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Trip from Bel Air, MD to Silver Spring, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 22m

Distance

61.6 mi

99 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 16m ★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
town in Harford County, Maryland, United States

Bel Air, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Silver Spring, MD, MD

Silver Spring, MD

www.kaboompics.com

Trip Overview

Traveling from Bel Air to Silver Spring is a straightforward 61.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. Since this trip is well within the scope of a single day, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable commute within the Northeast region of Maryland. The route primarily utilizes I-95, the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway to bridge the distance between these two points. It is a practical drive for those looking to reach their destination efficiently without unnecessary detours or complicated logistics.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 17.7 mi 20m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 12 mi 15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Express Toll Lanes 7.7 mi 9m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 5.2 mi 7m
Capital Beltway 3.2 mi 3m
Colesville Road 1.5 mi 3m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 17.7 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bel Air, MD and Silver Spring, MD.

1

Start on Courtland Place

403 ft · 19 sec · Courtland Place
2

Turn right onto South Hickory Avenue

342 ft · 9 sec · South Hickory Avenue
3

Turn right onto MD 22

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Churchville Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

At end of road, turn right onto US 1 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · Baltimore Pike
5

Turn left onto MD 24

5.2 mi · 7 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 95

8.1 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

6.5 mi · 7 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

1.2 mi · 1 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 895

3.8 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
11

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
12

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 895

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 895

6.0 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 95

18 mi · 20 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
19

Merge onto I 495

3.2 mi · 3 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 30 Toward US 29 South: Silver Spring Use the right lane.
21

Merge onto US 29

1.5 mi · 3 min · Colesville Road
22

Turn left onto US 29

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Georgia Avenue
23

Continue on US 29

93 ft · 9 sec · Georgia Avenue
24

Turn right

158 ft · 13 sec
25

Turn right

85 ft · 6 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Baltimore, MD

31 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Baltimore, MD to Silver Spring, MD

33.7 mi · 46m

Pacing Suggestions

Essex, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baltimore, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Bel Air, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 59.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
6.2 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South: Baltimore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
6
15 mi into trip | ~21m in | Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
21.4 mi into trip | ~29m in | Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
8
54.8 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
7
59.4 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 29 South: Silver Spring

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 30 Toward US 29 South: Silver Spring

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.21 one way

$20.43 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $11.19 $22.37
premium $4.93 $11.95 $23.89
diesel $5.61 $13.60 $27.20

Estimated Tolls: $0.84

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (12 mi) $0.84

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$1

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.47 $2.96
Efficient EV 15.4 0 $5.39 $2.46
EV Truck/SUV 24.6 0 $8.62 $3.94

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Bel Air, MD

Late night in Bel Air on Sunday

Local time

12:38 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Silver Spring, MD

Late night in Silver Spring on Sunday

Local time

12:38 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 22m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the Maryland landscape. While you will spend 29% of your time on highways, the route is far from a simple, monotonous interstate grind. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a 17.7-mile segment on I-95, providing a brief period of consistent speed before the character of the road shifts. The transition between fast-moving highway sections and more technical local roads keeps the experience varied. You will need to stay alert as you maneuver through these changing road conditions, ensuring a steady pace throughout the hour-plus journey.

Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.6 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Bel Air, MD and Silver Spring, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda and College Park.

Bethesda

54.8 mi in | ~1h 10m

College Park

54.8 mi in | ~1h 10m

About the Cities

Starting in Bel Air, MD

Full guide →

Bel Air , along with Bel Air North and South, is a Central Maryland suburb of Baltimore, with a combined population of 75,000.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 61.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.84 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Silver Spring, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Silver Spring, MD before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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