The Cost of a Trip Between Capitol Heights, Maryland and Glenmont, Maryland Based on Current Gas Prices

If you're traveling from Capitol Heights, Maryland to Glenmont, Maryland, you have several transportation options. Some choices might be more cost-effective or time-efficient than others depending on your needs. With current gas prices in mind, let's explore the costs and distances of different routes you could take for this trip.

By Car

Driving is the most convenient option if you have a car or are renting one. The distance between the two cities is about 20 miles, and according to GasBuddy, the current average gas price in Maryland is $2.85 per gallon. Assuming a car that gets 25 miles per gallon, a one-way trip would consume about 0.8 gallons of gas. Therefore, a round trip from Capitol Heights to Glenmont would require approximately 1.6 gallons of gas and could cost around $4.56.

If you factor in tolls, the cost might increase. The fastest route involves using two toll roads: US-50E and the ICC (Intercounty Connector). The toll rate for a two-axle car on US-50E is $2.50, and on the ICC, it's $4.20 for a peak-usage trip. Therefore, the total one-way cost for the fastest route, which covers about 21 miles, would be around $7.70 for gas and tolls. If you take this route, your trip time should be about 30 minutes.

For a free alternative, you can use I-495E, which is about 24 miles long and takes about 35 minutes. However, if you're traveling during peak hours, you might encounter heavy traffic, which could make your trip take longer. Nonetheless, taking this route would save you in toll costs.

By Public Transportation

Another option to travel between Capitol Heights and Glenmont is by public transportation. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) provides subway, bus, and rail services to Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

By Subway

If you want to use the subway, you could take the Blue Line from Capitol Heights station and change to the Red Line at Metro Center station. You would then ride the Red Line from Gallery Place/Chinatown to Glenmont. The total cost for a one-way trip would be $3.85, and your journey should last about 1 hour and 10 minutes. However, the WMATA fare structure depends on the time of day and distance. Peak fares apply on weekdays from opening hours until 9:30 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.

By Bus

Taking a bus is another option, but it might require catching multiple buses and taking more time, depending on your route. For example, you could take the W4 bus from Capitol Heights to Silver Spring and change to the J5 bus to Glenmont. The total fare for a one-way trip would be $5.10, and your travel time should be around 1 hour and 45 minutes. The bus fare is the same regardless of the time of day.

By Train

Using the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) train Regional Rail, Penn Line is an alternative to reach a rail station within the Glenmont community. There is no station in Glenmont, but you can get off at Silver Spring's on the Penn Line of MARC trains and transfer to the J5 bus going towards Glenmont or use the MetroLink silver line extension.

A one-way MARC train ticket from Union Station in Washington, DC to Silver Springs costs around $7.00, with travel time taking roughly around 30-45 minutes.

Conclusion

After reviewing these options and their costs, you have many choices to make. To reduce travel time and driving costs, taking the toll roads would be the best route if you're driving. Conversely, taking the subway would be your best option if you want to avoid traffic and don't have a car. The costs of the other public transportation options are comparable and might depend on your personal preferences and convenience.

Regardless of the option you choose, the trip between Capitol Heights and Glenmont shouldn't take more than two hours.