U.S. Route 219 in Maryland - Route Description

Route Description

US 219 enters Maryland in the southwest corner of Garrett County just to the west of Backbone Mountain. The federal highway heads northeast from the West Virginia state line as two-lane Garrett Highway. After crossing the Youghiogheny River, US 219 meets US 50 (George Washington Highway) at an intersection with a two-way stop in the hamlet of Red House. The federal highway turns northwest to intersect Ben Dewitt Road, a shortcut between US 219 north and US 50 west, then resumes its northeast heading toward Gortner, where the highway crosses Cherry Creek and passes Mason School Road. US 219 turns north and crosses the Little Youghiogheny River and CSX's Mountain Subdivision before entering Oakland and meeting the west end of MD 135 (Maryland Highway). The federal highway turns west onto Oak Street, while Ninth Street continues straight along the alignment of the future Oakland Bypass. US 219 continues west into the Oakland Historic District. At the intersection with MD 39 (Oak Street) next to the Garrett County Courthouse, the federal highway turns north onto Third Street. US 219 leaves the town limits of Oakland and regains the name Garrett Highway north of the Walmart Supercenter, where the Oakland Bypass is expected to rejoin the current alignment.

After leaving Oakland, US 219 passes to the east of Mount Nebo and meets the northern end of Sand Flat Road. The federal highway passes Mayhew Inn Road as US 219 enters the hamlet of Thayerville and the Deep Creek Lake resort area. After passing Glendale Road, which heads east toward Deep Creek Lake State Park and other destinations on the east side of the lake, the federal highway turns northwest and parallels the west shore of the lake. After passing Lakeshore Drive, US 219 crosses the lake on the Deep Creek Bridge. The federal highway becomes a partially controlled access highway on the hillside above the lake, while Deep Creek Drive, the old alignment of US 219, follows the shore and provides access to vacation homes. US 219 parallels Marsh Run Cove north into a commercial area in the unincorporated village of McHenry. In McHenry, the federal highway intersects Mosser Road, which provides access to Garrett College and Garrett County Airport, and Sang Run Road, which leads to Wisp Ski Resort. After meeting the northern end of Deep Creek Drive, MD 42 (Friendsville Road) splits to the north and the federal highway re-enters rural areas. US 219 continues northeast, crossing the South Branch of Bear Creek before entering the town of Accident. The federal highway is marked as Main Street and intersects Accident Friendsville Road and Accident Bittinger Road, which heads east toward the James Drane House.

After leaving Accident, US 219 encounters an access road to Bear Creek Road and Fish Hatchery Road near the Kaese Mill before the federal highway crosses the latter road and Bear Creek and begins the ascent to Keyser's Ridge, with the northbound direction gaining a climbing lane. After passing Northern Garrett High School and a scenic overlook, the federal highway curves to the east and then back north as it approaches the summit. The climbing lane ends northbound and another climbing lane begins in the southbound direction. Shortly after the descent from the summit, US 219 meets I-68 (National Freeway) and US 40 at Exit 14 of I-68 in Keyser's Ridge. US 219 exits onto the eastbound direction of the freeway at a cloverleaf interchange, while US 40 heads north from the interchange to meet the west end of US 40 Alternate then turn northwest into Pennsylvania. After meeting MD 495 at Exit 19 in Grantsville, US 219 exits north onto Chestnut Ridge Road at Exit 22. The federal highway intersects US 40 Alternate (National Pike) in the hamlet of High Point before crossing the Pennsylvania state line, where US 219 continues north toward Meyersdale.