MD 97 runs through the
Washington, D.C. suburbs in
Montgomery County, connecting several communities including
Silver Spring,
Wheaton,
Glenmont,
Norbeck, and
Olney. It continues north from there into rural areas of
Howard and
Carroll counties, passing through the Carroll County seat of
Westminster, before reaching the
Pennsylvania border. MD 97 has two stretches along which it is a part of the
National Highway System. The highway is a principal arterial from its southern terminus in Silver Spring north to Brookeville Road in Brookeville. Within that section, MD 97 is an
intermodal connector from I-495 north to MD 192 in Forest Glen. Past the MD 200 interchange, the
ICC Trail runs parallel to the east side of the road. The route eventually passes parkland and residential areas as it crosses Emory Lane, where the ICC Trail splits to the west along that road. The road approaches
Olney and passes by residential neighborhoods before heading into a business district at the intersection with
MD 108 (Olney Sandy Spring Road). After this intersection, the road heads into wooded residential areas as a two-lane undivided road before reaching a roundabout with High Street, which leads into
Brookeville. Bypassing Brookeville to the west, MD 97 reaches another roundabout west of Brookeville with Brookeville Road, which provides additional local access to the town. Continuing north past Brookeville, the road heads into a more rural setting, with areas of farms, woods, and some residences. MD 97 reaches
Sunshine, where the road crosses
MD 650 (
New Hampshire Avenue/Damascus Road). Past Sunshine, MD 97 resumes through rural areas and enters woodland within
Patuxent River State Park as it approaches the
Patuxent River.
Howard and Carroll counties MD 97 crosses the Patuxent River into
Howard County, where it becomes Roxbury Mills Road, named after the
Roxbury Mill built in 1753. It continues north, passing areas of woods and farms along with suburban residential developments. The road heads through the community of
Glenwood and continues through agricultural areas before intersecting
MD 144 (Frederick Road) in the community of
Cooksville. A park and ride lot is located at the northeast corner of this intersection. A short distance later, the route has a
diamond interchange with
I-70/
US 40. Past this interchange, MD 97 becomes Hoods Mill Road and passes rural residential areas, intersecting Old Frederick Road. From here, the road winds through a mix of woods, farm fields, and residences before crossing the South Branch of the
Patapsco River. Upon crossing the river, MD 97 enters
Carroll County and becomes Old Washington Road. The road crosses
CSX's
Old Main Line Subdivision railroad line as it passes wooded areas with some residences. It runs through a mix of woods and farms with some residences along the road. The number of residences increases as the route crosses Streaker Road in
Berrett. From here, MD 97 passes more residences before intersecting
MD 850 (Old Liberty Road) at a
roundabout. A park and ride lot is located northwest of this roundabout. A short distance later, the route intersects
MD 26 (Liberty Road) at a
folded diamond interchange in
Dorsey Crossroads. Past MD 26, MD 97 becomes New Washington Road and heads north through a mix of farmland, woodland, and residential neighborhoods, paralleled to the west by
MD 854 (Old Washington Road). The road passes through woodland before intersecting Nicodemus Road, where it continues past farms and woods before heading west of a park and ride lot and crossing
MD 32 (Sykesville Road) in
Fenby. Past this intersection, MD 97 passes to the east of
Carroll Community College and heads into residential areas as it approaches
Westminster, bypassing the center of the town to the east. The route becomes Malcolm Drive past the intersection with Main Street/Old Westminster Road and continues to an intersection with
MD 140 (Baltimore Boulevard). Here, MD 97 makes a left turn to form a
concurrency with MD 140 on Baltimore Boulevard, a six-lane divided highway. The two routes head through commercial areas on the outskirts of Westminster, passing by the
TownMall of Westminster before meeting
MD 27 (Manchester Road) at a folded-diamond interchange. Past this interchange, the road passes over the
Maryland Midland Railway and heads past more businesses. At the Sullivan Road intersection, the road becomes College View Boulevard and a short distance later, MD 97 splits from MD 140 at an interchange near
McDaniel College. MD 97 continues north on Littlestown Pike, a two-lane undivided road. The road passes east of the
Carroll County Regional Airport before heading into a mix of farmland and residences. MD 97 intersects the western terminus of
MD 496 (Bachmans Valley Road), and continues northwest through agricultural and wooded areas with intermittent residences. It passes through
Union Mills, where the road intersects Old Hanover Road. MD 97 continues to the community of
Silver Run, where it passes residences. Upon leaving this community, the route continues through woods and farm fields. A short distance later, MD 97 reaches the
Pennsylvania border, where the road becomes
PA 97 and continues north into
Adams County. ==History==