ABBY PHILLIP

8/6/10 6:39 PM EDT

President Obama took Marine One, the presidential helicopter to make a six-mile trip on Friday.

President Barack Obama left the White House this morning for a six-mile trip to a sign factory on the Maryland-D.C. border. But instead of taking the presidential motorcade, he took Marine One – the presidential helicopter.

A quick search on Google maps shows the drive would have taken at least 20 minutes, but the helicopter trip took just eight. And, according to one unofficial estimate, it was the 300th trip Obama has taken in Marine One since taking office 20 months ago.

The Secret Service declined to discuss any details about the President’s travel plans, which they say fall under “ways and means”—information that, if made public, could threaten the President’s safety. Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said that Obama decided to fly instead of drive to the sign factory “probably because it's easier than [taking] a motorcade through the city in the middle of the day.” 

Tom Schatz, President of Citizens Against Government Waste, says that it is impossible to calculate how much presidential travel costs or even how much energy is consumed. 

Schatz says that whether by motorcade or flight, the cost of transporting the President includes factors such as the use of local police details, military staff, fuel and even the cost of inconveniencing travelers on the road. 

“There’s not a lot to say about how presidents travel and how much it costs because nobody knows,” Schatz says. “You can’t really say, ‘Oh, if he took the motorcade, it might be less money.’ ” Obama has traveled by motorcade – each of which features Secret Service vehicles, an ambulance, a bomb-squad detail and several police motorcycles for traffic control – for short, in-town trips, including a visit to a community center in Washington’s Anacostia neighborhood for a Father’s Day speech.

Still, “It would be very helpful to the taxpayers if there was a distinct White House travel budget and everybody could look at it,” Schatz added. “Is it really a state secret to know how much is being spent on his travel?” 

The travel between the White House and Andrews Air Force Base and back likely accounts for most of the 300 Marine One flights that Obama has taken since assuming office. From there the President will board Air Force One to travel longer distances.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40771.html#ixzz0vsYBnh8k