Origin
Essex, MD
Evening in Essex on Sunday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Essex, MD to Olney, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
39.1 mi
63 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 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Olney, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Essex, MD to Olney, MD covers 39.1 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Patuxent Freeway, Olney Sandy Spring Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.5 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 19.5 mi | 24m |
| Patuxent Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Olney Sandy Spring Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Hall Shop Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Ashton Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Guilford Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 19.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and Olney, MD.
1
Start on this road
359 ft
·
31 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
184 ft
·
15 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
4
Continue on MD 150
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 95
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 38B
Toward MD 32 West: Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto MD 32
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Patuxent Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 17
Toward Sanner Road, Cedar Lane
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
200 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Sanner Road, Grace Drive
12
Turn left onto Cedar Lane
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Cedar Lane
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto Guilford Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Guilford Road
14
Turn left onto Hall Shop Road
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Hall Shop Road
15
Turn left onto MD 108
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Clarksville Pike
16
Continue on MD 108
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashton Road
17
Continue on MD 108
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Olney Sandy Spring Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn sharp left onto 18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD
117 ft
·
13 sec
·
18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD
19
Arrive at destination
18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward MD 32 West: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38B
Toward MD 32 West: Columbia
8
27.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Sanner Road, Cedar Lane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward Sanner Road, Cedar Lane
7
27.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Sanner Road, Grace Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Sanner Road, Grace Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.48 one way
$12.96 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.10 | $14.20 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.58 | $15.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Olney, MD
Evening in Olney on Sunday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Columbia, MD
20 mi in
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
1 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
59m 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?
39.1 mi in 59m — 59% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 95.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 39.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting 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 59m. Total distance: 39.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.5 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Olney, 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Monocacy National Battlefield 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 Olney, 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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