Maryland Route 242
Encyclopedia
Maryland Route 242 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Maryland
. Known as Colton Point Road, the state highway runs 12.8 miles (20.6 km) from Coltons Point
north to MD 5
in Morganza
. MD 242 connects the communities of Morganza, Clements
, Bushwood
, Avenue
, and Coltons Point in western St. Mary's County. The state highway also leads to St. Clement's Island State Park, the site of Maryland's First Landing. MD 242 was constructed in the early 1920s.
. Point Breeze Road heads east toward the St. Clements Island–Potomac River Museum, which is the embarkation point for seasonal boat tours to St. Clement's Island State Park, the site of Maryland's First Landing that includes the Blakistone Island Light
. MD 242 heads northwest as a two-lane road through a mix of farmland and forest and scattered residence along the parallel St. Patrick's Creek. The state highway veers north through the community of Avenue, where the highway intersects the southern end of MD 470
(Oakley Road) and the western end of Abell Road. MD 242 continues northwest through a forested area and turns north again at MD 239
(Bushwood Wharf Road) near the community of Bushwood. The state highway veers northeast and intersects MD 238
(Maddox Road) in the hamlet of Milestown before crossing Tomakokin Creek. MD 242 meets the northern end of MD 470 (Oakley Road) just south of the hamlet of Dynard. The state highway crosses Dynard Run and parallels St. Clements Creek before arriving in the community of Clements, where the highway intersects MD 234
(Budds Creek Road), which connects Leonardtown
to the east with U.S. Route 301
and the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge
to the west. MD 242 leaves Clements heading north then curves to the east and crosses St. Clements Creek. The state highway heads northeast through farmland, crossing Locust Run before passing Chopticon High School
. MD 242 reaches its northern terminus at MD 5 (Point Lookout Road) in the community of Morganza. The highway continues north as county-maintained Morganza–Turner Road.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Coltons Point
|0.00
|Beach Road west / Point Breeze Road east
|Southern terminus
|-
|rowspan=2|Avenue
|3.01
|
|
|-
|3.04
|Abell Road east
|Former MD 241
|-
|rowspan=2|Bushwood
|4.37
|
|
|-
|5.34
|
|
|-
|Dynard
|6.91
|
|
|-
|Clements
|8.83
|
|
|-
|Morganza
|12.80
|
|Northern terminus
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Known as Colton Point Road, the state highway runs 12.8 miles (20.6 km) from Coltons Point
Coltons Point, Maryland
Coltons Point is an unincorporated community in what is popularly called the "Seventh District" of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Here are located a small historical museum, a lighthouse, and a Catholic devotional monument to the miraculous medal. Seasonal boat service at times...
north to MD 5
Maryland Route 5
Maryland Route 5 is a long state highway that runs north–south in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs from Point Lookout in St. Mary's County north to the Washington, D.C. border in Suitland, Prince George's County....
in Morganza
Morganza, Maryland
Morganza is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Today, it is home to a few homes and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which had been in the area since 1759. The current church on Route 5 at the top of the hill was built in 1860 and the Morganza Post Office was...
. MD 242 connects the communities of Morganza, Clements
Clements, Maryland
Clements is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Clements is located in Northern St. Mary's County Maryland. It is very close to the Wicomico river.-References:...
, Bushwood
Bushwood, Maryland
Bushwood is an unincorporated community in what is familiarly called the "Seventh District" of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Ocean Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-References:...
, Avenue
Avenue, Maryland
Avenue is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
, and Coltons Point in western St. Mary's County. The state highway also leads to St. Clement's Island State Park, the site of Maryland's First Landing. MD 242 was constructed in the early 1920s.
Route description
MD 242 begins at the intersection of Beach Road and Point Breeze Road in a residential neighborhood at Coltons Point on the shore of the Potomac RiverPotomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. Point Breeze Road heads east toward the St. Clements Island–Potomac River Museum, which is the embarkation point for seasonal boat tours to St. Clement's Island State Park, the site of Maryland's First Landing that includes the Blakistone Island Light
Blakistone Island Light
The Blakistone Island Light was a lighthouse located on what is now St. Clement's Island on the Potomac River in Maryland. It is best known as the target of a Confederate raid in the Civil War.-History:...
. MD 242 heads northwest as a two-lane road through a mix of farmland and forest and scattered residence along the parallel St. Patrick's Creek. The state highway veers north through the community of Avenue, where the highway intersects the southern end of MD 470
Maryland Route 470
Maryland Route 470 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Oakley Road, the state highway runs north between intersections with MD 242 in Avenue and Dynard. MD 470 loops through Oakley in western St. Mary's County...
(Oakley Road) and the western end of Abell Road. MD 242 continues northwest through a forested area and turns north again at MD 239
Maryland Route 239
Maryland Route 239 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Bushwood Wharf Road, the state highway runs from a dead end at the Wicomico River east to MD 242 in Bushwood in western St. Mary's County...
(Bushwood Wharf Road) near the community of Bushwood. The state highway veers northeast and intersects MD 238
Maryland Route 238
Maryland Route 238 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 242 in Bushwood north to MD 5 in Helen. MD 238 is a C-shaped highway in western St. Mary's County, connecting Bushwood and Helen with Maddox and Chaptico, where the highway intersects MD 234,...
(Maddox Road) in the hamlet of Milestown before crossing Tomakokin Creek. MD 242 meets the northern end of MD 470 (Oakley Road) just south of the hamlet of Dynard. The state highway crosses Dynard Run and parallels St. Clements Creek before arriving in the community of Clements, where the highway intersects MD 234
Maryland Route 234
Maryland Route 234 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Budds Creek Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 301 in Allens Fresh east to MD 5 in Leonardtown. MD 234 is the primary east–west highway of southern Charles County and western St...
(Budds Creek Road), which connects Leonardtown
Leonardtown, Maryland
Leonardtown is a town in and the county seat of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,896 at the 2000 census. Leonardtown is perhaps most famous for the national oyster-shucking championship that occurs annually at the St...
to the east with U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
and the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge
Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge
The Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge is a , two-lane continuous truss bridge that spans the Potomac River between Newburg in Charles County, Maryland and Dahlgren in King George County, Virginia, USA....
to the west. MD 242 leaves Clements heading north then curves to the east and crosses St. Clements Creek. The state highway heads northeast through farmland, crossing Locust Run before passing Chopticon High School
Chopticon High School
Chopticon High School is a public high school of 1,600+ students in grades 9–12. It offers college preparatory programs and programs that prepare students for business and technical occupations. It serves the community in the northern portion of St. Mary's County, Maryland, between the...
. MD 242 reaches its northern terminus at MD 5 (Point Lookout Road) in the community of Morganza. The highway continues north as county-maintained Morganza–Turner Road.
History
MD 242 was constructed as a gravel road from Morganza to Avenue by 1921 and completed to Coltons Point in 1923. The state highway was reconstructed with curve modifications and a bituminous-stabilized gravel surface in the 1950s, beginning with the Morganza–Clements section in 1949 and 1950. MD 242 was rebuilt from Clements to Bushwood by 1959.Junction list
The entire route is in St. Mary's County.{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Coltons Point
Coltons Point, Maryland
Coltons Point is an unincorporated community in what is popularly called the "Seventh District" of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Here are located a small historical museum, a lighthouse, and a Catholic devotional monument to the miraculous medal. Seasonal boat service at times...
|0.00
|Beach Road west / Point Breeze Road east
|Southern terminus
|-
|rowspan=2|Avenue
Avenue, Maryland
Avenue is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
|3.01
|
|
|-
|3.04
|Abell Road east
|Former MD 241
|-
|rowspan=2|Bushwood
Bushwood, Maryland
Bushwood is an unincorporated community in what is familiarly called the "Seventh District" of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Ocean Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-References:...
|4.37
|
|
|-
|5.34
|
|
|-
|Dynard
|6.91
|
|
|-
|Clements
Clements, Maryland
Clements is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Clements is located in Northern St. Mary's County Maryland. It is very close to the Wicomico river.-References:...
|8.83
|
|
|-
|Morganza
Morganza, Maryland
Morganza is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. Today, it is home to a few homes and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which had been in the area since 1759. The current church on Route 5 at the top of the hill was built in 1860 and the Morganza Post Office was...
|12.80
|
|Northern terminus