Looking for a historic scenic drive? Perhaps you don't want to pay hefty tolls along the Penna Pike? Try this drive on for size.
Welcome to Interstate 68, the National Freeway, and one of the routes across the Appalachians towards the midwest. This highway follows one of the first highways that the US federal government built in its infancy: The National Road, now known today as US Route 40. Although the upgrade to interstate standards was not completed until the early 1990's, and the interstate's right of way departs from the National Road west of Keyser's Ridge, the National Freeway still remains a highlight for scenic driving in Western Maryland, which was on our bucket list of places to go.
When first approaching the highway on the east side, after seeing Pennsylvania in one window and West Virginia in the other due to a combination of natural (Potomac River) and political (Mason-Dixon Line) borders, you are greeted with the long Sideling Hill and welcome center. This cut through the mountain is a sign of what is to come. Meandering through the Green Ridge and Rocky Gap state areas, you eventually come up to the city of Cumberland. Be careful with this drive, especially if you have a trailer behind you, as the steep hills and tight roadways bring the speed limit all the way down to 40 MPH, and for good reason. After clearing the valley, it's back to the scenic driving of the open road in the far west portions of Maryland.
Eventually as you continue west, the country road takes you home to West Virginia, and the breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness continue. West Virginia offers a bit more of an "open road" setting while driving the highway, heading through Coopers Rock State Forest. Eventually, you are led along a southeastern bypass of Morgantown, home to West Virginia University, and the end of the National Freeway at Interstate Highway 79. There have been several plans in the past to extend this highway further west, but none have come to fruition. From this point, drivers will either head south to dive further into West Virginia, or head north to Pennsylvania to rejoin either Interstate 70 or the National Road on the way to the midwest.
So if your Internal Compass tells you to head west and you find yourself presently near the Mid-Atlantic, maybe give the National Freeway a chance. You might find it one of the most scenic drives you've had in quite a while.
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