The Cost of Driving from Athens, West Virginia to Frederick, Maryland - A Budget-Friendly Guide

Are you planning a road trip from Athens, West Virginia to Frederick, Maryland any time soon? If so, you might be wondering how much it will cost to get there. In this post, we’ll break down the costs of different routes, including gas prices and toll fees, so you can plan an affordable and enjoyable journey.

Route 1: Using I-81 South and I-70 East

This route is the shortest and most direct, spanning 244 miles. From Athens, West Virginia, take I-77 south and merge onto I-81 south in Wytheville, Virginia. Follow I-81 south to Hagerstown, Maryland. Then, merge onto I-70 east towards Frederick, Maryland, and you’ll arrive at your destination.

The estimated travel time for this route is around 4 hours and 3 minutes. You’ll need to pay a $4 toll at the West Virginia Turnpike Charleston Toll Plaza. Once you're on I-70, there are no additional tolls.

Now, let’s talk money. Gas prices fluctuate, but as of writing this post, the average gas price in West Virginia is $2.67 per gallon. You can expect to use approximately 9.6 gallons of gas for this trip, for a total gas cost of $25.63. If you factor in the toll fee, you’ll end up spending about $29.63 for this route.

Route 2: Using US-340 East and US-15 North

This route is 262 miles and takes a little longer, with an estimated travel time of 4 hours and 35 minutes. The route starts like the first, on I-77 south, but instead of taking I-81, you take US-340 east towards Frederick. This road eventually turns into US-15 north, leading you straight to your destination.

While there are no tolls on this route, you will need to factor in gas prices. As of writing this post, the average gas price in West Virginia is $2.67 per gallon. We estimate you'll need 10.4 gallons of gas, meaning you’ll spend a total of $27.80 on gas for this trip.

Route 3: Using US-50 East and I-270 South

The longest route of the three (around 280 miles), this route takes an estimated 4 hours and 41 minutes. From Athens, take US-50 east toward Winchester, VA. Once in Winchester, take I-81 north to I-70 east and then take I-270 south to reach your destination in Frederick, MD.

On this route, you will need to pay a $4 toll at the West Virginia Turnpike Charleston Toll Plaza. Once you're on I-270 and head into Maryland, there are no additional tolls. The average gas price in West Virginia is $2.67 per gallon, and you'll need approximately 10.4 gallons of gas. That brings the total cost for gas and tolls to $30.63.

Conclusion

So, which route is the most budget-friendly for your trip? Route 1 is definitely the cheapest, with a total cost of $29.63 including gas and tolls. However, it's worth considering the time and distance for each option.

Ultimately, the decision is up to you. But with this information, we hope you can make an informed and budget-friendly decision for your road trip to Frederick, Maryland!