Two Roads Through Somerset County

One was built for the scenic drive: nine counties of Chesapeake shoreline strung together as an All-American Road. The other was here first — a path shaped by the Assateague, Pocomoke, Manokin, and Acquintica people, long before there was a road to name. Both run straight through Somerset.

Where to start

Drive a piece of either route for an afternoon, or give both a full day — they cross paths throughout Somerset County, so you never have to choose between them for long. Below is what each road carries with it, and what you’ll find in Somerset County along the way.

Route 1 — Chesapeake Country All-American Road

A signed driving route linking nine counties and three Chesapeake heritage areas from the Bay’s edge to the lower shore. Somerset’s stretch follows US-13 and MD-413 from Princess Anne down to Crisfield, with spurs out to the water at every working harbor along the way.

1. Princess Anne Colonial-era architecture along the Manokin River and the county seat.
2. Deal Island A working waterman’s harbor, largely unchanged, reached by a spur off the main route.
3. Janes Island State Park Over 30 miles of marsh paddling trails, just outside Crisfield.
4. Crisfield Home of the National Hard Crab Derby, the dock where the road meets the waters of the Chesapeake, and the terminus of the byway. You can continue your journey along the spur to Smith Island, 12 nautical miles out in the middle of the bay.
5. Smith Island — by water Maryland’s sole inhabited island accessible only by boat, and home of the state’s official dessert, Smith Island Cake.

Route 2 — History, Heritage & Homelands

Designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1993 as the Beach to Bay Indian Trail, this route recognized the seasonal migration patterns of the Assateague, Pocomoke, Manokin, and Acquintica people between the Atlantic and the Bay. It has since been renewed and renamed History, Heritage & Homelands, developed together with the Pocomoke Indian Nation, and now spans more than 100 miles across Somerset and Worcester counties.

1. A self-guided route The trail follows patterns of fishing, farming, and timbering still visible on the land today — no single trailhead, but a corridor of sites to visit at your own pace.
2. Crisfield marker A historical marker at 9th and Spruce Streets tells the origin of the route and its 1993 designation.
3. Interpretive signs along the way New signage developed with the Pocomoke Indian Nation marks sites of significance across the lower shore.

Where the roads meet

Both routes converge throughout the county — drive the merged routes, down from Princess Anne to Crisfield, then pick up the trail’s story on foot before you catch the boat for the spur out to Smith Island.

Plan your day on the road