The Cost of Driving From Baltimore, Maryland to Silver Spring, Maryland

Driving from Baltimore, Maryland to Silver Spring, Maryland can be an enjoyable experience, especially if you’re an explorer eager to discover new places. But, driving also comes with its own expenses – gas prices, toll fees, and so on. The cost of the trip usually depends on the distance you’re traveling, the route you’re taking, current gas prices, and any toll charges along the way. In this blog post, we will highlight various routes and their associated costs, so you can decide which route suits you the most!

Downtown Expressway (I-70 W)

The I-70 W route is probably the most common route for this drive. It’s a rather direct route and the distance from Baltimore to Silver Spring is roughly 39.7 miles via this route. It takes about 44 minutes of driving, depending on the traffic. Gas prices in Baltimore currently range from $2.85 to $3.10 per gallon, and Silver Spring gas prices are roughly the same. Assuming an average of 25 miles per gallon and a fuel price of $3 per gallon, the estimated cost for gas would be around $5.68 for a one-way trip. The toll fee for the segment between Baltimore and Silver Spring is $2.20, and a round trip would cost about $4.40.

Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD-295 S)

The Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD-295 S) is a route that’s less direct than I-70 W but still leads to Silver Spring. The distance from Baltimore to Silver Spring via this route is roughly 38.4 miles, and it takes about 1 hour of driving, depending on the traffic. Gas prices in Baltimore and Silver Spring are around $3 per gallon, and we are assuming an average of 25 miles per gallon. Therefore, the estimated cost for gas would be around $6.12 for a one-way trip. This route does not have any tolls, so that would save you some money compared to the I-70 W route.

Baltimore-Washington Expressway (I-95 S and US-29 S)

Another possible route is taking the Baltimore-Washington Expressway (I-95 S and US-29 S). This route is longer than the other routes we discussed before but still leads to Silver Spring. The distance from Baltimore to Silver Spring is roughly 44.9 miles via this route, and it takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes of driving, depending on the traffic. Gas prices in Baltimore and Silver Spring are around $3 per gallon, and we are assuming an average of 25 miles per gallon. Therefore, the estimated cost for gas would be around $7.18 for a one-way trip. The toll fees for this route are $6.60 each way, resulting in a round trip total of about $13.20.

Summary

In conclusion, the cost of driving from Baltimore, Maryland to Silver Spring, Maryland depends heavily on the route you take. The I-70 W route has toll fees of $2.20, while MD-295 S doesn't have any toll fees. The Baltimore-Washington Expressway (I-95 S and US-29 S) route, on the other hand, has the highest toll fees of $6.60 each way. Therefore, the total cost of the trip (gas prices + toll fees one way) using the I-70 W route would be around $7.08, while using the MD-295 S route is about $6.12. Finally, the Baltimore-Washington Expressway route has a total cost of around $20.98. So, you must choose the most suitable route for you based on cost benefits and time. Safe travels!