Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16.7 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Essex, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Catonsville, MD to Essex, MD is 16.7 miles and takes about 28 minutes via I 95 and the Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on major highways. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 9 mi | 12m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Frederick Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Taylor Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,835 veh/hr typical · worst 6,313
Quietest
2 AM
~322 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Essex, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto MD 144
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 695
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto MD 150
Continue on MD 150
Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 13.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$2.66 one way
$5.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $2.95 | $5.89 |
| premium | $4.81 | $3.16 | $6.32 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $3.15 | $6.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.46 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Catonsville on Tuesday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Essex on Tuesday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is 54% highway, meaning you'll spend a good amount of time on major routes like I 95 and the Baltimore Beltway. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 9 miles on I 95. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface streets like Eastern Avenue. Be prepared for frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate this urban and suburban corridor.
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 around 2.9 miles in.
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 12 decision points packed into just 16.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
156 ft
Total Descent
592 ft
Highest Point
476 ft
Elevation Range
477 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Catonsville, MD to Essex, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
Founded 1831
Top landmarks
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 16.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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 options from Catonsville, MD or browse trips ending in Essex, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
