Origin
Silver Spring, MD
Late night in Silver Spring on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silver Spring, MD to Highland, MD
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
29m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
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
Highland, MD
Rámon van Raaij
Trip Overview
This 16.8-mile drive from Silver Spring, MD to Highland, MD is a straightforward local journey that can easily be completed in about 29 minutes. With no highway driving, it's a turn-heavy route perfect for a single day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Budget around $3 for fuel for this short excursion. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the scenery consistent throughout. This route is ideal for a quick errand or a short scenic drive without the commitment of a longer road trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.4 miles from Silver Spring, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a local driving experience on this route, characterized by frequent turns and surface streets. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating through neighborhoods and local thoroughfares for the entire 16.8 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.3 miles along New Hampshire Avenue. This drive offers a consistent local feel, so you won't experience the dramatic shifts in road type often found on longer highway journeys. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with regular navigation.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New Hampshire Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 8.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 29 / Georgia Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 0.4 miles (US 29 / Colesville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 29 / Georgia Avenue
Merge onto US 29 / Georgia Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 29 / Colesville Road
Turn right onto US 29 / Colesville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward MD 650 North: Ashton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MD 650 North: Ashton
5
12.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
MD 108 / Ashton Road
Turn right onto MD 108 / Ashton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire Avenue | 8.3 mi | 13m |
| Colesville Road | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Ashton Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Clarksville Pike | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Columbia Pike | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Georgia Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Scaggsville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Hampshire Avenue
— 8.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Spring, MD and Highland, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
3
Merge onto US 29
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Georgia Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 29
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Colesville Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 29
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbia Pike
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward MD 650 North: Ashton
Use the right lane.
7
Turn straight onto MD 650
8.3 mi
·
13 min
·
New Hampshire Avenue
8
Turn right onto MD 108
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashton Road
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on MD 108
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Clarksville Pike
10
Turn right onto MD 216
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Scaggsville Road
11
Arrive at destination
MD 216
Trip Plan
Given the short 29-minute duration and 16.8-mile length, this trip offers great flexibility. You can leave anytime without worrying about needing to break up the drive. The $3 fuel cost is minimal, so keep your tank at least half full to avoid any minor worries. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, pay close attention to your GPS or map, especially when navigating the 8.3-mile segment on New Hampshire Avenue, as it's the longest continuous stretch before potential turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.4 miles from Silver Spring, MD, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16.8 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.4 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Silver Spring, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Silver Spring, MD
This is one driving day of about 16.8 miles and 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Silver Spring, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on New Hampshire Avenue for about 8.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.4 mi from Silver Spring, MD · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.4 miles from Silver Spring, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Highland, MD
The final approach into Highland, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Highland, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.79 one way
$5.57 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.05 | $6.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.26 | $6.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Highland, MD
Late night in Highland on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
18 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
29m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Silver Spring, MD to Highland, MD covers 16.8 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Hampshire Avenue, Colesville Road, Ashton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.4 miles from Silver Spring, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 29 / Georgia Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 0.4 miles (US 29 / Colesville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Silver Spring, MD to Highland, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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