Baltimore-Washington Parkway
The Baltimore-Washington Parkway (aka MD 295) begins at the Washington-Maryland border and runs for 29 miles to Baltimore. Construction on the Parkway began in 1947, and it opened to traffic in 1954. The National Park Service maintains the 19-mile section from the border to Route 32 near Fort Meade. The Parkway is a major thoroughfare for anyone traveling between Baltimore and Washington, so don’t expect a pleasure cruise just because it is part of the National Park system.
The idea behind a parkway is to keep travelers away from development, limit access, and eliminate advertisements along the road. This doesn’t necessarily mean that a parkway has to be scenic—as is the case with the Baltimore-Washington Parkway—but at least you can drive without seeing houses, shopping malls, and office buildings.
Bridge over the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Entrance / Exits onto the National Park Service portion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway are located at Hwy 50/John Hanson Hwy, Hwy 202/Landover Road, Hwy 450/Annapolis Road, Riverdale Road, I-495, Greenbelt Road, Explorer Road, Powder Mill Road, Hwy 197/Laurel Bowie Road, Hwy 198/Laurel Fort Meade Road, and Hwy 32/Patuxent Freeway. When it was constructed, there was a lot less development in the area and far fewer access ramps.
The Baltimore-Washington Parkway is managed by Greenbelt Park and is also part of the National Capital Parks East. If you have any questions about the parkway, call Greenbelt at (301) 344-3948.
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
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Last updated on April 27, 2020
