Interstate 68 East - Flintstone to Hancock

The longest exit less stretch of Interstate 68 extends from Flintstone (Exit 56) to U.S. 40 Scenic at Exit 62. Increasing scenery accompanies the drive along the National Freeway east through Green Ridge State Forest.

08/07/04

One half mile ahead of Exit 62 with Scenic U.S. 40 on I-68/U.S. 40 east. Scenic U.S. 40 provides a much more relaxing alternative to the National Freeway through Green Ridge State Forest. The route originates at Exit 62 and extends east to Exit 77 near Sideling Hill.

08/07/04

A parclo interchange links I-68/U.S. 40 with U.S. 40 Scenic and Fifteen Mile Creek Road. U.S. 40 Scenic travels well north of the National Freeway between here and Piney Grove. Fifteen Mile Creek Road loops southeast through Green Ridge State Forest to M.V. Smith Road.

08/07/04

M.V. Smith Road flows north from Fifteen Mile Creek Road to meet I-68/U.S. 40 at Exit 64. M.V. Smith Road continues north of Exit 64 to U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) near Green Ridge Road. Green Ridge Road ventures north from the National Pike to Inglesmith, Pennsylvania.

08/07/04

Like Exit 62, a parclo interchange exists at Exit 64 with M.V. Smith Road. Dug Hill Road extends southeast from M.V. Smith Road at Fifteen Mile Creek Road within Green Ridge State Forest.

08/07/04

Orleans Road intersects I-68/U.S. 40 east at the next interchange (Exit 68). The north-south road serves the nearby community of Piney Grove.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 eastbound at the Exit 68 diamond interchange with Orleans Road. Orleans Road carries motorists five miles south to Little Orleans and the Potomac River. Orleans Road continues north of U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) 1.4 miles to PA 26 in southern Fulton County.

08/07/04

Sideling Hill rises along the horizon of I-68/U.S. 40 east of Piney Grove and Exit 72. The rock cut in the distance carries the National Freeway across the mountain range.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 east again meet Scenic U.S. 40 at Exit 72. The lightly traveled scenic route accompanies I-68 more closely from Exit 72 eastward.

08/07/04

One half mile west of the modified diamond interchange (Exit 72) with U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike), Swain Road and High Germany Road. The original alignment of U.S. 40 continues unnumbered east between Exits 72 and 74. Swain Road spurs south from the National Pike to Swain Hollow Road and Belle Grove WMA. High Germany Road ties into I-68/U.S. 40 from the north.

08/07/04

Exit 72 leaves the National Freeway for Swain Road south, High Germany Road north, and U.S. 40 Scenic west. Scenic U.S. 40 is perhaps the only alternate U.S. route signed with a "SCENIC" banner, thus making this route unique.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 cross Sideling Hill Creek on the ascent across Sideling Hill. The creek represents the Allegany / Washington County line.

08/07/04

U.S. 40 Scenic leaves I-68/U.S. 40 again for the National Pike via Mountain Road off-ramp of Exit 74. Mountain Road crosses the Pennsylvania state line to the north from I-68/U.S. 40. U.S. 40 Scenic dips south along the National Pike to Riser Road before turning northeast to cross Sideling Hill.

08/07/04

One of the marvels of highway construction in Maryland, Interstate 68 and U.S. 40 approaches the massive cut at Sideling Hill, which was one the primary obstacles to completing Corridor E. This section fully opened to traffic in 1986.

08/07/04

The National Freeway (Interstate 68 and U.S. 40) passes through the Sideling Hill cut. This cut is amazing for the rich veins of coal prevalent in the cut. A visitor's center located on the east side of the cut has exhibits and displays related to Sideling Hill.

08/07/04

Interstate 68/U.S. 40 descend from the Sideling Hill cut by Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area.

08/07/04

U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) returns to I-68/U.S. 40 for the final time at Exit 77. The designation is replaced with MD 144 or U.S. 40 Alternate from here eastward to Frederick.

08/07/04

U.S. 40 Scenic stems north from adjacent MD 144 (National Pike) to end at the Exit 77 diamond interchange. Woodmont Road stems south from MD 144 & U.S. 40 Scenic four miles to Exline. MD 144 otherwise ventures three miles east into Hancock.

08/07/04

End advisory sign posted two miles ahead of the tri-level stack interchange with Interstate 70 & U.S. 522 on I-68/U.S. 40 eastbound. These types of end signs are common in both Maryland and Virginia.

08/07/04

U.S. 522 north merges with Interstate 70 for five miles between Hancock and Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania. The two split at Exit 168 to the north.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 eastbound default onto I-70 east for Hagerstown, Frederick and Baltimore. Exit 82C departs for I-70 west& U.S. 522 north 25 miles to U.S. 30 and Interstate 76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) at Breezewood. U.S. 522 branches northeast from Warfordsburg at the succeeding exit and continues 21 miles to McConnellsburg.

10/12/01

Traffic partitions for I-70/U.S. 40 east (Exit 82B) and U.S. 522 south (Exit 82B) as I-68 concludes. Hagerstown lies 25 miles to the east, while U.S. 522 splits from Interstate 70 east for Berkeley Springs, West Virginia and Winchester, Virginia.

08/07/04