Trip from Princess Anne, MD to Essex, MD

Drive Time

3h 4m

Distance

129.4 mi

208 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 53m ★

6 AM

3h 5m

8 AM

3h 28m

10 AM

3h 13m

12 PM

3h 10m

3 PM

3h 14m

5 PM

3h 27m

8 PM

2h 58m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Spanning 134.1 miles, the journey from Princess Anne to Essex takes approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes of travel time. Because this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You will primarily navigate via Somerset Avenue, UMES Boulevard, and Ocean Highway to reach your destination. Budgeting about $22 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Both your starting point and destination are located in the Northeast region of Maryland, keeping the terrain and environment consistent throughout your travel. This route functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to get where you need to go without the stress of an extended multi-day itinerary.

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

64.7 miles from Princess Anne, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will spend the entire 134.1 miles navigating local roads, which keeps the driving experience engaging and requires your full attention at the wheel. The transitions between Somerset Avenue and Ocean Highway create a steady, rhythmic pace that feels distinct from the monotony of major freeways. Since there are no major highway stretches, the drive feels localized and grounded in the immediate surroundings of the Maryland landscape. Prepare for a hands-on experience where you will be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, uninterrupted cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Ocean Gateway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.1 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 100.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 129.4 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 100.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.6 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 31 key points

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

100.9 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Take the exit toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park

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 27B Toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Par...

110.6 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in | MD 10 / Arundel Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 North: Baltimore

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 10 North: Baltimore

124.3 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Take the exit toward Boston Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 11A Toward Boston Street

125.7 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in

Take the exit toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 59 Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue

126 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex

Towns Along This Route

Between Princess Anne, MD and Essex, MD, road signs point toward Dover and Severna Park.

Dover

18.3 mi in | ~23m | via US 13

Severna Park

100.9 mi in | ~2h 17m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ocean Gateway	26.1 mi	36m
Sussex Highway	19.3 mi	26m
Shore Highway	17.4 mi	24m
Salisbury Bypass	10.8 mi	12m
Governor Ritchie Highway	8 mi	12m
Seashore Highway	7.5 mi	9m
Queen Anne Highway	6.2 mi	8m
Ocean Highway	5.9 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Ocean Gateway — 26.1 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Washington Street

135 ft · 7 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto MD 675

1.1 mi · 2 min · Somerset Avenue

Enter roundabout onto MD 822

255 ft · 5 sec · UMES Boulevard

Continue on MD 822

386 ft · 7 sec · UMES Boulevard

Turn right onto US 13

5.9 mi · 8 min · Ocean Highway

Continue on US 13

0.3 mi · 22 sec · South Fruitland Boulevard

Keep slight left at fork onto US 13

11 mi · 12 min · Salisbury Bypass

Take the exit onto US 13

0.3 mi · 36 sec · US 13

Toward US 13 North, US 13 Business: Salisbury, Dover

Keep slight right at fork onto US 13

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 13

Toward US 13 North: Dover

Merge onto US 13

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Salisbury Boulevard

Keep slight right at fork onto US 13

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Salisbury Boulevard

Continue on US 13

19 mi · 26 min · Sussex Highway

Take the exit

166 ft · 5 sec

Continue on Rifle Range Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Rifle Range Road

Turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn left onto DE 404 Business

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Market Street

Turn right onto DE 404 Business

7.5 mi · 9 min · Seashore Highway

Continue on MD 404

17 mi · 24 min · Shore Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on MD 404

6.2 mi · 8 min · Queen Anne Highway

Take the exit

527 ft · 14 sec

Merge onto US 50

26 mi · 36 min · Ocean Gateway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Exit 27B Toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto MD 2

8.0 mi · 12 min · Governor Ritchie Highway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore

Merge onto MD 10

1.1 mi · 1 min · Arundel Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10

3.4 mi · 4 min · Arundel Expressway

Toward MD 10 North: Baltimore Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Toward MD 270 Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto MD 270

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Furnace Branch Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto MD 2

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ritchie Highway

Use the straight lane.

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 20 sec

Toward I 895

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

3.1 mi · 4 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

Continue on I 895

1.2 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 11A Toward Boston Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto O'Donnell Street Cutoff

520 ft · 14 sec · O'Donnell Street Cutoff

Turn left onto Interstate Avenue

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Interstate Avenue

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 95 North: New York

Merge onto I 95

0.6 mi · 51 sec · I 95

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 29 sec

Exit 59 Toward MD 150: Eastern Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

256 ft · 8 sec

Toward MD 150 East: Eastern Avenue, East Essex Use the right lane.

Turn right onto MD 150

2.3 mi · 4 min · Eastern Avenue

Use the none lane.

Continue on MD 150

1.0 mi · 2 min · Eastern Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto North Taylor Avenue

211 ft · 13 sec · North Taylor Avenue

Turn right

521 ft · 38 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a 2.5-hour local trek, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving early can help you avoid local traffic buildup on the primary arterial roads. Because there are no scheduled stops in the route plan, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you depart to avoid searching for stations along these local stretches. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition from UMES Boulevard onto the Ocean Highway, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be easy to miscalculate. If you find the local driving tiring, remember that you can easily pull over at your discretion to stretch your legs since you aren't tied to a rigid interstate schedule. Use your $22 fuel budget as a baseline, but consider keeping a little extra cash on hand for any unexpected detours or local services you might encounter along the way.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Princess Anne, MD, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.1 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 64.7 miles or 1h 26m 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 25m

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 Princess Anne, 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 Princess Anne, MD

This is one driving day of about 129.4 miles and 3h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Princess Anne, MD.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Ocean Gateway for about 26.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 64.7 mi from Princess Anne, MD · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

65 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.7 miles from Princess Anne, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Essex, 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

$21.41 one way

$42.82 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$23.43	$46.86
premium	$4.92	$25.08	$50.15
diesel	$5.64	$28.75	$57.50

Estimated Tolls: $0.23

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (3.4 mi) $0.23

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

$21

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	38.8	$13.59	$6.21
Efficient EV	32.4	$11.32	$5.18
EV Truck/SUV	51.8	$18.12	$8.28

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Princess Anne, MD

Evening in Princess Anne on Sunday

Local time

6:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Essex, MD

Evening in Essex on Sunday

Local time

6:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 4m 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 Princess Anne, MD to Essex, MD covers 129.4 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Ocean Gateway, Sussex Highway, Shore Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 64.7 miles from Princess Anne, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.41 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Princess Anne, MD and Essex, MD, road signs point toward Dover and Severna Park.

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