Origin
Westminster, MD
Morning in Westminster on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Westminster, MD to Essex, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
41.9 mi
67 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westminster, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Westminster to Essex, expect a straightforward 42.2-mile journey that typically takes about 47 minutes. This trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily through local roads, including East Main Street, Malcolm Drive, and Baltimore Boulevard. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel should cover your needs for this Northeast Maryland transit. Since this route stays entirely within the state, you won't encounter major regional shifts, making it a predictable and manageable drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Beltway | 18 mi | 24m |
| Northwest Expressway | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Baltimore Boulevard | 8 mi | 11m |
| Westminster Pike | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Malcolm Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Beltway
— 18 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on MD 27
79 ft
·
11 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto MD 97
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Malcolm Drive
4
Turn right onto MD 140
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Baltimore Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on MD 140
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Westminster Pike
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 795
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Northwest Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 695 East: Towson
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 695
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 702
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Freeway
Exit 36
Toward MD 702 South: Essex
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 150 West: Essex
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto MD 150
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
13
Turn right onto North Woodward Drive
187 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Woodward Drive
14
Turn left
327 ft
·
23 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Westminster, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 11.2 and 40.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 795 / Northwest Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 795 / Northwest Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 East: Towson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 695 East: Towson
6
34.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
MD 702 / Southeast Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 702 / Southeast Freeway toward MD 702 South: Essex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 36
Toward MD 702 South: Essex
6
40.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward MD 150 West: Essex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 150 West: Essex
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.95 one way
$13.89 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.61 | $15.22 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.13 | $16.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.25 | $18.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Essex, MD
Morning in Essex on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. Because you are navigating local streets, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns and intersection changes throughout the 42.2-mile distance. The road's personality is defined by its urban and suburban transitions, providing a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged. With no highway stretches to rely on, your progress depends on local traffic flow along the main corridors. Prepare for a steady, focused drive that requires more attention than a typical high-speed highway commute.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18 mi on Baltimore Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near I 795 / Northwest Expressway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 11.2 miles (I 795 / Northwest Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
794 ft
39 ft
Total Climb
340 ft
Total Descent
1,020 ft
Highest Point
794 ft
~3 mi in
Elevation Range
755 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Westminster, MD
Full guide →Founded 1764
Westminster is the county seat of Carroll County in Central Maryland.
Top landmarks
- • Western Maryland College Historic District — historic district in Maryland, United States
Arriving in Essex, MD
Full guide →Southeast Baltimore, fittingly, covers the areas in the southeast of Baltimore, ranging from industrial wastelands to charming neighborhoods both quiet and hip.
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. Total distance: 41.9 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18 miles on Baltimore Beltway. 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 11.2 miles (I 795 / Northwest Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield. 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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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