I-68 West To Cumberland Maryland

[MeanGino]

That is a beautiful Drive. My wife and I did it during the Fall color change,...

[PLS3312]

Thank you for this video. I was born and raised in the Cumberland area but now live in Eastern NC. Whenever I go home and can travel this way, I drive this section of Interstate. It is gorgeous. Loved your choice of music!!! Thanks again, I bookmarked this one.

[CaptainCapital8]

I drove I-68 on my way to Belington, WV once. It's not a bad ride at all. I'd rather take that than the PA Turnpike

[Freewayjim]

@DUxenonDE Thanks,I try to keep it fun, and it is a wonderful drive!

[nonshalant]

I took this drive eastbound on 68 in '07 when we drove from Chicago to DC. I told my wife this stretch of road was probably going to be boring. I was pleasantly surprised with this route. Truly one of our favorite drives. Thanks for posting.

[MrMbtaguy]

That is an amazing drive I hope to take it someday

[Freewayjim]

@MrMbtaguy It is wonderful, I hope to re-film in HD someday too :)

[hoggnogg]

They also do a good a good job of keeping it clear after snowfalls.

[js30blackhawks2010]

This is one of my favorite drives anywhere in the U.S. I love the road cuts and the forested hills always in the background. Thanks for posting this!

[Freewayjim]

@js30blackhawks2010 Thank you! I really enjoy that drive too, I hope to re-shoot it in HD someday.

[andtheyreoff217]

Haha, My car blew up on this road, it couldn't handle the hills, Pretty drive though

[UnitedJetSetter]

I drove this way from Clear Spring to Charleston, WV last summer.

[RoundenBrown]

Drove from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland and back. What a drive! The scenery is amazing also.

[Freewayjim]

@RoundenBrown Indeed, it is a wonderful drive.

[biruss]

Note folks, if you are going to dc from 70, take 79 to 689, and avoid Breezewood, because it backs up like hell!

[Patman252]

What's it like in winter? Bad... It snows up there just about every day. The crews do a good job trying to keep it clear though. Just use caution in winter and realize that even when the radar only shows precipitation "nearby" its probably snowing on the highway anyway.

[FreewayAndrew]

Great video and music! The scenery really hits the spot, when it comes to driving in that region. How come is the speed limit so low in Cumberland?

[Freewayjim]

@FreewayAndrew Thanks, Did you see how tight the road was and how close the exits were together in Cumberland? The speed limit is right, plus you have trucks going through there alot, I'm not sure it's even up to Interstate standards.

[FreewayAndrew]

@Freewayjim The road was curvy at times. It's about the same thing in Zanesville, OH on I-70, but only the speed limit is 55 MPH (I filmed that section a week and 1/2 ago, which was my last video of my Cleveland trip, which has some videos up right now). The number of lanes is fine right now, it's not like Cincy, Columbus, Cleveland, or anything like that.

[MsCcollins05]

You should do I-68 from Cumberland west to the end near Morgantown. You will get to see the famed "Noah's Ark" (although it is better seen going eastbound).

[Freewayjim]

@MsCcollins05 If I have the chance I'd like to film that.

[waggeo99]

This is an amazing road. Not as hectic as the PA turnpike. More scenice too

[Englishwhiteboy]

Nice video...I'm lucky enough to have driven this route 3 years ago....(I'm in England)...and i'll be driving it again this July...cant wait...top video !

[BTD2005]

@4pac89 well hell dude take a chance man this time of the year is the best time to go see the cumberland frostburgh area

[BTD2005]

@4pac89 dude it is definantly worth the ride because i have been there thousands of times i know the roads out there a good bit and i have friends that live up there

[JUMPMASTER1963]

Drove this road last spring with my fiance. Stopped at Hancock for a bite to eat at Weavers. Great Pie !

[MAMsMom97]

4:10 to 4:32-- To answer that question, all of I-68 was closed today due to high winds and white-out conditions in Frostburg and points west, particularly Garrett County. I had to drive home in terrible conditions from Ohio on January 3rd. I had it in 4WD from the MD line to Cumberland where I got off the Industrial Blvd. exit to go home. I-68 is just simply NASTY in the wintertime!!!

[snoqunmxz]

I am from NJ and take that trip (usually to Kentucky or just to Cumberland) and it is the most scenic I have ever driven on. I enjoy the trip as much as the destination. Awesome vid! Just FYI-the Sideling Hill Exhibit Ctr. is closed now due to budget cuts :(

[uptownbronze]

Great soundtrack.

[Freewayjim]

Thanks, I thought it worked well.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

thanks for sharing this to me jim .. 1:50 is epic

[Freewayjim]

That is neat, we've stopped and got out there before, very cool.

I hope to re-shoot this in HD at some point.

[stackleft]

i can't believe i watched this whole video. cumberland is the pitts.

[trashdunka99]

for the record: maryland has cold winters (8 degrees) but doesnt get a lot of snow.

you should film more of the Appalacian Mountains. pa turnpike,, I-80, future I-99, I-64, I-89 to name a few have to go through somehow

[Digatone]

Back when I lived in Northern Virginia we would take I-68 to visit my brother in law who use to live in Morgantown West Virginia

[mmt2853]

it took you a while to get around the white mustang.

[Freewayjim]

He wasn't holding me up much so I was not really trying to get around him.

[gmt921]

Horses at 3:44

[broadhurst04]

It is a nice freeway, but do you happen to know why they chose to blow up a mountain summit to put the road through rather than tunneling under it? Was tunneling too expennsive, not feasible due to geology, or what?

[Freewayjim]

I do not the exact reason but cost & feasibility were probably among them.

[riolindasucks]

If the country was smart they would have run I-40 northeast from Raleigh to connect to this area rather than to Wilmington. It is strange having a descent sized metro area being served by 1 primary interstate but is unique to have every conceivable I-x64 prefixed route in the book in one area.

[prfsnlwannabe]

I agree that there should've been an interstate of some sort(even if not rerouting I-40 east of Raleigh) built between Raleigh and Norfolk. The Hampton Roads area is significantly greater in population than the Wilmington, NC area, and I've always found it a little strange that the only major interstate serving it is I-64.

At least US 58 and 460 are already 4 lane roads, so maybe one day such an interstate will be constructed running NE-SW that connects with the Raleigh-Durham area.

[ba82paulus]

outstanding video, wish we could actually drive that fast. i feel i have driven this section 2 billion times in my life. i also mounted a camcorder on dash of my automobile and came west while road was under construction back in '89-90 to get a final look before changing to interstate specs.

weather channel music was neat, thanks

5-stars

[Rollin558]

Great video. Used to drive this road a lot. I agree with all your comment, Freeway Jim. Very perceptive, right on target.

[Freewayjim]

Thanks!

[philritter21]

Fantastic video. I took this way on impulse on the way home to Toledo from Baltimore. Glad I did!

[Freewayjim]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[chinesebanditsmusic]

Great job with the video. The production of the video is excellent. Watch out for the speed traps. :)

[bp996959]

cool video-you certainly spent a lot time to produce this- i spend a lot of time on this interstate traveling home to pittsburgh- instead of using the PA Turnpike- i always chose I-68 - it was a great highway to drive and reflect........thks

[Freewayjim]

Thank you, I think it's a great ride and hope to drive it eastbound someday.

[aswchris]

I did enjoy the ride:) A pleasure to watch, that's a nice little substandard freeway in Cumberland. I didn't expect the 3 lane sections though, considering the light traffic flow. We don't even have much freeways that quiet in the Netherlands.

[HappyHolidays2All]

Good video. But why would the speed limit be 40? That's quite rare on an interstate.

[Freewayjim]

The speed limit is 40 only through downtown Cumberland. It's a tight old road built over 40 years ago with short exits/entrances and a few tighter than usual turns and the speed limit is such for safety reasons.

[STORMCSR]

I love your videos. I have gone eastbound the whole way across this road a good number of times, which I do have on videotape. It's always a very enjoyable ride on this road. Personally, I think the mountain scenery is far more breathtaking going east. The eastbound side rest area right after crossing into Maryland overlooks a lake down in the mountain valley. It's a gorgeous view. The PA Turnpike will always be my favorite road, but I do think very highly of Interstate 68.

[Freewayjim]

I have never driven I-68 Eastbound but would love to someday. If you say it's prettier than heading west then I'm really looking forward to it.

[hurricanewarning1976]

for the future:

You better slow down at about the 5:50 mark. State cops sit on the left (u pass where they sit at about 5:58). I have seen about 20 cars pulled over right there at Rocky Gap over the years and see the cops there most times when I pass by.

[Corvair140hp]

I live right off of the Rocky Gap exit and drive I68 every day. So ya, from the 5:50 mark up to 6:21 they like to sit and then again at 6:52-7:18.

[drumbasher]

This one suprised me, I was coming out of Baltimore going to Chicago, and I was fully loaded, about 79,000 pounds. I had no idea how mountainous I-68 was until I drove it. A beautiful drive, but rough on the engine and brakes. Great job..

[EOGGasman]

I remember back in the 50's when it snowed in Cresaptown ( just south of Cumberland ) they would let us out of school so we could go sled riding. We didn't get much snow back then, but it sure would get cold.

[GSeward]

Ah, Cumberland Maryland, my home town

[GregEsteves90]

I MISSED 68 And I Want to go back to Sideling Hill Maryland that is the best rest area in the Country.

[AlvinHDavernport]

I guess Maryland could be added to our list of states with good freeways (i.e., New Hampshire, Vermont, Georgia), because everywhere I see them they look so clean and smooth and well-paved. And the scenery is great, too. Nice one, Jim!

[Freewayjim]

Thanks, and I would agree with your assessment of Maryland Freeways, they are well above average.

[tigress3000]

cumberland sucks

[MASTERNC]

The road is so much better than the Turnpike. I just wish it didn't add 60 miles to my trip. FYI there are only lane restrictions for trucks through Cumberland and the road does get pretty bad in the winter west of Cumberland.

[tmarshall23]

Hmmm, so I guess I was right after all about the truck restrictions on I-68 near downtown. Thanks for confirming what I thought about this freeway.

[prfsnlwannabe]

Ooops, that was me trying to respond to MASTERNC's comment, not him! Just forgot to log out of my friend's account.....

[jaredrednaxela]

That's sure is one scenic interstate highway in the Western part of Maryland. The winters are probably cool and rainy/snowy in that part of the country.

[Bryant5493]

Happy 100th video, FwyJim.

I'm going to start posting some road vids. I have some footage that I will upload when I get a chance.

[georgiaroadgeek]

Happy 100th video, Jim!

Great job as always. :)

[2004JETTA]

congrats on the 100th vid and how the hell do they keep it in that condition amazing vid too btw

[prfsnlwannabe]

One of your better videos you've made! I was right to wildly anticipate when you'd get around to doing this video, and it didn't disappoint!

FYI, I remember reading somewhere online where a proposal was once presented that would've rerouted I-68 onto a new alignment through Cumberland, due to how curvacious the freeway is through town(and hence the 40MPH speed limit). Are trucks still required to exit I-68 before hitting the middle of Cumberland? (recall it being this way when I traveled I-68)

[Freewayjim]

Thanks! I'm glad the video lived up to the "hype", I liked what I saw when loading the footage and had time to really think about how I wanted to present it.

I did not notice any truck restriction signs through Cumberland, just the 40 MPH speed limit.

[necroslair]

Great video, Jim. That stretch looks like fun to drive. Thanks for the ride...

[Freewayjim]

Thanks! It really is a blast to drive. I sort of regret not filming the West Virginia section of I-68, maybe next time.

[Lvfd416]

@Freewayjim The WV section is really pretty in the fall. I run it every November from I-79 to Vocke Road in Cumberland to get to deer camp. The weather can be a little tricky when crossing Big Savage, though. I've been hunting near Romney, WV for over 20 years and seen a lot of semi trucks on their sides in the median due to wind and snow.

[TonyTheMuscles]

I like all your freeway videos, keep up the great work

[vbdenny]

Another great Intertstae drive Jim. Very well done and quite relaxing.

[davidreynolds87]

A great stretch of road, with plenty of sweeping curves, great views and a bit of light traffic to add interest. Nice music, too. Thank for the ride, as usual. This is an instant favourite for me.

[NINJA792]

Great! thanks. I can't wait. where did you buy camera with timelapse? I would like to buy it.

[Freewayjim]

The timelapse effect comes from the software I use.

[smartkid1985]

congratulations for your 100th video made! I see that youve driven past my hometown exit to Route 50(bay bridge)

[NINJA792]

congrats for 100th video you made. Yes, I enjoyed it. I hope you drive thru my hometown Cleveland, ohio soon.

[Freewayjim]

I did shoot some Cleveland footage, coming later this month or early Sept.

[mnacct]

That road must have felt smooth - no potholes, no cracks, no lame patch jobs. It definitely beats the PA Turnpike.