Origin
Essex, MD
Evening in Essex on Sunday
Local time
5:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Essex, MD to Montgomery Village, MD
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
52.3 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montgomery Village, MD
Altamart
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Essex to Montgomery Village, you are looking at a 52.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. This journey remains entirely within Maryland, keeping you in the Northeast region for the duration of your travel. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to complete the drive. While the route is straightforward, it is best viewed as a practical connection between two points rather than a scenic getaway.
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
26.1 miles from Essex, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via Eastern Boulevard and Eastern Avenue before transitioning onto segments of I-95 South. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you will spend most of your time navigating intersections and surface streets. The lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches means you should stay alert, as the driving environment changes frequently throughout the 1 hour and 14 minutes behind the wheel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 52.3 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
30.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward MD 200 Toll West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31B
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Essex, MD to Montgomery Village, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Gaithersburg along the way.
Gaithersburg
47.6 mi in
|
~1h 3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 26.5 mi | 32m |
| Intercounty Connector | 15.7 mi | 19m |
| Eastern Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Goshen Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Summit Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 370 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 26.5 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and Montgomery Village, MD.
1
Start on this road
359 ft
·
31 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
184 ft
·
15 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
4
Continue on MD 150
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Eastern Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
24 mi
·
29 min
·
I 95
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31B
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Use the none lane.
10
Continue on MD 200 Toll
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on I 370
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 370
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Frederick Road
14
Continue on MD 355
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
15
Turn right onto South Summit Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Summit Avenue
16
Continue on Goshen Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Goshen Road
Use the none lane.
17
Turn left onto Stewartown Road
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Stewartown Road
18
Arrive at destination
Stewartown Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 52.3-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the reliance on local roads, try to avoid peak rush hours to keep your travel time closer to the 1 hour and 14-minute estimate. You will not need to plan for specific stops, though keeping your fuel tank topped off for $8 ensures you won't have to hunt for gas mid-trip. Pay close attention to navigation cues along Eastern Boulevard and Eastern Avenue, as the turn-heavy nature of this route requires constant focus on local signage.
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 26.1 miles from Essex, MD, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.5 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 52.3 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.1 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery Village, 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 52.3 miles and 1h 14m.
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 I 95 for about 26.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.1 mi from Essex, MD · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 52.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Essex, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Montgomery Village, MD
The final approach into Montgomery Village, 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 Montgomery Village, 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
$8.65 one way
$17.31 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.13 | $20.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.62 | $23.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Montgomery Village, MD
Evening in Montgomery Village on Sunday
Local time
5:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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 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 14m 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 Montgomery Village, MD covers 52.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Intercounty Connector, Eastern Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.1 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 $8.65 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 11 significant decision points across 52.3 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MD 150 / Eastern Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Essex, MD to Montgomery Village, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Gaithersburg along the way.
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