Origin
Annapolis, MD
Late night in Annapolis on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Annapolis, MD to Essex, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Annapolis to Essex is 35.3 miles and takes about 50 minutes via I-97 and Harbor Tunnel Thruway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region of Annapolis to the Northeast region of Essex. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly on highways but includes some local road transitions. It's a straightforward journey, ideal for a quick transit or an easy day trip if you're looking to cover a short distance without much hassle.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 2 mi | 2m |
| John Hanson Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 97
— 17.9 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annapolis, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on School Street
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
School Street
2
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
College Avenue
3
Continue on MD 450
343 ft
·
7 sec
·
College Avenue
4
Turn left onto MD 70
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bladen Street
5
Continue on MD 70
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
7
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
John Hanson Highway
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
10
Continue on I 97
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 97
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
13
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
15
Continue on I 895
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 11A
Toward Boston Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto O'Donnell Street Cutoff
520 ft
·
14 sec
·
O'Donnell Street Cutoff
18
Turn left onto Interstate Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Interstate Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 North: New York
20
Merge onto I 95
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 59
Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto MD 150
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
25
Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue
211 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Taylor Avenue
26
Turn right
521 ft
·
38 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Annapolis, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 450 / College Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MD 450 / College Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
7
30.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Boston Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward Boston Street
7
31.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 59
Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
9
31.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.85 one way
$11.70 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.85 | $13.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
(3.4 mi)
$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Essex, MD
Late night in Essex on Sunday
Local time
12:37 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its 52% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.9 miles on I-97, offering a solid period of consistent driving. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting you'll transition from highway speeds to potentially more varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of efficient travel on interstates and localized navigation through towns.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.9 mi on I 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 450 / College Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 35.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Annapolis, MD
Full guide →Annapolis is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis was a thriving, wealthy town in the 1600s and 1700s. Many of the houses and other buildings from the 1800s remain, leaving a thriving, vibrant historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Brick-lined streets and quaint shops add to the feel. You could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.
Arriving in Essex, MD
Full guide →Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.9 miles on I 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Essex, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Essex, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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