Origin
Aberdeen, MD
Evening in Aberdeen on Sunday
Local time
6:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aberdeen, MD to Essex, MD
Drive Time
38m
Distance
27.8 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aberdeen, MD
Jonathan Borba
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Aberdeen to Essex, Maryland, expect a straightforward 28.4-mile journey. You should anticipate a drive time of approximately 32 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Navigating this route involves a mix of Beards Hill Road, the Aberdeen Thruway, and I-95 South, keeping you entirely within the Northeast region of the state. With a modest fuel budget of about $5, it is a highly economical way to travel between these two points. Because the trip is so short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.9 miles from Aberdeen, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 28.4-mile trek is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise. You will spend your time navigating local surface streets and connector roads, as the route does not rely on long-distance highway travel. The transition from the Aberdeen area into Essex keeps you engaged behind the wheel, requiring steady attention to turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. Expect a practical, no-frills experience that prioritizes directness over scenic highway cruising. It is a functional drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without the need for extended highway endurance.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 19.1 miles in near I 95 / John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 27.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (I 95 / John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
19.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 95 / John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 / John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward I 695: Essex, Towson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 64
Toward I 695: Essex, Towson
7
22.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 East: Essex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 695 East: Essex
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
26.4 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Aberdeen, MD to Essex, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
Towson
22.3 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| West Bel Air Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Aberdeen Thruway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Beards Hill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Woodward Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aberdeen, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on MD 132
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Bel Air Avenue
2
Turn right onto Beards Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Beards Hill Road
3
Turn left onto MD 22
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Aberdeen Thruway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
5
Merge onto I 95
16 mi
·
18 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 64
Toward I 695: Essex, Towson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 695 East: Essex
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 695
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the none lane.
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
Use the none lane.
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
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 32-minute drive, you do not need to worry about planning for rest stops or food breaks along the way. Your best strategy is to check real-time traffic conditions on I-95 South before you head out, as local congestion can impact your travel time on these specific roads. With a $5 fuel estimate, you can easily top off your tank in Aberdeen before departing to ensure you have no worries during the commute. Use the flexibility of this short distance to time your departure outside of peak rush hours to keep the trip as smooth as possible. Keep your GPS active to help navigate the multiple turns required on the local road segments.
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 13.9 miles from Aberdeen, MD, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 27.8 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.9 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
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 Aberdeen, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Aberdeen, MD
This is one driving day of about 27.8 miles and 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Aberdeen, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.9 mi from Aberdeen, MD · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.9 miles from Aberdeen, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Essex, MD
The final approach into Essex, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Essex, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.60 one way
$9.20 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.03 | $10.07 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.39 | $10.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.18 | $12.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Evening in Essex on Sunday
Local time
6:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
19 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
38m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Aberdeen, MD to Essex, MD covers 27.8 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, West Bel Air Avenue, Southeast Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.9 miles from Aberdeen, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 27.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (I 95 / John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Aberdeen, MD to Essex, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
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