The Cost of Driving From Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina: Based on Current Gas Prices

Are you planning a road trip from Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina? Whether you're heading to the beach for a family vacation or moving to a new home, knowing the cost of gas and tolls can help you budget accordingly. In this post, we'll break down the cost of driving to Oak Island, North Carolina based on current gas prices.

Option 1: Taking I-95

The most direct route from Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina takes you down I-95, a 500-mile journey that should take around 8 hours and 30 minutes. According to AAA's gas price website, as of [August 2021], the average gas price in Maryland is around $3.12 per gallon, while in North Carolina, it's around $2.99 per gallon.

To calculate the cost of gas, we'll assume your car gets 25 miles per gallon and you'll need to fill up a few times on the trip. Based on the information above, the total cost of gas for this route will be approximately $75.00.

But wait, there are tolls too! When taking I-95, there are several tolls you need to factor into your budget. For example, the toll in Baltimore on the Fort McHenry Tunnel is $4.00 for a two-axle vehicle. The trip down I-95 requires a few more tolls that will rack up another $20-$30 in total.

So, the total cost of driving from Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina taking I-95 would be around $100-$110, excluding your meals and any overnight stays along the way.

Option 2: Taking US-13

An alternate route you could consider would be taking US-13. This route is slightly longer, coming in at around 531 miles and closer to 9 hours in driving time. However, it could be a more scenic route with less tolls.

Starting from Baltimore, Maryland, you'll travel south on US-13, eventually merging onto US-17 which will take you into Oak Island, North Carolina. Assuming the same 25 miles per gallon calculation, you'll be spending around $80.00 on gas alone for this route based on current gas prices.

Toll-wise, there are no significant tolls to worry about along US-13 or US-17, so that's money you'll be saving.

Overall, the total cost of driving taking US-13 from Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina comes in at around $80.00, plus your meals and any overnight stays.

Option 3: Taking the Eastern Shore

Our final option is taking the Eastern Shore instead of I-95. This can be a fun, scenic route with a lot of interesting stops. It is longer, coming in at around 729 miles and closer to 12 hours in driving time with the ferry ride included.

Starting from Baltimore, Maryland, you'll head east and take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. From there, you'll travel down the Eastern Shore, then hop on a ferry from Cape May, NJ to Lewes, DE. From there, you'll travel south down the coast and into Oak Island, North Carolina.

As you can imagine, the cost of gas and tolls for this route can vary quite a bit depending on your car and how much you travel. For the ferry alone, prices range from around $30.00 to $50.00. Gas prices range from $3.10 per gallon in Baltimore to $2.99 per gallon in North Carolina. And with a 12-hour driving time, you'll need to consider if you'll need to book a hotel or two for your trip.

Overall, the total cost of driving from Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina taking the Eastern Shore comes in at around $175-$200, including gas, ferries, possible tolls, meals along the way, and hotels.

Conclusion

So there you have it, three different routes to get from Baltimore, Maryland to Oak Island, North Carolina. While the cost of driving can vary significantly depending on your stops along the way, it's always a good idea to have an estimate of what you'll need to budget on gas and tolls. We hope this blog post has provided some insight to help you plan your road trip!