Interstate 270 North

An on-ramp joins Interstate 270 north from MD 355 (Rockville Pike) north as the freeway leads away from the wye interchange with the Capital Beltway. The left lane immediately becomes an HOV-2 restricted lane.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 winds northwest toward adjacent off-ramps (Exits 1A/B) for MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road) and Rockledge Drive. MD 187 constitutes a 5.32 mile loop west from MD 355 at Bethesda to MD 355 at North Bethesda.

08/04/13

A pedestrian bridge spans Interstate 270 between Rossmor Drive and Tuckerman Lane beyond this distance sign posted 33 miles from Frederick.

08/04/13

One half mile ahead of the half diamond interchange (Exit 1) with MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road) on I-270 north. All of MD 187 consists of an arterial or urban boulevard.

08/04/13

09/25/04

Another overhead advises motorists of the HOV-2 restriction for the left lane. The HOV-lane extends north onto the Express portion of I-270.

08/04/13

Exit 1A leaves I-270 north for MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road). MD 187 sees an interchange with I-495, 1.3 miles to the south, meeting Democracy Boulevard west to Westfield Montgomery Mall along the way.

08/04/13

Exit 1B quickly follows at a diamond interchange with Rockledge Boulevard south. Rockledge Drive forms an L-shaped route west and south from Rockledge Boulevard through an adjacent office park to Fernwood Road and Democracy Boulevard.

08/04/13

An access road joins MD 187 west with Rockledge Boulevard to the right as the Interstate 270 mainline prepares to split into its Local and Express configuration.

08/04/13

The I-270 Technology Corridor reflects the large concentration of high-tech businesses and government agencies found along Interstate 270 northward to Frederick.

08/04/13

The HOV-2 lane branches away from the I-270 mainline to combine with the HOV-2 lane from I-270 Spur at the forthcoming wye interchange between the two freeways. Exits 4A/B to Montrose Road departs next from the Local lanes in two miles.

08/04/13

The HOV-2 lane separates from the I-270 northbound mainline as two lanes continue to the merge with I-270 Spur north. I-270 Spur travels 2.10 miles north to carry motorists from Interstate 495 east onto I-270.

08/04/13

Six lanes initially carry Interstate 270 from the merge with Interstate 270 Spur to the Local and Express split. The next four interchanges (Exits 4, 5, 6, and 8) serve the city of Rockville. It is not yet necessary to move onto the Local lanes for the interchanges beyond Exit 5 as crossovers link the two roadways further north.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 north prepares to split into two roadways. Montrose Road is signed with the Interstate 270 Local lanes for Exits 4A/B. A small auxiliary sign advises drivers of the Exit 4A connection with Tower Oaks Boulevard. Tower Oaks Boulevard parallels I-270 northbound between Montrose Road and Wootton Parkway.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 splits into Local and Express lanes. The inside Express roadways accommodate eight overall lanes while the outside Local roadways carry two lanes a piece between here and Interstate 370 (Exit 9).

08/04/13

Exit 4A departs from the local lanes of I-270 for Montrose Avenue east and Tower Oaks Boulevard north. Montrose Avenue travels two miles east to MD 355 (Rockville Pike) and MD 183 (Randolph Road). Tower Oaks Boulevard migrates one mile north to Wootton Park and Dogwood Park.

08/04/13

A loop ramp ascends from Interstate 270 north onto Montrose Road westbound. Montrose Road continues one half mile to Seven Locks Road and 1.5 miles to its end at MD 189 (Falls Road).

08/04/13

A crossover carries Interstate 270 Express northbound motorists onto Interstate 270 Local for the SPUI (Single Point Urban Interchange) with MD 189 (Falls Road). Falls Road links Interstate 270 with Downtown Rockville and the historic district of the city.

08/04/13

0.75 miles south of MD 189 (Falls Road) on Interstate 270 Local north. A crossover joins the Express lanes with the Local lanes one mile ahead for Exit 6 to MD 28 (Montgomery Avenue). Wootton Parkway passes overhead in the distance between MD 189 and MD 355.

08/04/13

MD 189 (Falls Road) not only serves the Rockville Town Center but also the suburb of Potomac to the southwest. The state route intersects MD 190 (River Road) in 4.8 miles at Potomac itself.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 Local northbound at Exit 5 for MD 189 (Falls Road). Falls Road travels less than a mile northeast to its end at MD 28 (Montgomery Avenue / Jefferson Street) in Downtown Rockville.

08/04/13

Posted within the MD 189 (Exit 5) SPUI are advance guide signs for the next two crossovers between Interstate 270 Express onto Interstate 270 Local for Exits 6 (MD 28) and 8 (Shady Grove Road). Hidden beyond the guide signs is a bank of traffic signals on the MD 189 overpass.

08/04/13

One half mile separates the MD 189 and MD 28 interchanges of Interstate 270. A pair of crossovers exist between the two roadways otherwise.

08/04/13

The first guide sign for Interstate 370 and MD 200 Toll appears two miles south of the Exits 9 & 10 crossover at Shady Grove Road.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 and MD 28 (Montgomery Avenue) come together at a three quarter cloverleaf interchange. Pictured here is the Exits 6A/B guide sign that breaks down Montgomery Avenue with the control cities of Darnestown (westbound) and Rockville (eastbound). Darnestown lies eight miles west of Exit 6B at the intersection of MD 28 with MD 112 (Seneca Road).

08/04/13

Interstate 270 leaves the Rockville vicinity for Gaithersburg beyond Exit 6 and MD 28. Posted over the Interstate 270 Express mainline is an interchange sequence sign for the next three interchanges including Interstate 370.

08/04/13

Exit 6A departs Interstate 270 Local for MD 28 (Montgomery Avenue) eastbound into Rockville. Montgomery Avenue carries the state route onto Jefferson Street in Downtown Rockville. A 1.3 mile drive brings MD 28 to its intersection with MD 355 (Rockville Pike / former U.S. 240) and Veirs Mill Road.

08/04/13

Northbound at the loop ramp onto MD 28 (Montgomery Avenue) west to Darnestown. MD 28 becomes Key West Avenue and Darnestown Road on the drive west to Quince Orchard (MD 124). The state route continues west from Darnestown to Dawsonville where it meets MD 107 (Whites Ferry Road). Whites Ferry Road links MD 28 with the town of Poolesville.

08/04/13

The Interstate 270 Express crossover for Exit 8 (Shady Grove Road) merges onto Interstate 270 Local as it leaves the MD 28 interchange.

08/04/13

The one mile guide sign for the Interstate 370 / MD 200 Toll (Inner County Connector) and MD 117 & 124 crossover (Exits 9 & 10) precedes the Interstate 270 Local crossover back onto the Express lanes for MD 28 traffic.

08/04/13

Forthcoming MD 200, the Inner County Connector (ICC), extends east from I-370 as an all-electronic toll collection toll road. E-ZPass accounts are required to use the road, otherwise bills are sent by mail to drivers.

08/04/13

Northbound at the crossover between the Local and Express lanes, one mile south of the Shady Grove parclo interchange. Shady Grove Road constitutes a surface-arterial throughout Gaithersburg between Redland and Darnestown Road (MD 28).

08/04/13

Interstate 370 east connects I-270 with the Gaithersburg town center and Shady Grove Metro station. I-370 meets MD 355 (Frederick Road) one mile to the northeast. Frederick Road (former U.S. 240) travels from there northward into the town center. Sam Eig Highway extends west from the ending of I-370 (Exit 9B) to MD 119 (Great Seneca Highway).

08/04/13

Interstate 270 Local reduces to one through lane as it passes underneath Shady Grove Road at Exit 8. The forthcoming off-ramp splits into branches to Shady Grove Road and Redland Road eastbound for the community of Derwood.
The right lane from the Express lanes defaults onto the Local lanes for Interstate 370 as well.

09/25/04

08/04/13

Toll rates along the ICC vary depending upon time of day (peak hour traffic versus off-peak).

08/04/13

Traffic to Shady Grove and Redland Roads leaves Interstate 270 Local north at Exit 8. Shady Grove Road winds 3.7 miles northeast through suburban areas to MD 115 (Muncaster Mill Road) and Airpark Road at Redland.

08/04/13

All Interstate 270 Express drivers bound for Interstate 370, the ICC (MD 200) and Sam Eig Highway merge onto the Local lanes within the Shady Grove Road interchange. The upcoming exchange with Interstate 370 serves Gaithersburg, the Rio Center and Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, and the Shady Grove Metro Station of the Washington D.C. subway system. As of February 23, 2011, Exit 9 also served MD 200 Toll east to MD 28.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 Local expands from one to three lanes in between Shady Grove Road and Interstate 370 (Exits 9A/B). Interstate 370 spurs west to Fields Road as the Sam Eig Highway and east to MD 200 Toll (ICC) and the Shady Grove Metro Station. The I-370 constitutes just 2.54 miles.

08/04/13

Another crossover carries Shady Grove Road drivers onto the Interstate 270 Express lanes to bypass the ramps to and from Interstate 370 and Sam Eig Highway (Exits 9A/B).

09/25/04

08/04/13

Exit 9 partitions into separate ramps for Interstate 370 east and Sam Eig Highway west. I-370 east crosses paths with MD 355 (Frederick Road) for the Gaithersburg Town Center and Shady Grove Road before ending at MD 200 Toll (ICC). Opening of the ICC on February 23, 2011 east to MD 28 resulted in the shortening of I-370 from its end at Shady Grove Metro station. That stretch is now unsigned MD 200A.

09/25/04

Exit 9B sweeps northwestward over Interstates 270 and 370 onto Sam Eig Highway at the interchange with Washingtonian Boulevard. Washingtonian Boulevard travels between I-370 and Fields Road through the Rio Center and Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. The diamond interchange was constructed in the mid to late 1990s.

09/25/04

Interstate 270 continues north with Local and Express lanes to MD 117 (Diamond Avenue) and MD 124 (Quince Orchard Road / Montgomery Village Avenue).

08/04/13

Two lanes cross over to the Express lanes from I-370 and MD 200 for Interstate 270 northward toward Frederick. A partial interchange (Exit 10) follows onto MD 117 (Diamond Avenue). MD 117 totals 12.67 miles from MD 355 in Gaithersburg to MD 28 north of Darnestown.

08/04/13

Muddy Branch Road spans Interstate 270 north as the freeway passes alongside the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus. Upcoming Exit 10 serves NIST via MD 117 west to Clopper Road.

08/04/13

I-270 Local again reduces to one through lane beyond the off-ramp to MD 117 (Diamond Avenue). MD 117 west provides access to MD 124 (Quince Orchard Road) south to west Gaithersburg.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 Express north at the egress point for the Local lanes to MD 117 and 124. MD 124 constitutes a mostly suburban route 17.03 miles north from MD 28 (Damestown Road) to MD 108 at Damascus.

08/04/13

Exit 10 loops away from I-270 north for MD 117 (Diamond Avenue). MD 117 takes Clopper Road west from MD 124 (Quince Orchard Road) to Clopper, Seneca Creek State Park and Old Germantown. The state route east leads motorists to Gaithersburg City Hall.

08/04/13

A MARC light rail line passes over Interstate 270 ahead of Exit 11 onto MD 124 (Montgomery Village Avenue) north to Lakeforest Mall and Montgomery Village.

08/04/13

The Interstate 270 Local lanes conclude north of the parclo interchange (Exit 11) with MD 124. Originally a cloverleaf joined the freeway with MD 124.

08/04/13

Removed in 2017, a state named shield for Interstate 270 previously followed the merge of the Local and Express lanes.

10/14/01

Construction in 2018/19 added a diamond interchange (Exit 12) with Watkins Mill Road. The entrance ramp from Watkins Mill Road joins I-270 where this shield was posted. The freeway proceeds north across Seneca Creek State Park.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 rises from Great Seneca Creek to next meet Middlebrook Road at a partial interchange (Exits 13A/B) near Middlebrook.

08/04/13

Unincorporated Germantown, the third most populous community in Maryland, spreads across Interstate 270 over the next three interchanges.

08/04/13

Four lanes of I-270 north approach Exits 13A/B for Middlebrook Road. Middlebrook Road heads east to MD 355 (Frederick Road) before petering out between subdivisions abutting Great Seneca Extension Park.

08/04/13

Exit 13A leaves Interstate 270 north for Middlebrook Road east to Middlebrook. Middlebrook Road west encircles the U.S. Department of Energy Office administration complex west to MD 118 (Germantown Road).

08/04/13

MD 118 (Germantown Road) travels east from Middlebrook Road to a six-ramp parclo interchange (Exits 15A/B) with Interstate 270.

08/04/13

MD 118 north ends just 0.7 miles from Exit 15A at MD 355 (Frederick Road) by Montgomery College. Germantown Road extends east from Neelsville to Watkins Mill Road and Great Seneca Extension Park.

08/04/13

A loop ramp joins MD 118 (Germantown Road) south through a retail corridor in central Germantown. The 7.08 mile route concludes at MD 28, south of Brownstown.

08/04/13

An auxiliary lane accompanies I-270 north from MD 118 to the directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 16) with Father Hurley Boulevard.

08/04/13

Father Hurley Boulevard arcs north from MD 118 (Germantown Road) through the Churchill Village area of Germantown to MD 27 (Ridge Road) at MD 355 (Frederick Road).

08/04/13

Exit 16 departs from I-270 north to Father Hurley Boulevard. MD 27 commences a 39.17 mile route north to Damascus, Mount Airy, Westminster and Manchester from MD 355.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 lowers to cross Little Seneca Creek before climbing again to 650 feet above sea level at Exit 18.

08/04/13

Frederick is another 16 miles north via I-270 to U.S. 15. Hagerstown appears at 44 miles out, referencing the connection with I-70 west from when I-270 was I-70S.

08/04/13

Six lanes of Interstate 270 travel by the community of Clarksburg. Meeting the freeway in one mile is MD 121 (Clarksburg Road) and Stringtown Road at Exit 18.

08/04/13

MD 18 travels 4.6 miles north from MD 117 at Boyds north to MD 355 (Frederick Road) in Clarksburg.

08/04/13

Entering the parclo A2 interchange (Exit 18) with MD 121 (Clarksburg Road) on I-270 north. Development transformed the previous rural route southwest to a roundabout at Old Baltimore Road into a suburban boulevard. MD 121 remains rural south across Little Seneca Lake to MD 117 at Boyds. Stringtown Road replaced a portion of MD 121 at Gateway 270 Business Park, leading east as an arterial beyond MD 355.

08/04/13

The left lane ends just beyond the Clarksburg Road overpass. With it the HOV-2 restriction concludes.

08/04/13

13 miles from Frederick, Interstate 70 next meets MD 109 in 3.5 miles by Hyattstown.

08/04/13

Weigh stations line both sides of Interstate 270 in the hills west of Little Bennett Regional Park.

08/04/13

MD 109, a 11.87 mile route between adjacent MD 355 (Frederick Road) and MD 107 at Poolesville, converges with I-270 at a parclo B2 interchange (Exit 22) in one mile.

08/04/13

A forest median obscures the southbound roadway from I-270 north throughout most of the stretch between Clarksburg and Hyattstown. A reassurance marker follows the northbound side weigh station.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 passes over both MD 109 (Old Hundred Road) and Little Bennett Creek at Exit 22.

08/04/13

Exit 22 loops away from I-270 north for MD 109 east to Hyattstown and southwest to Comus and Barnesville. The state route is entirely rural.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 leaves Montgomery County and enters Frederick County immediately north of the entrance ramp from MD 109.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 extends another 10.09 miles northwest to I-70/U.S. 40.

08/04/13

Exit 26 with MD 80 is the first of three interchanges along Interstate 270 north in Frederick County.

08/04/13

Exit 26 for MD 80 (Fingerboard Road) serves the outer suburbs of Frederick. Modifications at the parclo B2 interchange with MD 80 added a roundabout with the southbound ramps.

08/04/13

MD 80 meanders 14.78 miles east from MD 85 at Buckeystown across southern Frederick County to MD 27 at Claggetsville in northern Montgomery County.

08/04/13

Exit 26 leaves I-270 north for MD 80 (Fingerboard Road) at Urbana. MD 80 expands into an arterial east from I-270 through expanding suburban areas en route to Kemptown.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 shifts westward to parallel MD 80 alongside a number of open farm fields.

08/04/13

MD 85 crosses paths with Interstate 270 in four miles by Francis Scott Key Mall while Frederick is just two miles further.

08/04/13

A scenic view area lines the northbound side of Interstate 270 on the hills preceding the Monocacy River.

08/04/13

This sign at the Park Mills Road overpass provides plenty of advance notice to long distance interests to use I-70 west for the National Freeway (Interstate 68) west to Cumberland and Morgantown, West Virginia.

08/04/13

Catoctin Mountain rises along the northwest horizon beyond the Scenic View area of Interstate 270 north.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 lowers 200 feet from the scenic area to cross the Monocacy River.

08/04/13

The first sign for Interstate 70 appears three miles out from the cloverstack interchange with I-70, U.S. 15 and U.S. 40.

08/04/13

This interchange sequence sign lists the distances to city of Frederick cross streets. MD 85 north to MD 355 connects with Market Street into Downtown while the freeway along U.S. 15/40 encircles the heart of Frederick to the west with exits at Jefferson and Patrick Street east to the central business district.

08/04/13

Spanning the Monocacy River, I-270 advances northwest to MD 85 at Exit 31 and I-70/U.S. 15-40 at Exit 32.

08/04/13

I-70 west from Exit 32 connects with U.S. 15 south to Point of Rocks and Leesburg, Virginia and U.S. 340 west to Harpers Ferry, Virginia and Charles Town, West Virginia.

08/04/13

MD 85 (Buckeystown Pike) heads 10.80 miles north from MD 28 to Monocacy Boulevard, just north of Interstate 70 in Frederick.

08/04/13

A hybrid CFI and parclo interchange joins I-270 with MD 85 (Buckeystown Pike) at Exit 31. MD 85 north lines a retail corridor anchored by Francis Scott Key Mall to MD 355 (former U.S. 240). MD 85 ended at MD 355 (Urbana Pike) until 2009, when a SPUI with I-70 (Exit 54) opened to the east.

08/04/13

Exit 31 B formerly was a loop ramp from I-270 north onto MD 85 (Buckeystown Pike) to Lime Kiln, Buckeystown and Tuscarora, one mile south of Interstate 70.

08/04/13

Interstate 270 northbound expands to four overall lanes to the exchange (Exit 32) with I-70/U.S. 40. Two lanes are allocated for both I-70/U.S. 40 east and the freeway taking U.S. 40 west to U.S. 15 in Frederick.

08/04/13

A second diagrammatic overhead precedes Exit 32 for I-70/U.S. 40 on I-270 north. U.S. 40 overlaps with Interstate 70 east from I-270 to Exit 82 west of Ellicott City. U.S. 40 west turns northward to overtake the freeway from the end of I-270 to U.S. 15 through Frederick.

08/04/13

Traffic staying along I-270 beyond Exit 32 proceeds north to a cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 15/340 and Jefferson Street. U.S. 15 constitutes a freeway from U.S. 340 northward throughout the city of Frederick to MD 26 (Liberty Road). U.S. 15 continues from there to Thurmont, Emmitsburg and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

08/04/13

Interstate 70 is the main route connecting Baltimore, Frederick, and Hagerstown in northern Maryland.

08/07/04

Exit 32 defaults onto Interstate 70 westbound for Hagerstown, Hancock (I-68), and Breezewood (I-76).

08/04/13

Interstate 70 gore point for the ramp split between east and westbound.

08/04/13

Taking the ramp to I-70/U.S. 40 east, motorists are advised to move to the left to avoid defaulting into the MD 85 SPUI. Interstate 70 follows the original U.S. 40 bypass through south Frederick eastward on the 38 mile drive to Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway).

08/04/13

The two lane ramp from I-270 north onto I-70 west reduces to one lane ahead of the left side merge onto the mainline. Motorists bound for Exit 52 to U.S. 15/340 west must cross two lanes to access the freeway west to Jefferson.

08/07/04