Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
113.2 mi
182 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salisbury, MD
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Essex, MD to Salisbury, MD covers 113.2 miles and takes about 2h 46m 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, Sussex Highway, Shore Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.1 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.77 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.6 miles from Essex, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 19.1 mi | 27m |
| Sussex Highway | 18.9 mi | 25m |
| Shore Highway | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| Seashore Highway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| North Salisbury Boulevard | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| US 50 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Queen Anne Highway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Governor Ritchie Highway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, MD and Salisbury, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn right onto MD 150
Continue on MD 150
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto MD 151
Turn left onto Kane Street
Turn slight right
Continue on East Lombard Street
Turn left onto MD 150
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Keep slight left at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Turn straight onto MD 2
Turn left onto MD 270
Take the ramp
Merge onto MD 10
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10
Turn left onto MD 2
Continue on MD 2
Take the exit
Merge onto US 50; US 301
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
Turn left onto MD 404
Continue on Shore Highway
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
Turn left onto Legion Road
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
Continue on DE 404
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
Turn right onto US 13
Continue on US 13
Continue on US 13 BUS
Turn right onto West Vine Street
Continue on West Vine Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 25 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.6 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salisbury, MD than in the middle of the route.
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 113.2 miles and 2h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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.
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 56.6 miles from Essex, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$18.77 one way
$37.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $20.55 | $41.11 |
| premium | $4.93 | $21.95 | $43.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.99 | $49.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
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
$19
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34 | 0 | $11.89 | $5.43 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.3 | 0 | $15.85 | $7.24 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Essex on Saturday
Local time
1:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 4:18AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Afternoon in Salisbury on Saturday
Local time
1:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 4:18AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
49°F
Ridgely, MD
57 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
113.2 mi in 2h 46m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
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 0.1 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 113.2 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 11.1 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Essex, MD and Salisbury, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Rehoboth.
Annapolis
Glen Burnie
Rehoboth
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 113.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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