Origin
Quincy, MA
Morning in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Quincy, MA to Essex, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
38.8 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quincy, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Essex, MA
Italo Melo
Trip Overview
This 38.8-mile drive from Quincy to Essex, Massachusetts, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about an hour. With a modest fuel cost of around $6, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes major roadways like US 1 and the Southeast Expressway, making it a convenient option for many. Given its short distance and manageable duration, no overnight stay is necessary. This journey stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Massachusetts.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 12.9 mi | 18m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Southeast Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Essex Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Newport Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Dodge Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Western Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 12.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and Essex, MA.
1
Start on Faxon Avenue
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
Faxon Avenue
2
Turn right onto Coddington Street
265 ft
·
7 sec
·
Coddington Street
3
Turn right onto Hancock Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hancock Street
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Adams Street
5
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn slight left onto MA 3A
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hancock Street
7
Continue on MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Neponset Avenue
8
Merge onto MA 3A
247 ft
·
6 sec
·
William T. Morrissey Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Take the exit onto MA 3A
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
MA 3A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
10
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
13 mi
·
18 min
·
US 1
Exit 19
Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 95 South, MA 128 North: Waltham, Gloucester
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North: Gloucester, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 128
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Exit 64
Toward MA 128 North: Gloucester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
335 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 45B
Toward MA 1A North: Hamilton, Beverly Regional Airport
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right
247 ft
·
5 sec
Toward MA 1A North: North Beverly, Hamilton, Wenham
19
Merge onto MA 1A
302 ft
·
3 sec
·
Dodge Street
20
Continue on MA 1A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dodge Street
21
Turn slight right
167 ft
·
7 sec
22
Continue on Dodge Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Dodge Street
23
Continue on Dodges Row
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dodges Row
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Dodge Row
118 ft
·
4 sec
·
Dodge Row
25
Turn right onto Larch Row
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Larch Row
26
Continue on Essex Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Essex Street
27
Continue on MA 22
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Avenue
28
Continue on MA 22
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Street
29
Arrive at destination
MA 22
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Quincy, MA, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hancock Street
Turn right onto Hancock Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
10.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 19
Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
8
23.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, MA 128 North: Gloucester, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North: Gloucester, Po...
8
24.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway toward MA 128 North: Gloucester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 64
Toward MA 128 North: Gloucester
8
31 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward MA 1A North: Hamilton, Beverly Regional Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 45B
Toward MA 1A North: Hamilton, Beverly Regional...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.21 one way
$12.42 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.77 | $13.54 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.37 | $14.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 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 | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
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
Essex, MA
Morning in Essex on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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 1m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this 38.8-mile journey. Approximately 50% of the drive involves highway travel, offering stretches of faster speeds. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 12.9 miles on US 1. This route balances efficient highway travel with sections that may feel more like a typical road experience, offering variety as you progress toward Essex.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.9 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 near Hancock Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.8 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 0.1 miles (Hancock Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Quincy, MA and Essex, MA, road signs point toward Revere, Gloucester, Portsmouth New Hampshire, Beverly Regional Airport, Hamilton and Wenham.
Revere
10.2 mi in
|
~18m
|
via US 1
Gloucester
23.1 mi in
|
~36m
Portsmouth New Hampshire
23.2 mi in
|
~36m
Beverly Regional Airport
31 mi in
|
~47m
Hamilton
31 mi in
|
~48m
Wenham
31 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
Arriving in Essex, MA
Full guide →Essex is a town in on Cape Ann in the North Shore region of Massachusetts. Settled by direct descendants of the Mayflower passengers in the early 1600s, it was later world-renowned as North America's fishing schooner construction center. Today, history permeates the town, enhanced by its many antique stores. Its population was shy of 4k during the 2020 census.
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 38.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). 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 12.9 miles on US 1. 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, MA 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 (Hancock Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams National Historical Park and Salem Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). 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, MA 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Essex, MA
More trips to Essex, MA
Explore more options from Quincy, MA or browse trips ending in Essex, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.