Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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.
Essex, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Seat Pleasant, MD
Waldemar Brandt
Traveling from Essex to Seat Pleasant covers 43.1 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Since this is a relatively short trip within Maryland, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of Eastern Boulevard, Eastern Avenue, and I-95 South. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, this is an affordable and straightforward commute across the region. It is a practical route for those moving between these two Northeast locations, offering a direct path that skips the need for complex travel logistics.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Washington Parkway | 29.6 mi | 40m |
| I 95 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Eastern Avenue Northeast | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kenilworth Avenue Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kenilworth Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~6,339 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~623 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
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 Essex, MD and Seat Pleasant, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150
Continue on MD 150
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 295
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on MD 201
Take the exit
Continue on Kenilworth Avenue
Turn left onto Eastern Avenue Northeast
Turn sharp left onto MD 704
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.6 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40.8 — 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 I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 295 South: Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East: Richmond, Annapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Eastern Avenue, Aquatic Gardens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.62 one way
$15.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $8.35 | $16.70 |
| premium | $5.24 | $8.90 | $17.80 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $9.08 | $18.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Essex on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Seat Pleasant on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will spend your time navigating surface streets, which keeps you engaged behind the wheel throughout the 43.1-mile journey. Because the path relies on local roads like Eastern Boulevard and Eastern Avenue, the pace remains steady and requires your full attention at intersections. Without any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the character of this drive is defined by its frequent transitions and urban navigation rather than long-distance cruising.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Baltimore-Washington Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.1 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
531 ft
Total Descent
459 ft
Highest Point
272 ft
~21.6 mi in
Elevation Range
258 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Essex, MD and Seat Pleasant, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis and Aquatic Gardens.
Annapolis
Aquatic Gardens
Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
Founded 1931
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
This is a straightforward, same-day round trip at just 43.1 miles and 1 hour 5 minutes. You'll be back before you know it, making it perfect for a quick getaway.
Family Friendly
This trip is short enough for kids at 43.1 miles, but the 9/10 complexity rating suggests navigating this route with a family might be stressful.
Solo Traveler
At 43.1 miles and mostly highway, this is a comfortable solo drive. However, the 9/10 complexity might be a bit much if you're looking for a purely relaxing cruise.
EV Driver
With a total distance of 43.1 miles, this route is easily manageable on a single charge for most EVs. You won't need to worry about finding charging stations.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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