Essex, MD to University Park, MD is 40.6 miles and takes about 1 hour via I 95, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The majority of this drive is on the highway, offering a straightforward connection between these two points. It’s a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a quick commute or a day trip without much planning.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
29.1 mi
35m
Eastern Avenue
2.5 mi
5m
Powder Mill Road
2.4 mi
4m
Adelphi Road
2.1 mi
4m
Riggs Road
1.6 mi
2m
Eastern Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Wells Parkway
0.4 mi
1m
Wells Parkway East
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 29.1 mi, about 35m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,983 veh/hr typical
· worst 8,079
Quietest
2 AM
~695 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and University Park, 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: WashingtonUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
2.1 mi·2 min·I 95
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
27 mi·32 min·I 95
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·42 sec
Exit 29BToward MD 212 West: CalvertonUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto MD 212
2.4 mi·4 min·Powder Mill Road
10
Turn straight onto MD 212
1.6 mi·2 min·Riggs Road
11
Turn left onto Adelphi Road
2.1 mi·4 min·Adelphi Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Wells Parkway
0.4 mi·1 min·Wells Parkway
13
Continue on Wells Parkway East
0.3 mi·1 min·Wells Parkway East
14
Turn left onto Beechwood Road
311 ft·15 sec·Beechwood Road
15
Turn right onto Underwood Street
0.2 mi·59 sec·Underwood Street
16
Turn left onto Queens Chapel Road
56 ft·1 sec·Queens Chapel Road
17
Arrive at destination
Queens Chapel Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 20.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 32.9 — 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
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
3.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South: Washington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 South: Washington
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
32.9 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward MD 212 West: Calverton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29B
Toward MD 212 West: Calverton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.47 one way
$12.95 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg14 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$7.16
$14.33
premium
$4.81
$7.69
$15.37
diesel
$4.80
$7.67
$15.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
12.2
0
$4.26
$1.95
Efficient EV
10.2
0
$3.55
$1.62
EV Truck/SUV
16.2
0
$5.68
$2.60
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.
Forecast as of Jul 9, 2026
Origin
Essex, MD
Late night
in Essex on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Widespread Showers And Thunderstorms
S 8 mph90% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 9 at 4:17PM EDT until July 9 at 7:15PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 9 at 3:26PM EDT until July 9 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
University Park, MD
Late night
in University Park on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Widespread Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph90% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 9 at 4:17PM EDT until July 9 at 7:15PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 9 at 3:26PM EDT until July 9 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 73% of the 40.6 miles spent on high-speed roads like I 95. You'll experience a longest stretch of 29.1 miles on I 95, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. After this highway segment, you’ll transition to surface roads like Eastern Avenue and Powder Mill Road for the remainder of the trip. Expect a noticeable increase in traffic signals and potentially more merging as you approach your destination.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Eastern Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.1 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 University Park, 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 0.1 miles (MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. 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 University Park, MD before heading back.
