How far is Saint James, MD from Bethesda, MD?

The driving distance from Saint James, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 66.8 miles (107.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.4 miles (86 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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
66.79 mi
01h 15m
Flight
53.43 mi
85.98 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint James.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
53.43 mi
Kilometers
85.98 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
66.79 mi
Kilometers
107.49 km
Drive Time
01h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethesda
Fri, Nov 6, 10:37 AM EST
Return by in Saint James
Fri, Nov 6, 11:52 AM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint James
2026-11-06T09:21
Arrive Bethesda
Fri, Nov 6, 10:37 AM EST
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM EST

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

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

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
Ballenger Creek
MD

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

From Saint James
32.3 mi
00h 37m
To Bethesda
34.5 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM EST
Wind
1 to 5 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Overnight

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 2:00 AM EST
Wind
5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint James and Bethesda.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    670 ft · 54 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Lappans Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Lappans Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Sharpsburg Pike

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Sharpsburg Pike

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 70 East

    75 m · 13 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 70 East: Frederick

    1225 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    23.7 mi · 26 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270 South: Washington

    2112 ft · 52 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Eisenhower Memorial Highway

    22.9 mi · 29 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    6.6 mi · 9 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park

    2.5 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward MD 355 South: Bethesda

    2013 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Rockville Pike

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Rockville Pike

  13. 13

    Continue on Wisconsin Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Wisconsin Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Commerce Lane

    104 m · 17 sec · Commerce Lane

  15. 15

    Continue on Edgemoor Lane

    1112 ft · 42 sec · Edgemoor Lane

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Arlington Road

    1403 ft · 56 sec · Arlington Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue

    156 m · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left

    14 m · 3 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
29.5 mi · 44%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
23.7 mi · 35%
Sharpsburg Pike
3.61 mi · 5%
I 270 South
2.86 mi · 4%
Rockville Pike
1.57 mi · 2%
Lappans Road
1.31 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

23.7 mi · 00h 26m

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
01h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.4 mi
53.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ballenger Creek
00h 37m from Saint James
Leave By
4:00 PM EST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Saint James and Scattered 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 Saint James to Bethesda?

The road trip is about 66.8 miles (107.5 km) and usually takes 01h 15m 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?

Ballenger Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 32.3 miles from Saint James and 34.5 miles from Bethesda.

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

The direct path is about 53.4 miles (86 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.4 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 EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:00 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.36 one way or $18.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 21 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Saint James and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Bethesda.

Stop Ideas Near Ballenger Creek

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ballenger Creek, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ballenger Creek.

RAIL

Frederick, MD

5 mi away
100 South East Street
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

7 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Harpers Ferry

26 mi away
Potomac St. & Shenandoah St.
BUS

Hagerstown, MD

39 mi away
123 West Franklin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint James and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 53.43 mi (85.98 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Saint James

Saint James is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.5626000, -77.7580500
Altitude139
CountryUnited States
Bethesda

#2 Bethesda

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

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: (-77.756225, 39.56316)
End: (-77.100214, 38.980669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 107 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.36 gal
8.92 L · about $9.36
Round trip
$18.72
4.72 gal · 17.84 L
Estimated CO2
21 kg one way
Round trip: 41.9 kg / 92 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.97 $9.36 $18.72
Mid-grade $4.58 $10.81 $21.62
Premium $4.90 $11.57 $23.13
Diesel $6.31 $14.89 $29.79

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 · Nov 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint James and Bethesda. The current time is 09:21:54.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.