If you are planning to travel from Fort Washington to Essex, Maryland, you are looking at a 62.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $10 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the route relies on local roads rather than interstates, you will have a unique experience navigating through the Maryland landscape. This is a practical drive for those who prefer avoiding major highways, provided you have the time to navigate the slower, turn-heavy local sections.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.4 miles from Fort Washington, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
29.8 mi
41m
Indian Head Highway
7.6 mi
12m
I 95
5.6 mi
7m
Anacostia Freeway
4.9 mi
8m
Eastern Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Kenilworth Avenue Freeway
2.3 mi
3m
Old Fort Road
1.6 mi
2m
South Capitol Street
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
— 29.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Washington, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on Warburton Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Warburton Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Fort Washington Road
0.3 mi·54 sec·Fort Washington Road
3
Turn right onto Old Fort Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Old Fort Road
4
Turn left onto MD 210
7.6 mi·12 min·Indian Head Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on South Capitol Street
1.2 mi·3 min·South Capitol Street
6
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 295 North: Malcolm X Avenue, Dorothea Dix Avenue, DHSUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 295 North
8
Merge onto I 295
2.2 mi·3 min·Anacostia Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto DC 295
2.7 mi·4 min·Anacostia Freeway
Toward DC 295 NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on DC 295
2.3 mi·3 min·Kenilworth Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·24 sec
Toward BaltimoreUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
30 mi·41 min·Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: New YorkUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 95
1.3 mi·1 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
4.3 mi·5 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Exit 59Toward MD 150: Eastern AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
256 ft·8 sec
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East EssexUse the right lane.
18
Turn right onto MD 150
2.3 mi·4 min·Eastern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on MD 150
1.0 mi·2 min·Eastern Boulevard
20
Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue
211 ft·13 sec·North Taylor Avenue
21
Turn right
521 ft·38 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 15 minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule best. However, given the reliance on local roads, keep in mind that traffic patterns on these specific routes can significantly impact your travel time. With zero planned stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before departing, especially since you are budgeting roughly $10 for the trip. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert at intersections, as the turn-heavy nature of the roads requires constant navigation. Pacing your trip is easy, but do not underestimate the time needed to navigate local traffic compared to a standard highway route.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 29.4 miles from Fort Washington, MD, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.8 miles.
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 13 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.4 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Essex, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Washington, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Washington, MD
This is one driving day of about 58.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Fort Washington, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Baltimore-Washington Parkway for about 29.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.1 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 295 North
7
13.4 mi into trip|~24m in|DC 295 / Anacostia Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto DC 295 / Anacostia Freeway toward DC 295 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward DC 295 North
7
18.5 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Baltimore
7
55 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 59
Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
9
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.73 one way
$19.46 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$10.66
$21.32
premium
$4.93
$11.38
$22.77
diesel
$5.61
$12.96
$25.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.6
0
$6.16
$2.82
Efficient EV
14.7
0
$5.14
$2.35
EV Truck/SUV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Fort Washington, MD
Late night
in Fort Washington on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Essex, MD
Late night
in Essex on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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
1h 32m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
$20
near mile 12.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will primarily navigate via Fort Washington Road, Old Fort Road, and Indian Head Highway, which demand more focus than a typical freeway cruise. Because the route avoids high-speed corridors, you will experience a more technical pace behind the wheel. There are no exceptionally long, uninterrupted stretches here, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments to your speed and steering. This character makes for an engaging, hands-on driving experience that keeps you active throughout the 62.3-mile distance.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.8 mi on Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Indian Head Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.4 miles (DC 295 / Anacostia Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Washington, MD and Essex, MD, road signs point toward Dhs and Baltimore.
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 32m. Total distance: 58.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.8 miles on Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Essex, 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 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.4 miles (DC 295 / Anacostia Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Essex, MD before heading back.
