Origin
Chevy Chase, MD
Morning in Chevy Chase on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chevy Chase, 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
1h 1m
Distance
43.7 mi
70 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chevy Chase, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.7-mile drive from Chevy Chase, MD, to Essex, MD, will take you about 1 hour and 1 minute to complete. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey primarily utilizing I 95 and the Capital Beltway, with Eastern Avenue also forming part of the route. Given its short duration and direct nature, this trip is ideal as a single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, making it an economical option. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the travel experience consistent geographically. This route is best suited for those prioritizing efficiency over leisurely exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 31 mi | 37m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Montrose Driveway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Stewart Driveway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Clifford Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 31 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chevy Chase, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on Hutch Place
133 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hutch Place
2
Turn left onto Clifford Avenue
450 ft
·
22 sec
·
Clifford Avenue
3
Turn right onto Kenilworth Driveway
363 ft
·
15 sec
·
Kenilworth Driveway
4
Continue on Montgomery Avenue
444 ft
·
19 sec
·
Montgomery Avenue
5
Continue on Stewart Driveway
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Stewart Driveway
6
Turn right onto Montrose Driveway
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Montrose Driveway
7
Turn right onto MD 185
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Connecticut Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 495
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
12
Merge onto I 95
27 mi
·
32 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 59
Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto MD 150
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
18
Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue
211 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Taylor Avenue
19
Turn right
521 ft
·
38 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Chevy Chase, 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 0.7 and 40.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
7
39.9 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
40.2 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
$7.24 one way
$14.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.93 | $15.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.48 | $16.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.65 | $19.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Morning in Essex on Sunday
Local time
7:53 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 1m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 71% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on I 95, including a longest stretch of 31 miles without needing to exit. This means the character of the drive is predominantly fast-paced interstate travel. While the specific road conditions might vary, the overall impression will be one of consistent speed and direct routing, designed for covering ground efficiently. The transition between the Capital Beltway and I 95 is a key segment to be aware of.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 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 43.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chevy Chase, MD to Essex, MD, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
New York
7.8 mi in
|
~12m
About the Cities
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 43.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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