Origin
Chestertown, MD
Afternoon in Chestertown on Saturday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chestertown, MD to Essex, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
71.4 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chestertown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chestertown, MD to Essex, MD covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, Church Hill Road, Governor Ritchie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.6 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.84 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.
Midpoint
35.7 miles from Chestertown, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 24.6 mi | 34m |
| Church Hill Road | 14.9 mi | 22m |
| Governor Ritchie Highway | 8 mi | 12m |
| Arundel Expressway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Centreville Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 24.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chestertown, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on MD 289
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Cross Street
2
Turn right onto MD 213
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Maple Avenue
3
Continue on MD 213
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Chestertown Church Hill Road
4
Continue on MD 213
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Church Hill Road
5
Continue on MD 213
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Liberty Street
6
Continue on MD 213
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Centreville Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 301 South
8
Merge onto US 301
25 mi
·
34 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 27B
Toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto MD 2
8.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Governor Ritchie Highway
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore
12
Merge onto MD 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Arundel Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Arundel Expressway
Toward MD 10 North: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MD 270
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto MD 270
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Furnace Branch Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto MD 2
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Ritchie Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 895
18
Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
19
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
21
Continue on I 895
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 11A
Toward Boston Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto O'Donnell Street Cutoff
520 ft
·
14 sec
·
O'Donnell Street Cutoff
24
Turn left onto Interstate Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Interstate Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 North: New York
26
Merge onto I 95
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 59
Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right onto MD 150
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
31
Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue
211 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Taylor Avenue
32
Turn right
521 ft
·
38 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 35.7 miles from Chestertown, MD, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.6 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.7 miles or 53m 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 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 Chestertown, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chestertown, MD
This is one driving day of about 71.4 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Chestertown, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 24.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from Chestertown, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 42.9 and 67.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
42.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park
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 27B
Toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Par...
7
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
MD 10 / Arundel Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 North: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 10 North: Baltimore
7
66.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward Boston Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward Boston Street
7
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
67.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m 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
$11.84 one way
$23.67 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.96 | $25.93 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.85 | $27.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.76 | $31.53 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
(3.4 mi)
$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.00 | $4.57 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Essex on Saturday
Local time
4:55 PM
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
1 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 50m 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?
71.4 mi in 1h 50m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.6 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 42.9 miles in.
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 71.4 miles you will encounter 20 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 42.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.6 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
79 ft
0 ft
Total Climb
198 ft
Total Descent
171 ft
Highest Point
79 ft
~45.9 mi in
Elevation Range
79 ft
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.
On the drive from Chestertown, MD to Essex, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Severna Park along the way.
Severna Park
42.9 mi in
|
~1h 3m
About the Cities
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 50m. Total distance: 71.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.6 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 42.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.6 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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