Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Morning in South Bel Air on Friday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Bel Air, MD to Silver Spring, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
61.2 mi
99 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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.
South Bel Air, MD
Da Khatri
Silver Spring, MD
www.kaboompics.com
Trip Overview
South Bel Air, MD to Silver Spring, MD is 61.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive with frequent turns and a mix of highway and local roads, making it feel more like navigating through towns and suburbs than a pure interstate journey. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, perfect for a quick commute or a short excursion.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 61.2 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
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy,' suggesting you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction, especially as you move away from the main highways. While 29% of the route involves highway travel on roads like the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and Harbor Tunnel Thruway, the overall profile indicates a significant portion will be on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 17.7 miles on I 95, offering a brief period of consistent speed before you transition back to more varied driving conditions. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to navigation.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 5.8 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 61.2 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 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.8 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
14.6 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 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
54.3 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
58.9 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Silver Spring, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda and College Park.
Bethesda
54.3 mi in
|
~1h 10m
College Park
54.3 mi in
|
~1h 10m
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 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| 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 South Bel Air, MD and Silver Spring, MD.
1
Start on South Shamrock Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Shamrock Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East MacPhail Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
East MacPhail Road
3
Turn left onto MD 924
496 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on MD 924
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Emmorton Road
5
Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ring Factory Road
6
Turn left onto MD 24
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 895
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
12
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
13
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 895
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 895
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 895
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 95
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
20
Merge onto I 495
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 30
Toward US 29 South: Silver Spring
Use the right lane.
22
Merge onto US 29
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Colesville Road
23
Turn left onto US 29
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Georgia Avenue
24
Continue on US 29
93 ft
·
9 sec
·
Georgia Avenue
25
Turn right
158 ft
·
13 sec
26
Turn right
85 ft
·
6 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.6 mi from South Bel Air, MD · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from South Bel Air, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Silver Spring, MD
The final approach into Silver Spring, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.15 one way
$20.29 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.11 | $22.22 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.87 | $23.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.51 | $27.02 |
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: 21.4 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 | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Morning in Silver Spring on Friday
Local time
10:08 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from South Bel Air, MD to Silver Spring, MD covers 61.2 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Harbor Tunnel Thruway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.6 miles from South Bel Air, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.15 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Silver Spring, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda and College Park.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Silver Spring, MD
More trips to Silver Spring, MD
Explore more options from South Bel Air, MD or browse trips ending in Silver Spring, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.