How far is Smithsburg, MD from Bethesda, MD?

The driving distance from Smithsburg, MD to Bethesda, MD is about 62.1 miles (100 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53 miles (85.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 21m 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
62.15 mi
01h 10m
Flight
52.98 mi
85.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Smithsburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
52.98 mi
Kilometers
85.27 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
62.15 mi
Kilometers
100.02 km
Drive Time
01h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethesda
Thu, Apr 23, 3:30 AM EDT
Return by in Smithsburg
Thu, Apr 23, 4:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Smithsburg
2026-04-23T02:19
Arrive Bethesda
Thu, Apr 23, 3:30 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Smithsburg
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
Buckeystown
MD

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

From Smithsburg
30.2 mi
00h 35m
To Bethesda
31.9 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 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 Smithsburg and Bethesda.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Water Street

    1 km · 1 min · East Water Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Mapleville Road

    4.1 mi · 7 min · Mapleville Road

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mapleville Road

    47 m · 3 sec · Mapleville Road

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Mapleville Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Mapleville Road

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1208 ft · 29 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    18.3 mi · 20 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 · 40 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 Smithsburg 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
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
29.5 mi · 48%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18.3 mi · 29%
Mapleville Road
5.59 mi · 9%
I 270 South
2.86 mi · 5%
Rockville Pike
1.57 mi · 3%
East Water Street
0.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Eisenhower Memorial Highway

Continue on Eisenhower Memorial Highway

22.9 mi · 00h 29m

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 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
53 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buckeystown
00h 35m from Smithsburg
Leave By
4:08 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Smithsburg and Sunny near Bethesda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 62.1 miles (100 km) and usually takes 01h 10m 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?

Buckeystown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 30.2 miles from Smithsburg and 31.9 miles from Bethesda.

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

The direct path is about 53 miles (85.3 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 4:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.95 one way or $17.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Buckeystown

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buckeystown, 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 Buckeystown.

RAIL

Frederick, MD

9 mi away
100 South East Street
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

10 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Harpers Ferry

26 mi away
Potomac St. & Shenandoah St.
RAIL

Rockville station

37 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Smithsburg and Bethesda. Straight-line distance: 52.98 mi (85.27 km).

Smithsburg

#1 Smithsburg

Town of the United States

Population2,969
Coordinates39.6548200, -77.5727700
Altitude235
CountryUnited States
Bethesda

#2 Bethesda

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

Population62,448
Coordinates38.9806700, -77.1002600
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: East Water Street (-77.572769, 39.654818)
End: (-77.100214, 38.980669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 100 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.19 gal
8.3 L · about $8.95
Round trip
$17.90
4.38 gal · 16.6 L
Estimated CO2
19.5 kg one way
Round trip: 38.9 kg / 86 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $8.95 $17.90
Mid-grade $4.60 $10.07 $20.14
Premium $4.95 $10.85 $21.70
Diesel $5.98 $13.10 $26.19

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 Smithsburg and Bethesda. The current time is 02:19:20.

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.