Maryland 273 straddles the northern reaches of Cecil County between U.S. 1 (Conowingo Road) and the state line at Newark, Delaware. The state highway travels through scenic rolling hills at Fair Hill and through the quaint town of Rising Sun on the drive south of the Pennsylvania state line. Maryland 273 increases in traffic however as more and more Delawareans move to Cecil County to seek open space and country life.
Maryland 273 originally continued another 4.8 miles west of Harrisville via an overlap with U.S. 1 (Conowingo Road), and routings along Connelly and Ragan Roads to Oakwood and junction U.S. 222. The highway was truncated by the 1950s or 1960s to U.S. 1 and Connelly and Ragan Roads are no longer part of the state highway system.
Western Terminus
Eastern Terminus
Road Names
Mileage
U.S. 1 - Harrisville
Delaware state line (Delaware 273)
Rising Sun Road, Main Street, Telegraph Road
16.74
Western Terminus - U.S. 1 at Harrisville
U.S. 1 northbound approaches Maryland 273 eastbound. Following Rising Sun Road, Maryland 273 passes through Rising Sun, Calvert, Fair Hill, and Appleton, then changes into Delaware 273 upon entering the First State. This is an excellent route into Newark, Delaware, in lieu of rejoining Interstate 95 or following slower U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) through Elkton. Of course, Maryland 273 is also part of a longer alternate route for avoiding the Susquehanna River Bridge tolls on both routes and the Delaware Turnpike toll on Interstate 95 near Newark. Photo taken 07/25/04.
U.S. 1 and Maryland 273 split here, with U.S. 1 (Conowingo Road) continuing north toward Nottingham and Oxford in Pennsylvania. Upon crossing the state line and continuing northeast to Kennett Square (Junction Pennsylvania 82), U.S. 1 is a freeway, and it remains that way until reaching the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Maryland State Highway Administration advises motorists headed to Interstate 95 not to use Maryland 273 and instead follow Maryland Truck 222 & Maryland 276 south. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Three-quarters of a mile west of Maryland 276's north end is the west end of Maryland 273 (Rising Sun Road). The state route composes a direct route between U.S. 1 and Conowingo with Fair Hill and Newark, Delaware. The westernmost reaches of Rising Sun Road splits between a northbound leg to U.S. 1 ahead from the eastbound only partition from U.S. 1 north. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Maryland 273 westbound intersects U.S. 1. Drivers can turn east onto Maryland 273 (Rising Sun Road) to travel back to Rising Sun itself or Maryland 276 & 222 Truck. Otherwise U.S. 1 southbound continues westward beyond the route's end. Note the eastbound beginning in the background. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Eastern Terminus - Delaware state line as Delaware 273 (Telegraph Road)
Delaware 273 (Nottingham Road) intersects Wedgewood and Jackson Hall School Roads just before crossing the Maryland state line. The two roads link Nottingham Road with Delaware 896 (New London Road) and Appleton Road respectively. Nottingham Road becomes Telegraph Road upon entering Cecil County. Posted just beyond the border is the first westbound reassurance shield of Maryland 273. Photo taken 01/00.
Maryland 273 2003 Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)
7,425 - Maryland 274 (Rising Sun) to Maryland 272
9,125 - Maryland 272 to Blue Ball Road
10,725 - Blue Ball Road to Maryland 213 (Fair Hill)
10,325 - Maryland 213 to Appleton Road
10,425 - Appleton Road to Delaware state line
Source: 2003 Highway Location Reference file for Cecil County (MDSHA)
Maryland 273 Guide
Maryland 273 East
Maryland 273 east splits from U.S. 1 north along Rising Sun Road. Westbound drivers are directed north on a short connector road. This shield resides east of the connector road merge with Rising Sun Road east. Photo taken 06/05/05.
A short distance east of the split with U.S. 1 (Conowingo Road), Maryland 273 (Rising Sun Road) eastbound meets Maryland 276 at Harrisville. Maryland 276 doubles as Maryland 222 Truck between its north end at U.S. 1 and junction Maryland 275 (Perrylawn Drive). Photo taken 06/05/05.
A roundabout replaced a signalized intersection in the early 2000s between Maryland 273 (Rising Sun Road) and Maryland 276 & 222 Truck. Maryland 222 Truck continues south along Maryland 275 to Maryland 222 just north of its interchange with Interstate 95 (Exit 93). Photo taken 06/05/05.
Now within the roundabout, a guide sign directs Maryland 276 southbound motorists out of the circle toward Port Deposit. Maryland 276 travels 7/85 miles overall between Maryland 222 at Port Deposit and U.S. 1 nearby. Photo taken 08/11/05.
Maryland 273 eastbound exits the roundabout for the continuation of Rising Sun Road to the town of Rising Sun. Photo taken 06/05/05.
Maryland 273 eastbound reassurance shield posted after the roundabout with Maryland 276 (Jacob Tome Memorial Highway). Rising Sun Road descends into Rising Sun as Main Street ahead. Beware of the speed limit as it is not uncommon to find speed checks in effect over the forthcoming hill. Photo taken 04/30/04.
Rising Sun Road transitions into Main Street at the base of the hill west of downtown Rising Sun. Trucks bound for North East must continue east to Maryland 272 south in lieu of Maryland 274 due to the tight intersection with Maryland 273 (Main Street). Photo taken 06/05/05.
Downtown Rising Sun and the western terminus of Maryland 274 (Queen Street). Maryland 274 departs Rising Sun southeastward toward Maryland 272 (North East Road) and Interstate 95 (Exit 100) via the Joseph Biggs Highway. The leg of Maryland 273 from U.S. 1 to Queen Street and Queen and Walnut Streets northward represent the original U.S. 1 alignment through Rising Sun. Photo taken 04/30/04.
Maryland 273 eastbound reassurance shield posted at the Main Street intersection with Maryland 274 (Queen Street). The state route continues another one half mile through Rising Sun to the traffic light with Ryan Drive. Photo taken 04/30/04.
At the intersection of Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) and Maryland 272 (Chrome Road), one of the few remaining Interstate 95 Maryland shields in Cecil County was posted along eastbound as recently as 2004. The signalized intersection exists 1.3 miles south of the Maryland 272 transition into Pennsylvania 272. Maryland 274 Truck overlaps with Maryland 273 (Main Street / Telegraph Road) east out of Rising Sun to Maryland 272. From here the truck route overlaps with Maryland 272 (North East Road) southward to Maryland 274's southern terminus at Cecil County Community College. Photos taken 06/22/00 & 06/05/05.
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A relatively uninterrupted drive carries Maryland 273 drives along Telegraph Road between Maryland 272 (Chrome Road) and Maryland 213 (Lewisville Road). Photo taken 06/05/05.
Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) eastbound at junction Maryland 213 (Lewisville Road) in Fair Hill itself. The crossroads is the last signalized intersection of Maryland 273 eastbound before Telegraph Road crosses the Delaware state line. Maryland 213 provides the main route between Elkton and Lewisville, Pennsylvania. Maryland 213, formally signed as Maryland 280, transitions into Pennsylvania 841 at Lewisville. Use Pennsylvania 841 to Pennsylvania 472 for the town of Oxford, Pennsylvania. Photo taken 04/24/04.
Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) continues beyond Maryland 213 through Fair Hill. Ahead is the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area and equestrian track. The facility is home to the Scottish Games during the Spring and other events year long. The state of Maryland purchased the 5,613 acre woodlands in 1975. Photo taken 04/24/04.
Maryland 273 is arguably one of the most scenic drives in Cecil County. Comparisons can be drawn to Maryland 222 along the Susquehanna River or Maryland 272 in Elk Neck State Park, but the vistas one encounters on Telegraph Road are unmatched. Pictured here are two views along Maryland 273 eastbound. Three equestrian bridges cross over Telegraph Road as part of the 75-mile trail system of the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. Photos taken 04/24/04.
Obscured during the Summer months due to foliage, a narrow concrete bridge remains in place over the Big Elk Creek north of Maryland 273 in the valley of the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area. The span and a small segment of twin-slab concrete remain from a previous alignment of Maryland 273. The roadway stems from Stone House Lane at the base of the hill and is not readily accessible. Photo taken 04/24/04.
The final stretch of Telegraph Road before Maryland 273 crosses into the city of Newark, Delaware. Maryland 273 intersects Appleton Road after its climb from the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area 1.3 miles from the state line. Little Egypt Road stems northward from Maryland 273 ahead to unsigned Maryland 896 (New London Road). Photo taken 04/24/04.
Maryland 273 West
Westbound Maryland 273 reassurance marker posted after the intersection with Little Egypt Road. Little Egypt Road travels southward from unsigned Maryland 896 to Telegraph Road around the Glen Farms subdivision. Photo taken 12/21/07.
Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) westbound at the intersection with Appleton Road. Appleton Road represents a north-south through road between Elkton and Kemblesville, Pennsylvania. A set of flashers were installed at the intersection in the late 1990s after a gas station was built. Several maps indicate Appleton Road as Maryland 316, but that designation ends at the Appleton Road intersection with Maryland 277 (Fletchwood Road) to the south. Photo taken 05/21/07.
Continuing west from Appleton Road on Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road). Maryland 273 descends steeply to cross Big Elk Creek within the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. Photo taken 12/21/07.
Descending into the scenic Big Elk Creek valley between Appleton and Fair Hill on Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) west. The valley is a part of the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area and offers hiking, equestrian activities, and bicycling. Stonehouse Lane, a short residential street, spurs from Maryland 273 at Big Elk Creek, Abandoned segments of Maryland 273 reside nearby. The second photo added to show the transition from summer into winter. Photos taken 05/21/07 & 12/21/07.
Junction Maryland 213 and signal ahead shield assembly posted at Fair Hill on Maryland 273 west. The wide travel lanes and full shoulders allow for higher speeds along Maryland 273 through the Fair Hill area. The signal ahead assembly was installed to advise motorists to slow down in advance of the intersection because of this. Photo taken 05/21/07.
Maryland 213 (Lewisville Road north / Singerly Road south), historically Maryland 280 here, travels north out of Elkton to Lewisville, Pennsylvania as Pennsylvania 841. A split-phased signalized intersection governs the movements of Lewisville Road across Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) at Fair Hill. Fair Hill's horse tracks lie just southeast of the junction. Photo taken 05/21/07.
Interests to Interstate 95 are advised to remain west along Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) to Maryland 272 (Chrome Road) south. Maryland 213 passes over Interstate 95 with no access on the approach to Elkton. Photo taken 05/21/07.
Continuing west toward the Little Elk Creek valley along Maryland 273 (Telegraph Road) from Fair Hill. Forthcoming intersections with Rock Church and Little Elk Creek Roads lead north into Chester County, Pennsylvania. Photo taken 05/21/07.
Ascending on Main Street westbound out of Rising Sun on Maryland 273. The state highway travels 1.6 miles from downtown Rising Sun to junction U.S. 1 at Harrisville. Photo taken 07/25/04.
The former signalized intersection between Maryland 273 (Rising Sun Road) and Maryland 276 (Jacob Tome Memorial Highway) was reconstructed as a roundabout in 2003-04. The traffic circle exists just east of Harrisville and the termini of both Maryland 273 and 276. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Small guide sign for Maryland 276 (Jacob Tome Memorial Highway) on Maryland 273 (Rising Sun Road) westbound. The state route travels between U.S. 1 and Port Deposit (junction Maryland 222). Maryland 222 Truck overlaps with Maryland 276 between the north end and junction Maryland 275 (Perrylawn Drive) near Woodlawn. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Maryland 222 Truck shield and Interstate 95 trailblazer for Maryland 276 (Jacob Tome Memorial Highway) southbound at the Rising Sun roundabout. Maryland 222 Truck carries traffic onto Maryland 275 south to Maryland 222 & 824 north of the Exit 93 interchange of Interstate 95. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Guide signs are posted at each of the four departure points of the Maryland 273 & 276 roundabout. Maryland 273 westbound ends in 0.7 miles at U.S. 1 to the west. Maryland 276 travels another half mile to its end with U.S. 1 to the north. Photo taken 07/25/04.
Scenes pertaining to Maryland 273
An Interstate 95 Maryland trailblazer faces an open field at Fair Hill Racetrack along Maryland 273. The shield directs motorists westbound to Maryland 272 south and its purpose is to direct overflow parking at Fair Hill events such as the Fair Hill Scottish Games. Photos taken 05/21/07.
