Origin
Manchester, MD
Late night in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manchester, MD to Essex, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
44.7 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manchester, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
Manchester, MD to Essex, MD is 44.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maryland, connecting the Northeast region of the state. Expect a local feel with frequent turns, making it a less demanding trip. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a single day, with no need for overnight stays.
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 5m. Total distance: 44.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 22% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of road types, including Hanover Pike and Northwest Expressway, before merging onto the Baltimore Beltway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 18 miles on the Baltimore Beltway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with many changes in direction and speed.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 23.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
23.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 East: Towson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 695 East: Towson
5
23.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
37.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
42 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
MD 702 / Southeast Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 702 / Southeast Freeway toward MD 702 South: Essex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 36
Toward MD 702 South: Essex
6
43.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward MD 150 West: Essex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 150 West: Essex
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Beltway | 18 mi | 24m |
| Hanover Pike | 9.1 mi | 15m |
| Northwest Expressway | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| Hampstead Bypass | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Southeast Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Eastern Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Butler Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Beltway
— 18 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, MD and Essex, MD.
1
Start on Westminster Street
65 ft
·
7 sec
·
Westminster Street
2
Turn right onto MD 30
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MD 30
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Hanover Pike
4
Enter roundabout onto MD 30
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Hampstead Bypass
5
Continue on MD 30
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Hampstead Bypass
6
Enter roundabout onto MD 30
144 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hampstead Bypass
7
Continue on MD 30
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Hampstead Bypass
8
Enter roundabout onto MD 30
148 ft
·
1 sec
·
Hanover Pike
9
Continue on MD 30
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Hanover Pike
10
Turn right onto Butler Road
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Butler Road
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
12
Merge onto I 795
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest Expressway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 695 East: Towson
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 695
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 702
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Freeway
Exit 36
Toward MD 702 South: Essex
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 150 West: Essex
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto MD 150
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastern Boulevard
19
Turn right onto North Woodward Drive
187 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Woodward Drive
20
Turn left
327 ft
·
23 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.4 mi from Manchester, MD · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Manchester, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Essex, MD
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.12 | $16.23 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.67 | $17.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Essex on Saturday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
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 5m 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 Manchester, MD to Essex, MD covers 44.7 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore Beltway, Hanover Pike, Northwest Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.4 miles from Manchester, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.41 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 44.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Manchester, MD to Essex, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
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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