Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silver Spring, MD
www.kaboompics.com
Carney, MD
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from Silver Spring to Carney, you can expect a straightforward 46.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, it remains a highly affordable transit option within Maryland. You will navigate a mix of major thoroughfares, including the Capital Beltway, the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, and I-95. Because the route stays entirely within the Northeast region, you won't experience significant climatic or cultural shifts, making this a reliable and predictable commute between two Maryland communities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 12.7 mi | 16m |
| Capital Beltway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Colesville Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Spring, MD and Carney, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right
Merge onto US 29
Turn right onto US 29
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit onto I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Keep slight right at fork onto I 895
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 695
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto MD 147
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Silver Spring, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 45.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 695 West, I 695 East: Towson, Essex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 147 North: Harford Road, Carney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.64 one way
$15.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.88
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Silver Spring on Saturday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Carney on Saturday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This trip features a mixed drive profile, balancing high-speed transit with varying traffic conditions. Approximately 40% of your time will be spent on highways, meaning you will frequently transition between busy interstates and local roadways. You should prepare for an interstate grind, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 18.4 miles on I-95. The character of the road shifts as you merge onto the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, requiring you to remain alert for changing traffic patterns. While the distance is relatively short, the combination of beltways and tunnels ensures that the driving experience remains engaging rather than purely monotonous.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.8 miles (I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Silver Spring, MD and Carney, MD, road signs point toward New York and Essex.
New York
Essex
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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