The Cost of Driving from Annapolis to Silver Spring, MD: Analyzing Gas and Toll Prices

Driving is often the easiest and most convenient way to get from one place to another. Especially in the United States, where public transportation can be infrequent or non-existent. If you are planning a road trip from Annapolis, Maryland to Silver Spring, Maryland, you may be wondering how much it will cost you. In this post, we will analyze gas and toll prices on different routes and how they can impact the cost of your trip.

Route 1: US-50 W and I-495 N

One of the most popular routes between Annapolis and Silver Spring is taking US-50 W and I-495 N. This route is approximately 36 miles and it takes about 40 minutes to drive. According to GasBuddy, as of August 2021, the average gas price in Maryland is around $3.16/gallon. So, if your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need about 1.44 gallons of gas which would cost approximately $4.56 (rounded to the nearest cent). Keep in mind that if you travel on weekdays between peak hours, you may need to pay tolls to travel on I-495 N. For example, if you travel between 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the toll price is $1.80 for 2-axle vehicles. This means you may need to add a total toll cost of $3.60 to your trip.

Total Estimated Cost (one way): $8.16

Route 2: MD-3 N and MD-32 W

Another route you may consider taking is MD-3 N and MD-32 W. This route is approximately 40 miles and it takes about 50 minutes to drive. According to GasBuddy, as of August 2021, the average gas price in Maryland is around $3.16/gallon. So, if your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need about 1.6 gallons of gas which would cost approximately $5.06 (rounded to the nearest cent). However, the good news is that you won't need to pay any tolls on this route.

Total Estimated Cost (one way): $5.06

Route 3: I-97 N and MD-32 W

If you prefer a more scenic route, you may consider taking I-97 N and MD-32. This route is approximately 46 miles and it takes about 55 minutes to drive. According to GasBuddy, as of August 2021, the average gas price in Maryland is around $3.16/gallon. So, if your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need about 1.84 gallons of gas which would cost approximately $5.82 (rounded to the nearest cent). Like Route 2, you won't need to pay any tolls on this route.

Total Estimated Cost (one way): $5.82

Route 4: I-97 N and I-495 N

If you want the fastest route possible, you may take I-97 N and I-495 N. This route is approximately 41 miles and it takes about 45 minutes to drive. According to GasBuddy, as of August 2021, the average gas price in Maryland is around $3.16/gallon. So, if your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, you would need about 1.64 gallons of gas which would cost approximately $5.19 (rounded to the nearest cent). However, like Route 1, you may need to pay tolls to travel on I-495 N during peak hours which means a total toll cost of $3.60 added to the trip.

Total Estimated Cost (one way): $8.79

Conclusion

As you can see, the cost of driving from Annapolis, Maryland, to Silver Spring, Maryland, can vary significantly based on the route you take. The total estimated cost ranges from $5.06 to $8.79 for one-way trip depending on the route you choose. This cost analysis can help you plan your trip and budget accordingly. However, it's important to keep in mind that gas prices and toll fees can fluctuate, so the costs provided here are only an estimate. Safe travels!