Maryland Route 185 - Route Description

Route Description

MD 185 begins at Chevy Chase Circle on the border of Washington, D.C. Connecticut Avenue continues south into the Chevy Chase neighborhood of the District of Columbia on the south side of the circle, while Western Avenue intersects the east and west sides of the circle. MD 185 heads north as a six-lane divided highway with a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) through an affluent residential area in Chevy Chase Village. After passing Chevy Chase Country Club to the west, the state highway intersects MD 191 (Bradley Lane) and leaves Chevy Chase Village. MD 185 continues due north, passing the headquarters of 4-H and intersecting MD 410 (East–West Highway). After crossing MD 410, the speed limit increases to 35 mph (56 km/h) and the state highway passes Columbia Country Club. MD 185 enters a commercial area where it crosses the Capital Crescent Trail at-grade and intersects Manor Road. Manor Road fills the missing movements at the following five-way intersection with Jones Bridge Road and Kensington Parkway, where left turns are prohibited from both directions of MD 185 and westbound Jones Bridge Road.

After crossing Jones Bridge Road, MD 185 continues north through residential areas and intersects the Capital Beltway at a partial cloverleaf interchange. Immediately after the interchange, the state highway crosses Rock Creek and intersects Beach Drive within Rock Creek Park. MD 185 leaves the valley of Rock Creek and enters the town of Chevy Chase View. Upon entering Kensington and the Kensington Historic District, the state highway veers to the northwest and back to the north ahead of the intersection with MD 547 (Knowles Avenue), where the highway enters a commercial area. After crossing CSX's Metropolitan Subdivision and MARC's Brunswick Line, MD 185 crosses MD 192 (Plyers Mill Road). As the road turns northeast, the state highway meets MD 193 (University Boulevard). While MD 193 continues northeast toward Wheaton, MD 185 veers left to continue due north. The next intersection, Perry Avenue, is used to complete the movements between MD 185 north and MD 193 east.

After leaving the town limits of Kensington, MD 185 becomes a six-lane controlled access divided highway with a speed limit of 40 mph (64 km/h) passing between residential subdivisions. After crossing a tributary of Rock Creek, the state highway intersects MD 586 at an acute intersection. MD 185 then becomes lined with service roads ahead of and after the intersection with Randolph Road. The speed limit increases to 45 mph (72 km/h) after Randolph Road. Beyond Weller Road, the state highway crosses Turkey Branch and then a bridge over Matthew Henson State Park. MD 185 then enters Aspen Hill and intersects Aspen Hill Road within a commercial area. The state highway meets its northern terminus at MD 97 (Georgia Avenue). Connecticut Avenue continues as a county-maintained highway north through Bel Pre Road into Rossmoor, home of the Leisure World retirement community.