How far is Fort Washington, MD from Silver Spring, MD?

The driving distance from Fort Washington, MD to Silver Spring, MD is about 38.2 miles (61.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.6 miles (31.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
38.13 mi
00h 49m
Flight
19.58 mi
31.51 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Washington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.58 mi
Kilometers
31.51 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.13 mi
Kilometers
61.37 km
Drive Time
00h 49m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Silver Spring
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 AM EDT
Return by in Fort Washington
Thu, Apr 23, 3:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Washington
2026-04-23T01:54
Arrive Silver Spring
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:49 AM to 10:49 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Washington
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Forest Heights
MD

Town in Maryland, United States

From Fort Washington
11.9 mi
00h 24m
To Silver Spring
26.2 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Washington and Silver Spring.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Washington and Silver Spring.

  1. 1

    Start on Warburton Drive

    1619 ft · 1 min · Warburton Drive

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Fort Washington Road

    1544 ft · 54 sec · Fort Washington Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Old Fort Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Old Fort Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Indian Head Highway

    7.6 mi · 12 min · Indian Head Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on South Capitol Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · South Capitol Street

  6. 6

    Turn slight right onto I 295 North: Malcolm X Avenue, Dorothea Dix Avenue, DHS

    639 ft · 18 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 295 North

    870 ft · 25 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Anacostia Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Anacostia Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Southeast Freeway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1579 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 395 North: 3rd Street Tunnel

    637 ft · 16 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto 3rd Street Tunnel

    2121 ft · 40 sec · 3rd Street Tunnel

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    1589 ft · 41 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on 2nd Street Northwest

    149 m · 21 sec · 2nd Street Northwest

  15. 15

    Turn left onto E Street Northwest

    1784 ft · 45 sec · E Street Northwest

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 6th Street Northwest

    2691 ft · 49 sec · 6th Street Northwest

  17. 17

    Turn sharp left onto New York Avenue Northwest

    676 ft · 22 sec · New York Avenue Northwest

  18. 18

    Continue on Allen Y Lew Place Northwest

    585 ft · 14 sec · Allen Y Lew Place Northwest

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 9th Street Northwest

    1 mi · 3 min · 9th Street Northwest

  20. 20

    Continue on Florida Avenue Northwest

    870 ft · 38 sec · Florida Avenue Northwest

  21. 21

    Continue on Sherman Avenue Northwest

    1.4 km · 2 min · Sherman Avenue Northwest

  22. 22

    Continue on New Hampshire Avenue Northwest

    1004 ft · 22 sec · New Hampshire Avenue Northwest

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Princeton Place Northwest

    86 m · 13 sec · Princeton Place Northwest

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Georgia Avenue Northwest

    3.8 mi · 10 min · Georgia Avenue Northwest

  25. 25

    Turn right

    48 m · 14 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right

    26 m · 6 sec

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Washington and Silver Spring.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
27 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
70.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indian Head Highway
7.57 mi · 20%
Georgia Avenue Northwest
3.83 mi · 10%
Anacostia Freeway
2.18 mi · 6%
Southeast Freeway
2.12 mi · 6%
Old Fort Road
1.62 mi · 4%
South Capitol Street
1.2 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Indian Head Highway

Turn left onto Indian Head Highway

7.57 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.6 mi
19.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Forest Heights
00h 24m from Fort Washington
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Washington and Sunny near Silver Spring.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Washington to Silver Spring?

The road trip is about 38.2 miles (61.4 km) and usually takes 00h 49m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Forest Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.9 miles from Fort Washington and 26.2 miles from Silver Spring.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 19.6 miles (31.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.48 one way or $10.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Washington and Sunny near Silver Spring.

Stop Ideas Near Forest Heights

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Forest Heights and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 2.8 mi away

United States Capitol

Washington , DC
First St SE, Washington, DC 20004, United States
Rating 4.6/5 4,243 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical place,Historical landmark,Landmark,Federal government office
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 4.2 mi away

D C Government

Washington , DC
77 P St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office,Telephone answering service
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
Meeting point 1.8 mi away

THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus

Washington , DC
1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020
Rating 4.7/5 64 reviews Recreation center,City Hall
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 10.6 mi away

Town Hall Liquor And Bar

College Park , MD
8135 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Rating 4.3/5 319 reviews Liquor store,Bar

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Forest Heights.

RAIL

Union Station

6 mi away
110 Callahan Drive
RAIL

Washington Union Station

10 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

New Carrollton station

20 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Lorton station

23 mi away
8006 Lorton Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Washington and Silver Spring. Straight-line distance: 19.58 mi (31.51 km).

Fort Washington

#1 Fort Washington

Unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Population24,183
Coordinates38.7073400, -77.0230300
Altitude32
CountryUnited States
Silver Spring

#2 Silver Spring

A city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population71,452
Coordinates38.9906700, -77.0260900
Altitude104
CountryUnited States
Start: Warburton Drive (-77.022819, 38.707437)
End: (-77.026096, 38.9908)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.34 gal
5.09 L · about $5.48
Round trip
$10.95
2.68 gal · 10.18 L
Estimated CO2
11.9 kg one way
Round trip: 23.8 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.48 $10.95
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.16 $12.33
Premium $4.95 $6.64 $13.28
Diesel $5.98 $8.01 $16.03

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maryland · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Washington and Silver Spring. The current time is 01:54:31.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.