How far is Selby-on-the-Bay, MD from Bethesda, MD?

The driving distance from Selby-on-the-Bay, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.4 miles (50.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 59m 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
40.45 mi
00h 59m
Flight
31.37 mi
50.48 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Selby-on-the-Bay.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.37 mi
Kilometers
50.48 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.45 mi
Kilometers
65.1 km
Drive Time
00h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethesda
Sun, Apr 19, 9:24 AM EDT
Return by in Selby-on-the-Bay
Sun, Apr 19, 10:24 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Selby-on-the-Bay
2026-04-19T08:25
Arrive Bethesda
Sun, Apr 19, 9:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Selby-on-the-Bay
9:30 PM EDT
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
Woodmore
MD

Census designated place in Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States

From Selby-on-the-Bay
20.2 mi
00h 29m
To Bethesda
20.3 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W
Destination
63°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Selby-on-the-Bay and Bethesda.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Selby-on-the-Bay and Bethesda.

  1. 1

    Start on Edgemont Street

    2436 ft · 2 min · Edgemont Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Hillside Avenue

    2281 ft · 2 min · Hillside Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Central Avenue

    6.4 mi · 11 min · Central Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Davidsonville Road

    3.3 mi · 6 min · Davidsonville Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington, Richmond

    2824 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto John Hanson Highway

    10.4 mi · 12 min · John Hanson Highway

  7. 7

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

    2347 ft · 57 sec

  8. 8

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

    3221 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    6.9 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital Beltway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway

  11. 11

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

    2221 ft · 54 sec

  12. 12

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

    75 m · 8 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue

    2403 ft · 51 sec · Connecticut Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Jones Bridge Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Rockville Pike

    676 ft · 26 sec · Rockville Pike

  16. 16

    Continue on Wisconsin Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Wisconsin Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Commerce Lane

    104 m · 17 sec · Commerce Lane

  18. 18

    Continue on Edgemoor Lane

    1112 ft · 40 sec · Edgemoor Lane

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Arlington Road

    1403 ft · 56 sec · Arlington Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Bethesda Avenue

    156 m · 22 sec · Bethesda Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left

    14 m · 3 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Selby-on-the-Bay 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
22 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
54.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Capital Beltway
14.3 mi · 35%
John Hanson Highway
10.4 mi · 26%
Central Avenue
6.36 mi · 16%
Davidsonville Road
3.34 mi · 8%
Jones Bridge Road
1.12 mi · 3%
Wisconsin Avenue
0.64 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

John Hanson Highway

Merge slight left onto John Hanson Highway

10.4 mi · 00h 12m

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 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
31.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodmore
00h 29m from Selby-on-the-Bay
Leave By
4:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Selby-on-the-Bay 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 Selby-on-the-Bay to Bethesda?

The road trip is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km) and usually takes 00h 59m 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?

Woodmore is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.2 miles from Selby-on-the-Bay and 20.3 miles from Bethesda.

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

The direct path is about 31.4 miles (50.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.84 one way or $11.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Selby-on-the-Bay and Rain Showers Likely near Bethesda.

Stop Ideas Near Woodmore

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 Woodmore and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 10.8 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 10.3 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 10.9 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 6.7 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 Woodmore.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

6 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Washington Union Station

18 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Union Station

26 mi away
110 Callahan Drive
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

31 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Selby-on-the-Bay and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 31.37 mi (50.48 km).

Selby-on-the-Bay

#1 Selby-on-the-Bay

Census designated place

Population4,040
Coordinates38.9162200, -76.5224600
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Bethesda

#2 Bethesda

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

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: Edgemont Street (-76.522549, 38.914843)
End: (-77.100214, 38.980669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 65 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.43 gal
5.4 L · about $5.84
Round trip
$11.69
2.86 gal · 10.8 L
Estimated CO2
12.7 kg one way
Round trip: 25.4 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.84 $11.69
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.58 $13.15
Premium $4.95 $7.08 $14.17
Diesel $5.98 $8.55 $17.10

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

There is no time difference between Selby-on-the-Bay and Bethesda. The current time is 08:25:06.

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.