The Cost of a Trip Between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Potomac, Maryland during the Gas Price Surge

The cost of a trip between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Potomac, Maryland can be affected by the changes in gas prices. Between these two destinations, there are different possible routes with different costs and distances. This article will explore each route and provide recommendations for the best route at the current gas prices.

Route 1: The Shortest Route

The shortest route between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Potomac, Maryland is via I-270 South. The distance between the two destinations is about 147 miles, with a driving time of about 2 hours and 29 minutes. However, the shortest route does not necessarily mean the cheapest or the fastest.

This route has a toll fee of $6.50 due to the use of the Intercounty Connector (ICC) in Maryland. According to GasBuddy, the average gas price in Pennsylvania is $3.16 per gallon, while in Maryland, it is $3.10 per gallon. If a car with a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon is used, the total cost of gas for this route will be around $29.62.

Adding the toll fee to the total cost of gas, the total cost for using this route is around $36.12.

Route 2: The Cheapest Route

The cheapest route between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Potomac, Maryland is via Route 15 South. The distance between the two destinations is about 168 miles, with a driving time of about 3 hours and 3 minutes.

There are no toll fees for this route. According to GasBuddy, the average gas price in Pennsylvania is $3.16 per gallon, while in Maryland, it is $3.10 per gallon. If a car with a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon is used, the total cost of gas for this route will be around $34.00.

This route is longer than the shortest route, but it is the cheapest in terms of gas cost. The total cost for using this route is around $34.00.

Route 3: The Fastest Route

The fastest route between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Potomac, Maryland is via I-95 South. The distance between the two destinations is about 193 miles, with a driving time of about 3 hours and 9 minutes.

However, this route has some toll fees due to the use of toll roads in Delaware and Maryland. A one-way toll fee for Delaware Route 1 is $4.00, and for the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge in Maryland, the toll fee is $8.00. According to GasBuddy, the average gas price in Pennsylvania is $3.16 per gallon, while in Maryland, it is $3.10 per gallon. If a car with a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon is used, the total cost of gas for this route will be around $38.63.

Adding the toll fees and the total cost of gas, the total cost for using this route is around $50.63. Although this route is the fastest, it is also the most expensive.

Recommendation: The Best Route

Based on the current gas prices and the overall cost, the cheapest route, Route 2 via Route 15 South, is the best route. Although it is longer than the shortest route, it is cheaper in terms of gas cost and has no toll fees.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cost of a trip between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Potomac, Maryland can be affected by the current gas prices and the different possible routes. Route 1 via I-270 South is the shortest but also the most expensive due to toll fees. Route 2 via Route 15 South is the cheapest but longer. Route 3 via I-95 South is the fastest but also the most expensive due to toll fees. Based on the current gas prices, the cheapest route is the best route to take. The overall cost for using Route 2 via Route 15 South is around $34.00, with a driving time of about 3 hours and 3 minutes.