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.
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
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.
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!!!
I used to drive often between DC and Buffalo... sometimes using I-68. However, its a waaaayyyyy loooonnnnger drive than using the Turnpike or Route 15.
To answer you question about winters: From Frostburg west, winters are harsh, due to higher elevations. From Cumberland east, it is a typical mid-atlantic winter. I live here, that is why I know :P
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.
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..
i drove this same stretch just 2 wks ago...Cumberland is my hometown. Definitely make the time to drive east from Frostburg to Flintstone....you'll get a much better view of how Cumberland spreads out beautifully in front of you as you crest the rise of those mountains....and the beauty of those Alleghany Mts all around. thanks for posting this!
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.
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 !
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.
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
@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.
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
My husband drives this road every day (live outside of Cumberland, works in Hancock), I just wish it only took him 8 1/2 minutes to get home from work! By the way, in fall its gorgeous....in winter, it sucks!
@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
I do love that hwy going west to WI. The fog can be very scary when it appears, can barely see the tail lights of the car ahead of you. Great scenic views!
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!
O, thats ok. I was just curious and kept expecting to see the Gap exit is all. I been checking out your videos (specially the ones of San Diego and LA) and do appreciate all your hard work. They are very nice. Thanks for getting back to me.
I've gone this way only once, but it was amazing when I went this way years ago. Much better, than traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike/I-70! And less traffic vs. that turnpike, which is a major plus. Hope I get to travel along I-68 again, someday. And that also, you get a chance to refilm this drive in HD as well.
I'm was raised in that area and love the video. Brings back good memories. But curious why you skipped Rocky Gap? You put up about every other exit. Rocky Gap is really nice.
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?
I made that video over 5 years and 300+ videos ago, I honestly can't answer that question, I don't recall what I was thinking at the time I was putting it together, sorry.
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.
The only issue I have with this road is that if you have a car that isn’t the best with horsepower, be prepared to drop down to 50mph on a 70mph road when you head up an incline.
Its actually there. Exit 50 Pleasant Valley Road. I use to always call it the Rocky Gap exit. Sorry. If you get by that way again, you should stop at the park and check it out. Very pretty there.
That's the music when I drive on US 15 in St. George and I-95 in Various Cities in South Carolina. Plus i got a glimpse of Lake Marion and a school bus.
