
Hilltop Circle
0.54 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

MD 198 West

Merge slight left

12.5 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
26.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Laurel
00h 23m from North Bethesda
Leave By
4:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving North Bethesda and Sunny near Arbutus.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from North Bethesda to Arbutus?

The road trip is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km) and usually takes 00h 47m 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?

West Laurel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.2 miles from North Bethesda and 16.2 miles from Arbutus.

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

The direct path is about 26.7 miles (43 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.66 one way or $9.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around North Bethesda and Sunny near Arbutus.

Stop Ideas Near West Laurel

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 West Laurel and the surrounding midpoint area.
City of Rockville City Hall
Scenic stop 14.1 mi away

City of Rockville City Hall

Rockville , MD
111 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
Rating 4.5/5 4 reviews Park
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 14.4 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
City of Bowie
Meeting point 13.7 mi away

City of Bowie

Bowie , MD
15901 Excalibur Rd, Bowie, MD 20716
Rating 4.6/5 13 reviews City Hall,City government office
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 7.7 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 West Laurel.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

17 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

20 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Rockville station

21 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

Washington Union Station

24 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between North Bethesda and Arbutus. Straight-line distance: 26.73 mi (43.01 km).

North Bethesda

#1 North Bethesda

A census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population43,828
Coordinates39.0445500, -77.1188700
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Arbutus

#2 Arbutus

Census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

Population20,483
Coordinates39.2545500, -76.6999700
Altitude46
CountryUnited States
Start: North Bethesda (-77.11887, 39.04455)
End: Arbutus (-76.69997, 39.25455)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.14 gal
4.33 L · about $4.66
Round trip
$9.32
2.28 gal · 8.66 L
Estimated CO2
10.1 kg one way
Round trip: 20.3 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $4.66 $9.32
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.24 $10.49
Premium $4.95 $5.65 $11.30
Diesel $5.98 $6.82 $13.63

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between North Bethesda and Arbutus. The current time is 16:19:38.

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.