Origin
Chevy Chase Village, MD
Morning in Chevy Chase Village on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chevy Chase Village, 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 4m
Distance
45.4 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chevy Chase Village, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 45.4-mile drive from Chevy Chase Village, MD to Essex, MD is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over an hour. The journey primarily utilizes major highways like I-95 and the Capital Beltway, making it a direct route through Maryland's Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this highway-focused drive offers a straightforward way to get from point A to point B. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so if you're looking for a quick and efficient transit, this route fits the bill. It's a practical option for those needing to cover ground without extensive detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 31 mi | 37m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Irving Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Taylor 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 Village, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on West Irving Street
501 ft
·
27 sec
·
West Irving Street
2
Turn left onto MD 185
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Connecticut Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 495
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
7
Merge onto I 95
27 mi
·
32 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 59
Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto MD 150
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
13
Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue
211 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Taylor Avenue
14
Turn right
521 ft
·
38 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 22.7 miles from Chevy Chase Village, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 42 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
9.3 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
9.6 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
41.7 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
42 mi into trip
|
~56m 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
$7.53 one way
$15.05 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.24 | $16.49 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.80 | $17.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
8:10 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
2 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 4m 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 experience for the majority of this 45.4-mile trip, with 68% of the drive on major roadways. You'll navigate segments of the Capital Beltway and I-95, including a significant 31-mile stretch on I-95 without interruption. While Connecticut Avenue is part of the route, the overall feel is dominated by faster-paced interstate driving. This means you'll likely experience smooth, albeit potentially busy, travel conditions for most of the journey, characterized by higher speeds and less varied scenery.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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 2.5 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 45.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 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.
Between Chevy Chase Village, MD and Essex, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring and New York.
Silver Spring
2.5 mi in
|
~6m
New York
9.6 mi in
|
~15m
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 4m. Total distance: 45.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). 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 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 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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