Interstate 97
I-97 begins at US 50 and US 301 (John Hanson Highway), which run concurrently with unsigned I-595, on the edge of the community of Parole west of Annapolis. The freeways meet at a semi-directional T interchange; the ramp from I-97 to eastbound US 50 and US 301 merges with a collector-distributor road that extends east to that freeway's interchange with MD 665 (Aris T. Allen Boulevard). I-97 heads northwest as a four-lane freeway with a speed limit of . The freeway crosses over MD 450 (Defense Highway) and passes along the south and west sides of Crownsville, where it crosses several tributaries of the Bacon Ridge Branch of the South River. North of Crownsville, I-97 has a partial interchange that comprises a pair of long ramps to MD 178 (Generals Highway); the interchange allows access from southbound I-97 to MD 178 and from the state highway to the northbound Interstate. I-97 gains an extra lane in each direction from the MD 178 ramps; those extra lanes split off at the freeway's partial interchange with the eastern end of MD 32 just north of Millersville. The Interstate curves northeast and has a complementary partial interchange with the northern end of MD 3 (Robert Crain Highway). The two state highways meet each other at a six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange immediately to the west of I-97's sweeping curve, which facilitates all movements between the three highways.
I-97 continues north as a six-lane freeway and is closely paralleled on the east by Veterans Highway on the western edge of Severna Park. The highways cross Severn Run within Severn Run Natural Environment Area before they diverge slightly at the Interstate's partial cloverleaf interchange with Benfield Boulevard; access from northbound I-97 to the crossroad is via Veterans Highway. I-97 and Veterans Highway continue to parallel each other to the latter highway's northern end at I-97's partial cloverleaf interchange with the southern end of MD 3 Business (Robert Crain Highway) and New Cut Road. The interchange includes a flyover ramp from northbound I-97 to northbound Veterans Highway just south of its intersection with MD 3 Business. The freeway continues north along the west side of Glen Burnie and meets MD 174 (Quarterfield Road) at a four-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange and MD 100 at a cloverstack interchange that has flyover exit ramps from both directions of I-97.
U.S. Route 97
US 97 goes through the city of Klamath Falls before continuing north to Bend and the junction of US 20. From there, US 97 intersects US 26 at Madras before US 197 continues to the northwest, and US 97 continues northeast to I-84 and the Columbia River. The section from Sunriver to just north of Redmond is a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction.
North of the Columbia River, US 97 intersects SR 14 before continuing north. Between Goldendale and Yakima the highway passes over Satus Pass. In Yakima, US 97 runs concurrently with I-82 north to Ellensburg and then on I-90 west before continuing north into Wenatchee National Forest to US 2. Both routes continue east into Wenatchee and then north along the eastern bank of the Columbia River, before US 2 continues east and US 97 continues north. US 97 Alternate continues along the western bank of the river, before US 97 shifts to the western side of the river. US 97 intersects SR 20 near Omak before US 97 crosses the Canada–US border north of Oroville, Washington and becomes British Columbia Highway 97 at Osoyoos, BC. BC Highway 97 is the longest uninterrupted highway in the province winding south-to-north, eventually becoming part of the Alaska Highway and passing into the Yukon territory. However, the '97' designation ends at the BC/Yukon border.