Drive or Fly: Silver Spring, MD to Green Haven, MD?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for DCA–BWI. At 37 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

52m

Distance

37.5 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 27m

3m in the air

Air Distance

28 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Silver Spring, MD → DCA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Green Haven, MD 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Silver Spring, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 10 mi, ~14m drive

Green Haven, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and BWI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 23m

20m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Acela

Door-to-Door Timeline

Silver Spring, MD → Washington Union Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 20m

Arrival 10m

Bwi Thurgood Marshall Airport Station → Green Haven, MD 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Washington Union Station 7 mi, ~10m drive

To Bwi Thurgood Marshall Airport Station 9 mi, ~13m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~51/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 49m

59m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0310D

Door-to-Door Timeline

Silver Spring, MD → Silver Spring Bus Station (SSP6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 59m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) → Green Haven, MD 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From SSP6 — Silver Spring Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~28/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	52m	2h 27m	1h 23m	1h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$5	$3
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

37.5 mi 52m

via I 95, MD 100

Alternative (+10 min)

39.6 mi 1h 2m

via I 495, MD 3; MD 450, US 50

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Silver Spring, MD to Green Haven, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.