Trip.ovh

Trip from La Plata, MD to Essex, MD

Drive Time

1h 32m

Distance

72 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from La Plata, MD to Essex, MD covers 72 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Kent Avenue, Charles Street, Crain Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.58 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

36 miles from La Plata, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 72 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kent Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Kent Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Charles Street Unavailable Refreshing
Crain Highway Unavailable Refreshing
South East Crain Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Robert Crain Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Harbor Tunnel Throughway Unavailable Refreshing
Harbor Tunnel Thruway Unavailable Refreshing
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Unavailable Refreshing

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

Longest stretch: Kent Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

10 ft · 5 sec · the route
2

Turn left onto Kent Avenue

56 ft · 4 sec · Kent Avenue
3

Turn right onto Charles Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Charles Street
4

Turn right onto Crain Highway

14 mi · 22 min · Crain Highway
5

Keep slight right to continue on Crain Highway

13 mi · 18 min · Crain Highway
6

Continue on South East Crain Highway

11 mi · 15 min · South East Crain Highway
7

Continue on Robert Crain Highway

7.1 mi · 11 min · Robert Crain Highway
8

Merge slight left

10 mi · 12 min
9

Merge slight left onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
10

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
11

Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
12

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
13

Take the exit slight right toward Boston Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Boston Street
14

Turn straight onto O'Donnell Street Cutoff

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

Turn left onto Interstate Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Interstate Avenue
16

Take the ramp straight toward I 95 North: New York

0.3 mi · 35 sec · I 95 North: New York
17

Merge slight left

0.6 mi · 51 sec
18

Take the exit slight right toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue

0.3 mi · 30 sec · MD 150: Eastern Avenue
19

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

256 ft · 8 sec · MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex
20

Turn right onto Eastern Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · Eastern Avenue
21

Continue on Eastern Boulevard

1.0 mi · 2 min · Eastern Boulevard
22

Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue

210 ft · 13 sec · North Taylor Avenue
23

Turn right

522 ft · 38 sec
24

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 36 miles from La Plata, MD, or about 46m 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 72 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36 miles or 46m 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 18m

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 La Plata, 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 La Plata, MD

This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from La Plata, 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

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.

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 36 mi from La Plata, MD

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36 miles from La Plata, 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 $11.58 $23.16
midgrade $4.60 $13.04 $26.07
premium $4.95 $14.04 $28.09
diesel $5.98 $16.95 $33.90

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 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

La Plata, MD

Late night in La Plata on Saturday

Local time

4:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Essex, MD

Late night in Essex on Saturday

Local time

4:00 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

4 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 32m 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 La Plata, MD to Essex, MD covers 72 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kent Avenue, Charles Street, Crain Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from La Plata, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.58 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 from La Plata, MD

La Plata, MD to Baltimore, MD

65 mi 1h 23m

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

Continue From Essex, MD

Essex, MD to Cambridge, MD 82.8 mi · 2h 4m 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

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