How far is Essex, MD from Smithsburg, MD?

The driving distance from Essex, MD to Smithsburg, MD is about 82 miles (132 km), with a travel time of about 01h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 63.2 miles (101.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
82.03 mi
01h 43m
Flight
63.22 mi
101.75 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Essex.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
63.22 mi
Kilometers
101.75 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
82.03 mi
Kilometers
132.01 km
Drive Time
01h 43m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Smithsburg
Thu, Apr 23, 3:59 AM EDT
Return by in Essex
Thu, Apr 23, 5:42 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Essex
2026-04-23T02:16
Arrive Smithsburg
Thu, Apr 23, 3:59 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:43 AM to 11:43 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Essex
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Mount Airy
MD

City in Surry County, North Carolina, United States

From Essex
40.9 mi
00h 51m
To Smithsburg
41.1 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Essex and Smithsburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Essex and Smithsburg.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    109 m · 32 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    56 m · 16 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Eastern Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · Eastern Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Eastern Avenue

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Eastern Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Washington

    1750 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    7 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 695 West: Towson

    3248 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Baltimore Beltway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic

    951 ft · 23 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Frederick

    1.3 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    14.1 mi · 15 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 13 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    30.6 mi · 33 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 66: Boonsboro, Smithsburg

    1281 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Mapleville Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Mapleville Road

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mapleville Road

    47 m · 3 sec · Mapleville Road

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Mapleville Road

    4.1 mi · 7 min · Mapleville Road

  19. 19

    Continue on West Water Street

    1 km · 1 min · West Water Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Water Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Essex and Smithsburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
57.3 mi · 70%
I 95 South
9.38 mi · 11%
Mapleville Road
5.47 mi · 7%
Baltimore Beltway
4.6 mi · 6%
Eastern Avenue
2.46 mi · 3%
Eastern Boulevard
0.99 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Continue straight

30.6 mi · 00h 33m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.8 mi
63.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Airy
00h 51m from Essex
Leave By
3:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Essex and Sunny near Smithsburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Essex to Smithsburg?

The road trip is about 82 miles (132 km) and usually takes 01h 43m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mount Airy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40.9 miles from Essex and 41.1 miles from Smithsburg.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 63.2 miles (101.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.85 one way or $23.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Essex and Sunny near Smithsburg.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Airy

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mount Airy, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mount Airy.

BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

20 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Frederick, MD

22 mi away
100 South East Street
RAIL

Rockville station

32 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

45 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Essex and Smithsburg. Straight-line distance: 63.22 mi (101.75 km).

Essex

#1 Essex

This Baltimore County community is situated at an elevation of 39 feet.

Population1,832,752
Coordinates39.3092700, -76.4749600
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Smithsburg

#2 Smithsburg

Town of the United States

Population2,969
Coordinates39.6548200, -77.5727700
Altitude235
CountryUnited States
Start: Essex (-76.47496, 39.30927)
End: Smithsburg (-77.57277, 39.65482)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 132 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.9 gal
10.96 L · about $11.85
Round trip
$23.70
5.8 gal · 21.92 L
Estimated CO2
25.8 kg one way
Round trip: 51.5 kg / 114 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $11.85 $23.70
Mid-grade $4.60 $13.34 $26.67
Premium $4.95 $14.37 $28.73
Diesel $5.98 $17.34 $34.68

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maryland · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Essex and Smithsburg. The current time is 02:16:45.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.