Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
132.6 mi
213 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Essex, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Ocean City, MD
Prathyusha Mettupalle
The drive from Essex, MD to Ocean City, MD covers 132.6 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dupont Boulevard, Blue Star Memorial Highway, Seashore Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20 miles on Dupont Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.3 miles from Essex, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dupont Boulevard | 20 mi | 28m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 19.1 mi | 27m |
| Seashore Highway | 18.4 mi | 26m |
| Shore Highway | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| US 50 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Queen Anne Highway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Worcester Highway | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Governor Ritchie Highway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and Ocean City, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150
Continue on MD 150
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto MD 151
Turn left onto Kane Street
Turn slight right
Continue on East Lombard Street
Turn left onto MD 150
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Keep slight left at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Turn straight onto MD 2
Turn left onto MD 270
Take the ramp
Merge onto MD 10
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10
Turn left onto MD 2
Continue on MD 2
Take the exit
Merge onto US 50; US 301
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
Turn left onto MD 404
Continue on Shore Highway
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
Turn left onto Legion Road
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
Continue on DE 404
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
Continue on DE 404
Turn right onto US 113
Continue on US 113
Take the exit
Continue on Worcester Highway
Turn left onto MD 589
Turn right onto MD 575
Turn left onto MD 452
Turn left onto US 50
Continue on US 50
Turn left onto Baltimore Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Street
Turn left onto MD 528
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.3 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ocean City, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Essex, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Essex, MD
This is one driving day of about 132.6 miles and 3h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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.
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 66.3 miles from Essex, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$22.16 one way
$44.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $24.38 | $48.77 |
| premium | $5.01 | $26.17 | $52.33 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $29.23 | $58.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.92 | $6.36 |
| Efficient EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.60 | $5.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53 | 0 | $18.56 | $8.49 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Night in Essex on Tuesday
Local time
10:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Ocean City on Tuesday
Local time
10:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
62°F
Greensboro, MD
66 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Seashore
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
132.6 mi in 3h 19m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 132.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
121 ft
Total Descent
157 ft
Highest Point
97 ft
~18.9 mi in
Elevation Range
97 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Essex, MD and Ocean City, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Rehoboth.
Annapolis
Glen Burnie
Rehoboth
Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
Founded 1875
Ocean City is a popular oceanfront resort city on the coast of Maryland. Many things draw visitors -- skyscraper hotels, clean beaches, the boardwalk, restaurants, beachfront lodging, amusement parks and the large convention center -- but a simple bay sunset may be the greatest pleasure. Visitors range from families escaping the more urbanized Western Shore of Maryland to conventioneers soaking up the sun to teenagers enjoying the first taste of vacation without adult supervision
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 132.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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