Origin
Charlotte Hall, MD
Night in Charlotte Hall on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte Hall, 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 14m
Distance
52.7 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte Hall, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Silver Spring, MD
www.kaboompics.com
Trip Overview
Spanning 52.7 miles, your journey from Charlotte Hall to Silver Spring is a straightforward trek across Maryland. You should plan for about 1 hour and 14 minutes of travel time, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With fuel costs estimated at $9, it is an affordable excursion that requires no overnight stops. The route transitions you from the more rural atmosphere of Charlotte Hall toward the bustling suburban environment of Silver Spring. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent climate and cultural feel throughout the drive. This is a practical, no-nonsense commute that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 22.5 mi | 29m |
| Leonardtown Road | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Branch Avenue | 9 mi | 11m |
| Mattawoman Beantown Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Crain Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Colesville Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Three Notch Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Charlotte Hall Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 22.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte Hall, MD and Silver Spring, MD.
1
Start on this road
170 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Charlotte Hall Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Charlotte Hall Road
3
Turn right onto Golden Beach Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Golden Beach Road
4
Turn left onto MD 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Three Notch Road
5
Continue on MD 5
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Leonardtown Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto MD 5
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Mattawoman Beantown Road
7
Merge onto US 301; MD 5
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Crain Highway
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 5
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Branch Avenue
Toward MD 5 North: Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; I 495
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 30
Toward US 29 South: Silver Spring
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto US 29
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Colesville Road
14
Turn left onto US 29
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Georgia Avenue
15
Continue on US 29
93 ft
·
9 sec
·
Georgia Avenue
16
Turn right
158 ft
·
13 sec
17
Turn right
85 ft
·
6 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Charlotte Hall, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 16 and 50.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 301; MD 5 / Crain Highway
Merge onto US 301; MD 5 / Crain Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
18.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
MD 5 / Branch Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 5 / Branch Avenue toward MD 5 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 5 North: Washington
7
27.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, 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.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Coll...
8
46.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
7
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
$8.74 one way
$17.47 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.57 | $19.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.22 | $20.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.64 | $23.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Silver Spring, MD
Night in Silver Spring on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny
SW 15 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 4:18AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
4 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 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate a mix of surfaces, utilizing Leonardtown Road and Branch Avenue before connecting to the Capital Beltway. While the highway share is 0% for the majority of the trip, you will encounter a 22.5-mile stretch on the Capital Beltway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, the pace fluctuates significantly compared to a standard highway haul. Be prepared for frequent turns and shifting traffic patterns as you navigate these varied road types.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.5 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 16 miles in near US 301; MD 5 / Crain Highway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 16 miles (US 301; MD 5 / Crain Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Charlotte Hall, MD to Silver Spring, MD, road signs begin pointing toward College Park along the way.
College Park
27.5 mi in
|
~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 52.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m 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 22.5 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 16 miles (US 301; MD 5 / Crain Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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