Trip.ovh

Trip from Cambridge, MD to Essex, MD

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

84.6 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Cambridge, MD to Essex, MD covers 84.6 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Cedar Street, Sunburst Highway, Senator Malkus Junior Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.61 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

42.3 miles from Cambridge, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 38m drive with frequent turns across 84.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cedar Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Cedar Street Unavailable Refreshing
Sunburst Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Senator Malkus Junior Bridge Unavailable Refreshing
Ocean Gateway Unavailable Refreshing
MD 2 North Unavailable Refreshing
Governor Ritchie Highway Unavailable Refreshing
I 695 Unavailable Refreshing
Arundel Expressway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Cedar Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MD and Essex, MD.

1

Start on Race Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Race Street
2

Turn right onto Cedar Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Cedar Street
3

Turn left onto Sunburst Highway

0.6 mi · 1 min · Sunburst Highway
4

Continue on Senator Malkus Junior Bridge

1.6 mi · 2 min · Senator Malkus Junior Bridge
5

Continue on Ocean Gateway

51 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Ocean Gateway
6

Take the exit slight right toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park

0.4 mi · 50 sec · MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park
7

Merge slight left onto Governor Ritchie Highway

8.0 mi · 12 min · Governor Ritchie Highway
8

Take the exit slight right toward MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore

0.1 mi · 18 sec · MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore
9

Merge slight left onto Arundel Expressway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Arundel Expressway
10

Keep slight right to continue on Arundel Expressway

3.4 mi · 4 min · Arundel Expressway
11

Take the exit slight right toward MD 270

0.2 mi · 32 sec · MD 270
12

Turn left onto East Furnace Branch Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Furnace Branch Road
13

Turn right onto Ritchie Highway

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ritchie Highway
14

Turn slight right onto I 895

0.3 mi · 21 sec · I 895
15

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

3.1 mi · 4 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
16

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
17

Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
18

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
19

Take the exit slight right toward Boston Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Boston Street
20

Turn straight onto O'Donnell Street Cutoff

522 ft · 15 sec · O'Donnell Street Cutoff
21

Turn left onto Interstate Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Interstate Avenue
22

Take the ramp straight toward I 95 North: New York

0.3 mi · 35 sec · I 95 North: New York
23

Merge slight left

0.6 mi · 51 sec
24

Take the exit slight right toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue

0.3 mi · 30 sec · MD 150: Eastern Avenue
25

Keep slight right to continue on MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex

256 ft · 8 sec · MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
26

Turn right onto Eastern Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · Eastern Avenue
27

Continue on Eastern Boulevard

1.0 mi · 2 min · Eastern Boulevard
28

Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue

210 ft · 13 sec · North Taylor Avenue
29

Turn right

522 ft · 38 sec
30

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 42.3 miles from Cambridge, MD, or about 49m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.3 miles or 49m 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 24m

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 Cambridge, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cambridge, MD

This is one driving day of about 84.6 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cambridge, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

42 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.3 mi from Cambridge, MD

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.3 miles from Cambridge, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
regular $4.09 $13.61 $27.22
midgrade $4.60 $15.32 $30.64
premium $4.95 $16.50 $33.00
diesel $5.98 $19.92 $39.84

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.

Travel Intel

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Compare the departure city with the arrival city before you leave so the route feels predictable, not reactive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Cambridge, MD

Late night in Cambridge on Saturday

Local time

3:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Essex, MD

Late night in Essex on Saturday

Local time

3:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof 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

3 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cambridge, MD to Essex, MD covers 84.6 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cedar Street, Sunburst Highway, Senator Malkus Junior Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.3 miles from Cambridge, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.61 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.

More trips to Essex, MD

Oakland, MD to Essex, MD

195.4 mi 3h 21m

Westernport, MD to Essex, MD

170 mi 2h 53m

Cumberland, MD to Essex, MD

146.9 mi 2h 20m

Princess Anne, MD to Essex, MD

134.1 mi 2h 29m

Berlin, MD to Essex, MD

131.9 mi 2h 31m

Hancock, MD to Essex, MD

108.6 mi 1h 48m

Next Route Ideas

Reverse Route

Essex, MD to Cambridge, MD

Useful if you are planning the return drive and want the same trip in reverse.

82.8 mi 2h 4m

Continue From Essex, MD

Essex, MD to Greensboro, MD 70.5 mi · 1h 48m Essex, MD to Boonsboro, MD 66.9 mi · 1h 41m Essex, MD to Emmitsburg, MD 62.8 mi · 1h 33m Essex, MD to Montgomery Village, MD 52.3 mi · 1h 14m

Explore more options from Cambridge, MD or browse trips ending in Essex, MD .

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips .

Going the other way? Trip from Essex, MD to Cambridge, MD

Explore maps and details for Cambridge, MD or Essex, MD on MapSof.net.