| Colesville Road crosses over the Capital Beltway ahead of the Exit 30 ramp departure onto U.S. 29 south. U.S. 29 enters Silver Spring nearby, meeting Maryland 97 and 410 before entering the capital city. U.S. 29 continues along Georgia Avenue south toward downtown. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Upcoming mileage sign listing the distances to Exits 31, 33, and 34 on Interstate 495 west. Maryland 97 continues Georgia Avenue northwest from U.S. 29 (Colesville) to a three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with the Capital Beltway. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 west passes through Sligo Creek Park, crossing over both Sligo Creek Parkway and Sligo Creek, on the one half mile approach to Exit 31 (Maryland 97). Maryland 97 comprises a lengthy state highway between U.S. 29 in Silver Spring and the Pennsylvania state line southeast of Gettysburg. Locally the highway comprises a busy arterial between Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Olney. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| All traffic interests to Maryland 97 (Georgia Avenue) depart Interstate 495 westbound in unison at Exit 31. Maryland 97 splits with Maryland 390 (16th Street) en route to downtown Silver Spring to the south. Maryland 192 (Forest Glen Road) ties into Georgia Avenue on the north side of Exit 31 from Kensington. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| The Mormon Temple at Bethesda rises along the western horizon as Interstate 495 meanders around Rock Creek Park. Seminary Road (former Maryland 391), the MARC Brunswick Line, and Linden Lane pass over the beltway in the foreground. Maryland 391 was decommissioned along Seminary Road in 1999. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 curves around the periphery of Rock Creek on the one-mile approach to Maryland 185 (Connecticut Avenue). Connecticut Avenue carries the state highway northward from Washington through Chevy Chase and Kensington, meeting the freeway at the six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange of Exit 33. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| One half mile east of the Exit 33 off-ramp to Maryland 185 (Connecticut Avenue). Maryland 185 travels between the District of Columbia and junction Maryland 97 at Aspen Hill along all of Connecticut Avenue. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Approaching Exit 33 and junction Maryland 185 (Connecticut Avenue) on Interstate 495 west. Maryland 185 ends 5.6 miles at the merge with Maryland 97 (Georgia Avenue). Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Drivers bound for Maryland 185 (Connecticut Avenue) leave Interstate 495 westbound. Maryland 185 continues a short distance south to junction Maryland 410 (East-West Highway) on the 2.7-mile drive to Chevy Chase Circle at the District line. Connecticut Avenue continues southeast from there to Dupont Circle. Northward, Maryland 185 heads 1.5 miles to junction Maryland 547 (Knowles Avenue) in central Kensington. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 next meets junction Maryland 355 (Rockville Pike / Wisconsin Avenue) and Interstate 270 west. The two routes provide access between Washington and the Rockville/Gaithersburg area to the northwest. Both routes also represent historic routings of U.S. 240. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Capital Beltway drivers continue northwest along Rock Creek Park toward the Exit 34-35 interchange complex with Maryland 355 (Wisconsin Avenue) and Interstate 270's westbound beginning. Wisconsin Avenue carries Maryland 355 southward through Bethesda and Friendship Heights to the District line. Rockville Pike continues Maryland 355 northwest to Garrett Park, Montrose, and Rockville. Interstate 270 provides a freeway link northwest to Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Frederick. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Exit 34 departs Interstate 495 westbound at the eastern extent of the Exit 35 partial "Y" interchange with Interstate 270. Maryland 355 serves the Strathmore Music Center and Bethesda North Conference Center among other area points of interest. The state highway represents all of the original U.S. 240 between Washington and Frederick. That routing was later replaced by Interstate 270 and decommissioned in 1972.1 Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| A split Rockville Pike (Maryland 355) passes Interstate 495 westbound above as Exit 35 prepares to depart for Interstate 270 west. Interstate 270 travels west initially, meeting Maryland 187 south of Montrose, before turning northwest to Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Frederick. The freeway sees a Spur alignment from Montrose south to Exit 38 of the beltway. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 continues west toward the merge with Interstate 270 Spur while Interstate 270 begins. Interstate 270 expands to a four-carriageway freeway between Montrose and Gaithersburg. The Express/Local configuration was the first to exist in Maryland and allows through traffic limited access points to the surrounding interchanges. Interstate 270 historically was signed as Interstate 70S, with Interstate 70 carrying Interstate 70N between Frederick and Baltimore. The freeway ends at the south Frederick confluence of Interstate 70, U.S. 15, U.S. 40, and U.S. 340 in 33 miles. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Maryland 187 (Old Georgetown Road) loops west of Maryland 355 (Wisconsin Avenue) through Bethesda to Maryland 355 (Rockville PIke) at Montrose and Garrett Park. The surface arterial interchanges with both Interstate 495 (Exit 36) and Interstate 270 (Exit 1). Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| One half mile eats of the Exit 36 diamond interchange with Maryland 187 (Old Georgetown Road). Maryland 187 serves the Oakmont and Alta Vista communities of north Bethesda on the 2.9-mile drive south to Maryland 355 (Wisconsin Avenue) in central Bethesda. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Drivers bound for Maryland 187 (Old Georgetown Road) leave Interstate 495 westbound via Exit 36. Old Georgetown Road continues north one mile to Interstate 270 and 2.6 miles to Maryland 355 (Rockville Pike) at Garrett Park. Connections with Democracy Boulevard lead motorists west to Interstate 270 Spur and Cabin John Regional Park. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Older button copy mileage sign referencing the mileage to Fairfax and Northern Virginia. Interstate 495 crosses the state line in five miles and interchanges with Interstate 66 in 11.5 miles. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Entering the partial "Y" interchange with Interstate 270 Spur southbound, Interstate 495 westbound drivers make a sharp turn from the west to south. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| With the addition of traffic from Interstate 270 Spur south, Interstate 495 outer expands to five overall lanes on the approach to Maryland 190 (Exit 39). Maryland 190 (River Road) represents the first of the final three off-ramps in Maryland. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Clara Barton Parkway, a limited-access route along the Potomac River, is accessible in the eastbound direction via Exit 40 (Cabin John Parkway south) and in the westbound direction directly from Exit 41. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Exits 39 & 40 depart Interstate 495 south via a two-lane ramp near Glen Echo. Maryland 190 (River Road) follows a multi-lane arterial eastward to Somerset and Friendship Heights before entering the District of Columbia. Cabin John Parkway constitutes a limited-access route between Exit 40 and Clara Barton Parkway east at Glen Echo. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| One-half mile north of the Exit 39 collector/distributor roadway to Maryland 190 (River Road) on Interstate 495 south. Maryland 190 west continues to Campbell Corner and Potomac. The state highway travels overall 15.88 miles from Washington west to Maryland 112 (Seneca Road) at Seneca. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Exit 39 prepares to depart for Maryland 190 (River Road) from Interstate 495 south. Exit 40 follows suit quickly, claiming the right-hand travel lane of the Beltway outer loop. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 southbound at the Exit 39 ramp departure to Maryland 190 (River Road). Cabin John Parkway begins via Exit 40 and travels southward along Cabin John Park to a direct merge with Clara Barton Parkway south. Clara Barton Parkway continues along the Potomac River to the Chain Bridge and Canal Road in west Washington. Like other DC area Parkways, commercial trucks are prohibited along both roadways. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Cabin John Parkway begins its short journey southward via the Exit 40 partial "Y" interchange. There are no interchanges along the parkway between Interstate 495 and its merge with the Clara Barton Parkway. Access to Glen Echo is provided at Clara Barton Parkway eastbound u-turn ramp for MacArthur Boulevard near the Clara Barton House and Maryland 614 (Goldsboro Road). Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Meanwhile a three-quarter cloverleaf interchange joins Interstate 495 with Maryland 190 (River Road) at Exit 39. A loop ramp adds drivers from River Road westbound, making the exit into a c/d roadway with return access to the Capital Beltway south. River Road otherwise intersects Maryland 188 (Wilson Lane) in 1.2 miles at Glen Echo. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| The Exit 39 c/d roadway includes a second opportunity to access Cabin John Parkway southward for drivers emanating from Maryland 190. An original button copy overhead directs drivers back onto Interstate 495 south otherwise. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 Maryland shield that was posted on the southbound collector/distributor lane at Exit 39 (since removed). This was one of the few remaining Interstate 495 Maryland shields left on the Maryland portion of the beltway in 2001, with very few, if any, remaining by 2007. Photo taken 10/14/01. |
| Continuing south, Interstate 495 bends westward around Cabin John to Carderock and the Exit 41 directional-cloverleaf interchange with Clara Barton Parkway. Access is only available to Clara Barton Parkway west to Cropley and Great Falls from the outer loop. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Persimmon Tree Road (former Maryland 191) crosses over Interstate 495 at the Carderock area, one half mile north of Exit 41. Clara Barton Parkway west merges with MacArthur Boulevard in 1.75 miles with MacArthur Boulevard heading back east to Carderock and Persimmon Tree Road. Maryland 191 was truncated from Persimmion Tree Road northward to Maryland 190 (River Road) in 1999. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Exit 41 carries drivers onto Clara Barton Parkway westbound at the MacArthur Boulevard under crossing. The parkway ends at its merge with MacArthur Boulevard; MacArthur Boulevard continues 3.4 miles west to Cropley, Truxton, and Great Falls along side the C & O Canal National Historic Park. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 sinks toward the Potomac River, passing over Clara Barton Parkway in this scene. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| A collector/distributor roadway departs Interstate 495 at the south end of the Potomac River crossing into Virginia. Exit 43 provides access to the George Washington Memorial Parkway south; Exit 44 joins the Capital Beltway with Virginia 193 (Georgetown Pike). Like the Clara Barton Parkway, George Washington Parkway straddles the Potomac River along a limited-access route that is not open to commercial trucks. Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| A nondescript eight-lane bridge spans the Potomac River between the Bethesda and McLean areas. Named the American Legion Bridge, it opened in December 1962.2 Photo taken 07/11/05. |
| Interstate 495 south (outer) enters Fairfax County, Virginia over the south banks of the Potomac River. The Exit 43 trumpet interchange with George Washington Memorial Parkway lies nearby, followed by the Exit 44 diamond interchange with Virginia 193 (Georgetown Pike). Washington Parkway ventures southeast to Arlington County, Rosslyn, and Reagan National Airport. Georgetown Pike travels an easterly route to Langley and Virginia 123 (Chain Bridge Road). Photo taken 07/11/05. |
Page Updated December 26, 2007.
