Great driving roads in Maryland
 

I spend quite a bit of time out driving with my daughter looking for some scenic pictures so I thought I would begin a thread that shows some great driving roads in Maryland. If you know a route, post up.

I could use some help and this will be a work in progress so if you have an idea about how to put the information out, post up. I was thinking about posting the road name, the route length, and a brief description of the road. If someone could show me how to link a map it would be even better.

I have the gpx file for downloading to your gps but the forum won't let me attach it. I'm going to mess around in Google Maps and see if I can figure out how to link the route.

Edit: I'm just attaching a map for the waypoints since it won't let me attach a gpx file for downloading to your gps.

I'm going to list the
County
Route/Road Name
Length of Road
Description of Road
Link to map if available:

Baltimore County North
State Route 45 York Road Maryland line to Cockeysville
17 miles long
Good road with some curves. A few areas to pull off to wait for other cars. A little crowded once your south of the Hunt Valley area and there is stop and you will hit red lights closer to town. Take I-83N to Shawan Road exit, go right and turn left onto York Road N. It will be a nice drive up to the PA line. This is part of the route we used on the Mid Atlantic Cruse.

Link to map: MD-45 S/York Rd to MD-45/York Rd - Google Maps

Baltimore County
Spooks Hill Rd (Scenic drive to get from York Road to Falls Road around Pretty Boy Reservoir
11 miles
There is a 5 mile long section on Spooks Hill Road that is very curvy. There are no lines, it's similar to the road that cuts through Loch Raven. Really fun to drive if there is no traffic, but it's a great way to cut over to Falls Rd and scenic.

Link to map: Beckleysville Rd to MD-45 S/York Rd - Google Maps

Baltimore / Carrol County
State Route 25 Falls Road Baltimore (695) to Alesia
22 miles long
2 lane road with a some curves and hills through wooded areas.

Link to map: Falls Rd to Jones Falls Expy - Google Maps


Baltimore / Carrol County
State Route 88 Blackrock Road (located right off of Falls Road above)
8 miles long
This drive is short but nice to hit up if your already on Falls Road. It's got small hills, sweeping turns and a few small semi - twisty bits.

Link to map: MD-88 E/Black Rock Rd to Blackrock Rd/MD-88 - Google Maps

The roads I linked to above can all be linked together for a nice 1.5 hour drive. I'm done for now, but I'll be back later to post up the Harford Road drive from Carney to Falston. I'm actually headed out on a drive now with my daughter to check out the back roads around Ellicott City, MD.

Baltimore County
RT 83 - RT 95 North Cockeysville to Joppatown around Loch Raven
35 miles

Link to map: MD-7/Philadelphia Rd to Warren Rd, Cockeysville, MD - Google Maps

The link wasn't working so I fixed it but for some reason it is confusing the roads around Rt 95. I'll pull the info off my gps and fix it. I pm'd Shadow to see if he can suggest any roads near 95. I just wanted a nice drive from 83 to 95 so I don't have to take the beltway.

For those that might visit Capital Raceway in Crofton, MD there is a local quick route we used to do here that begins just a few minutes from the track. If you are planning on going to the track early on a Saturday morning then it's still empty if you meet up for coffee first and get on the route by 730am.

Anne Arundel County
Loop from Rt 3 South to Rt 450
19 Miles
Link to map: MD-450 to Chesterfield Rd - Google Maps

I was actually just looking at stringing a drive from Pretty Boy Reservoir over to Loch Raven. Was just mapping that last night!

It's also possible that Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City has some scenic roads, but I don't know if that's true (or if you have to pay to enter that park).

Anne Arundel / Calvert County
Crownsville to North Beach on back roads
39 miles
A bunch of different roads linked together to get down to North Beach. Quite a few stop signs, but it's a nice drive.

Link to map: St Stephens Church Rd to 5th St - Google Maps

Anne Arundel County
Linthicum to Hanover right next to BWI
5 miles
This is a short strech of road, but if your in the area it's easily accessible off of Rt. 100 and the road is fun to drive.

Link to map: River Rd to Race Rd - Google Maps

Nice thread. Will have to check these out some time. :tup:

Frederick County / Harford County
Figure 8 loop around Frederick
65 miles
There are twists, turns and good straight-aways on this route. The roads are all asphalt which are fairly well maintained.

Link to map: Libertytown, 8, Liberty, MD to Libertytown, 8, Liberty, MD - Google Maps

Frederick County
Rt 17
30 miles
This route can be linked to the route above for a really good drive. Either direction traveled will be satisfying. This scenic route will take you through several small towns ( One of these small towns is Burkittsville, MD - home of 'the Blair Witch) providing where you can stop for food or gas. The road has sweeping turns and straightaways as well as limited stop signs and various speed limits allow for a fun drive. Link it to Route 77 for a longer drive

Link to map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.878906&z=10

Howard County
Ellicott City Loop
10.2 miles
Great road to drive and there are great places to get breakfast or lunch downtown. The circuit passes through Old Town Ellicott City and along a river with hills on all sides. There are quite a few twists and turns on this route including 2 blind 90 degree turns and 1 blind 270 degree turn. Nice straight away as well.

Link to map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...2&ie=UTF8&z=14

Did you use a similar route or do you have a better one. Once your route is built, link it up here!

Shahid, if you end up using any of these routes I want some rep! I can't be a postwhore like you so I'm going for the quality posts instead of quantity!

:bowrofl:

I already gave you rep just for making this thread. :tup:

Mine is very similar, although it extends the time around Pretty Boy

Friendly Farm Restaurant to Towson Hooters - Google Maps

link = broken :(

Depending on traffic, Sometimes I take marriottsville road home. The road fun level depends on traffic, but there are 2 points where most of the time people will turn and you're good to go.

Baltimore
Marriottsville rd @ rt 70, to Marriottsville rd @ Liberty Road.
8mi
Mostly 1 lane each way, goes through some woods, some rock quarry area. Speed limit is usually 30-40 but I have been known to go slightly faster :driving: Keep in mind that towards the end (2/3 or 3/4 through) there is a hill, a dip and a hill. There is a Laurel cop who lives in the dip and parks his cruiser there. He left the Ka band radar turned on the other day (first time in ~4yrs). A buddy also got hit by a cop about 2 months ago along the road. But there are some points when you can just open up and its AWSESOME
Link to map if available: Marriottsville Rd to Marriottsville Rd - Google Maps

I'm jealous of all the good roads you guys have.

Thanks for the heads up. I fixed it temporarily but I'm looking for suggestions for the area around Rt. 95. I think it would be hard to keep a group of cars together getting onto Rt.1 for that short period of time.

You have so many good roads down near you. I drive out 66 hit those roads up between Rt81 and Rt79!:driving:

Hey Brian you know of any big open parking lots nearby that can be used to practiced some VDC off driving when empty?

which roads?

I'm actually a good ways away from anything near 66.

You kidding me? You live close to amazing driving roads down there...

I don't have my GPS at work to grab my trips, but go to this link and check out some of the roads.

Virginia Motorcycle Roads & Trips - Best Virginia Motorcycle Rides & Routes

Drove this one yesterday. It was good, but the only problem is that the road is really small so I was kind of afraid to push it. Still fun though :tup:

I know exactly where this is, and I have driven Ridge Road instead of Race Road, and it is pretty nice.

Can you post a google map when you get a chance?

I know a few truck/loading dock areas near Arundel Mills and near Jessup. I used to use them to practice on my motorcycle and some friends would practice stunting there. I'll try to get the specific addresses later. Not sure if I should post them so I'll PM them to anyone interested.

Just post them in here :tup:

Haha, me too.. Would you be soo kind??:tiphat:

I'm bumping this thread as some inspiration. I've been going over some cruise routes for the next drive, and I'm making progress, but I remembered that Brian posted this for us. Seriously, take a look through and if you find anything that piques your interest, let me know.

FYI, we've run some of these roads in our first two cruises. York Road north of Timonium, Falls Road northwest of Hunt Valley, Beckleysville Rd and Spook Hill Rd around Pretty Boy, Glen Arm and Loch Raven Dr around Loch Raven...

Some of the roads that Darren and I have been discussing lately are also in here, around the mountains in Thurmont, MD. I also like one of the roads Brian discovered that goes to the shoreline in southern MD.

Again, food for thought. And thanks again to Brian for posting all of these awesome routes.

Awesome job again Brian! I did end up driving one of these roads and it was good. :tup:

Bringing this thread back from the dead! After years of not having any official MAZOC cruises, I decided to just start doing them on my own. Actually managed to get up early on the weekends to make these drives and it's definitely been worth it. I'll continue to post up any good routes that I find.

This one I did yesterday connects Pretty Boy Reservoir to Loch Raven Reservoir. It connects a couple of the roads previously posted here by Brian and Al. Details below.

Baltimore County
67 miles, approx. 1.5-2 hrs of driving
Link to map - Pretty Boy to Loch Raven

This route starts and ends at 695 near Towson. A lot of great roads in and around this route. Falls Rd might be the best part of this route, but also one of the easiest to get stuck in traffic since it's a one lane road pretty much all the way up.

Some of the other roads around Pretty Boy Reservoir are pretty rough, so I took them off the route. Spooks Hill Rd and Pretty Boy Reservoir Rd are especially bad so I'd avoid those.

You can skip the Manor Rd and Glen Arm Rd loop at the end if you want to save some time, but I accidentally found those roads and they were pretty good.

Western MD/WV - Deep Creek Lake
50 miles, approx. 1-1.5 hrs driving
Link to map - Deep Creek Lake Cruise

This one is a little out there, but it is by far the best cruise I have ever done. Fantastic roads, breathtaking scenery, virtually no traffic, and little police presence. I literally felt like I was in a Top Gear segment while driving parts of this route. If you are ever in or near this area, you absolutely must drive this route or at least check out the lake viewpoint. Found this route when I was out vacationing in Deep Creek Lake 2 years ago.

I put in a stop at the Jennings Randolph Lake viewpoint in this route and it's a must see if you're going to do it. Would be an amazing picnic spot if you're gonna come out here. You can skip the viewpoint and just keep driving if you prefer. Driving next to the lake is probably the best part of the whole route. Also a great place to take pictures as you can see below.

This route takes you from MD to WV and then back to MD again. The road surface got a little rough when I crossed over to the WV side, but still decent for cruising. This route will also take you past the Kingsford Coal plant at some point, but I forget exactly where.

Looks like there are a couple of other roads around this area that could be pretty fun as well. Might try those out if I'm ever down there again.

Enjoy! :tup:

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My nephew lives out in Keyser WV. Route 50 from Winchester VA to 220 N and Keyser is a good road. 220 from Keyser up to Cumberland is good as well. It is mostly VA though so spirited driving might have associated problems. 50 gets twisty out there though. I had fun when I wasn't behind the geriatric types.

This is a good link run from Frederick MD for the Deep Creek Lake cruise noted above.

Map: Link from Frederick, MD to Deep Creek Lake run from above

Might have to check those out on the way to/from Deep Creek if I go out there again. :tup:

I posted this elsewhere on the forum but this looks like the place to put it now. The Old Spiral Highway out of Lewiston Idaho. A little over 7 miles and about 2000 foot elevation change. Reports state it is well patrolled but still ...

Map: Old Spiral Highway

Video:


except ... silly me ... it's NOT IN MARYLAND!

20+ miles
Baltimore County into Harford County.RT 147 (Harford Road) Start in Baltimore County at Harford Rd & Joppa Rd., continue northbound Harford Rd Rt147. After crossing bridge over Gunpowder stream continue 1000' on RT 147 then take left on Factory Rd. Curvy, hilly, quick turns, narrow two-way traffic. Test your driving skills on this Rally country road. Factory Rd becomes Long Green Pike, hilly, curves, increased MPH. Keep going north, Long Green Pike becomes Pleasantville Rd.. Scenic country setting.

Since we're resurrecting old ones.. here's a thread I made for the Virginia roads...

http://www.the370z.com/mid-atlantic-...cket-list.html