Trip from Essex, MD to Emmitsburg, MD

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

62.8 mi

101 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 26m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Trip Overview

Traveling from Essex to Emmitsburg covers 62.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes of driving time. Since this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day. You will navigate primarily via local roads like North Woodward Drive, Eastern Boulevard, and MD 702 North rather than relying on major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of only $10, this is an affordable excursion for a quick getaway. Both locations are situated in the Northeast region of Maryland, keeping the terrain and environment consistent throughout your journey.

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

31.4 miles from Essex, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way toward Emmitsburg. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route requires your full attention to navigate the various local roads and transitions. Because this path consists of 0% highway driving, your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections. There are no exceptionally long, uninterrupted stretches on this itinerary, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The experience is best described as a winding, hands-on trek that keeps you engaged with the local road network.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Baltimore Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Woodward Drive.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 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 0.1 miles (North Woodward Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (MD 702 / Southeast Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Woodward Drive

Turn right onto North Woodward Drive

Navigation decision point

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward MD 702 North: Beltway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward MD 702 North: Beltway
5
1.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | MD 702 / Southeast Freeway

Merge onto MD 702 / Southeast Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 695 / Baltimore Beltway

Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
21.4 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward I 795: Owings Mills, Reisterstown

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 19 Toward I 795: Owings Mills, Reisterstown

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Essex, MD to Emmitsburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Reisterstown along the way.

Reisterstown

21.4 mi in | ~31m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Baltimore Beltway 18.2 mi 24m
Taneytown Pike 17 mi 24m
Baltimore Boulevard 10 mi 15m
Northwest Expressway 9.1 mi 11m
East Baltimore Street 1.8 mi 4m
Westminster Pike 1.7 mi 2m
Southeast Freeway 1.6 mi 2m
Eastern Boulevard 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Baltimore Beltway — 18.2 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

327 ft · 25 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto North Woodward Drive

187 ft · 10 sec · North Woodward Drive
3

Turn left onto MD 150

1.1 mi · 2 min · Eastern Boulevard
Use the none lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward MD 702 North: Beltway Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Merge onto MD 702

1.6 mi · 2 min · Southeast Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 695

18 mi · 24 min · Baltimore Beltway
Use the none lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 19 Toward I 795: Owings Mills, Reisterstown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 795

8.3 mi · 10 min · Northwest Expressway
Use the none lane.
9

Continue on I 795

0.7 mi · 56 sec · Northwest Expressway
Exit 9B Toward MD 140 West: Westminster
10

Merge onto MD 140

1.7 mi · 2 min · Westminster Pike
11

Continue on MD 140

10 mi · 15 min · Baltimore Boulevard
Use the none lane.
12

Continue on MD 97; MD 140

0.7 mi · 54 sec · College View Boulevard
13

Continue on MD 140

9.3 mi · 12 min · Taneytown Pike
14

Enter roundabout onto MD 140

73 ft · 2 sec · Taneytown Pike
15

Continue on MD 140

237 ft · 6 sec · Taneytown Pike
16

Continue on MD 140

1.8 mi · 4 min · East Baltimore Street
17

Continue on MD 140

7.6 mi · 11 min · Taneytown Pike
Use the none lane.
18

Continue on MD 140

0.7 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn left onto South Seton Avenue

58 ft · 1 sec · South Seton Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

South Seton Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the lack of highway miles and the turn-heavy nature of the route, plan for a relaxed pace rather than trying to rush to your destination. Since there are no scheduled stops in the data, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a quick break or a refill. Budgeting $10 for gas is straightforward, but keep in mind that local driving can sometimes burn through fuel differently than steady highway cruising. Aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local roads that make up your path. A smart tip for this specific drive is to keep your GPS active and ready, as the high volume of turns requires constant navigation awareness.

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 31.4 miles from Essex, MD, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 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 62.8 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.4 miles or 44m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Emmitsburg, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Essex, 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 Essex, MD

This is one driving day of about 62.8 miles and 1h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Essex, 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 Baltimore Beltway for about 18.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.4 mi from Essex, MD · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

31 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

Waverly, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Essex, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Emmitsburg, MD

The final approach into Emmitsburg, 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 Emmitsburg, 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

$10.39 one way

$20.78 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $11.37 $22.74
premium $4.92 $12.17 $24.34
diesel $5.64 $13.95 $27.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.8 0 $6.59 $3.01
Efficient EV 15.7 0 $5.49 $2.51
EV Truck/SUV 25.1 0 $8.79 $4.02

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

Essex, MD

Evening in Essex on Sunday

Local time

5:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Emmitsburg, MD

Evening in Emmitsburg on Sunday

Local time

5:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°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

3 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

1h 33m 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 Essex, MD to Emmitsburg, MD covers 62.8 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore Beltway, Taneytown Pike, Baltimore Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.4 miles from Essex, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.39 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Woodward Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (MD 702 / Southeast Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Essex, MD to Emmitsburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Reisterstown along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Emmitsburg, MD to Essex, MD

Plan the drive back the other way.

63 mi 1h 33m

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

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