Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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
University Park, MD
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
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.
| 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 |
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
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and University Park, 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
Turn straight onto MD 212
Turn straight onto MD 212
Turn left onto Adelphi Road
Turn left onto Wells Parkway
Continue on Wells Parkway East
Turn left onto Beechwood Road
Turn right onto Underwood Street
Turn left onto Queens Chapel Road
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 95 South: Washington
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 212 West: Calverton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $7.86 | $15.73 |
| premium | $5.24 | $8.38 | $16.76 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Essex on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in University Park on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°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.
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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
453 ft
Total Descent
421 ft
Highest Point
330 ft
~29 mi in
Elevation Range
310 ft
Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
Founded 1936
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
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.
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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