US 50 highlighted in red | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by MDSHA and MDTA | ||||
Length | 149.67 mi[1] (240.87 km) | |||
Existed | 1926–present | |||
Component highways | ![]() | |||
Tourist routes | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Western section | ||||
Length | 9.17 mi[1] (14.76 km) | |||
West end | ![]() | |||
Major intersections | ![]() | |||
East end | ![]() | |||
Eastern section | ||||
Length | 140.50 mi[1] (226.11 km) | |||
West end | ![]() | |||
Major intersections | ||||
East end | ![]() ![]() | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Maryland | |||
Counties | Garrett; Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester | |||
Highway system | ||||
| ||||
|
U.S. Route 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from West Sacramento, California, east to Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlantic Ocean. In the U.S. state of Maryland, US 50 exists in two sections. The longer of these serves as a major route connecting Washington, D.C., with Ocean City; the latter is the eastern terminus of the highway. The other section passes through the southern end of Garrett County for less than 10 miles (16 km) as part of the Northwestern Turnpike, entering West Virginia at both ends. One notable section of US 50 is the dual-span Chesapeake Bay Bridge across the Chesapeake Bay, which links the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area with the Eastern Shore region, allowing motorists to reach Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches.
US 50 has received numerous upgrades during its existence in Maryland, including the construction of the John Hanson Highway, a portion of which is also the unsigned Interstate 595 (I-595), its extension onto the Eastern Shore and replacement of US 213 due to the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and the full conversion of the eastern segment of the route into a four-lane divided highway. Many of the older alignments of US 50 are still part of the Maryland and US highway systems, such as US 50 Business (US 50 Bus.) in Salisbury. US 50 continues to be upgraded on the Eastern Shore.