About this Location

Facility Overview

The MDOT Park & Ride at 12750 Naves Cross Road NE in Cumberland, Maryland, serves as a vital multimodal transit junction and commuter parking hub for Allegany County and the broader Western Maryland mountainous corridor. Positioned directly alongside the Interstate 68 (National Freeway) interchange at Exit 46, this facility features a spacious, paved, open-air surface lot designed for seamless vehicular ingress, turnarounds, and extended day parking. Because it is a ground-level lot with no overhead barriers or height restrictions, the site comfortably accommodates all classes of standard passenger vehicles, including lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, conversion vans, commercial work trucks, and oversized recreational vehicles staging for Appalachian travels.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located just northeast of historic Cumberland, the Naves Cross Road facility provides swift regional access to key recreational, cultural, and outdoor destinations:

Rocky Gap State Park & Casino Resort: Located roughly 5 miles east via I-68, offering pristine hiking, Lake Habeeb beaches, championship golfing, and premier gaming entertainment.
Downtown Cumberland Historic District & Canal Place: Situated about 4 miles west, home to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, historic architecture, local dining, and the terminus of the C&O Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail.
Ali Ghan Shrine Club & Picnic Grounds: Located just over a mile south, hosting frequent local civic events, banquets, and seasonal gatherings.
Allegany College of Maryland: Situated approximately 3.5 miles southwest, making this an ideal rideshare meetup spot for students and staff.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward from Naves Cross Road NE (MD Route 144 connection), which interfaces immediately with the Interstate 68 / U.S. Route 40 eastbound and westbound off-ramps and on-ramps. The surrounding roadway network maintains moderate, steady traffic, allowing drivers to merge smoothly onto high-speed routes without encountering congested downtown gridlock. The lot functions as a designated hub for regional carpools, vanpools, and employer shuttles, while Allegany County Transit (ACT) routes operate throughout the Cumberland metropolitan area, linking commuters to central Cumberland, Frostburg, and regional shopping corridors.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Complimentary Commuter Parking: State-maintained commuter lot offering free parking to everyday motorists and rideshare participants.
Open Surface Layout: Spacious asphalt bays with wide driving lanes, perimeter curbing, and unobstructed vertical clearance for taller vehicles.
High-Visibility Overhead Lighting: Outfitted with dusk-to-dawn street lamps providing illuminated pathways and visibility during early morning or late night arrivals.
Designated ADA Accessible Parking: Clear, level parking stalls reserved for motorists with disability placards, located close to the main entrance apron.
Strategic Highway Access: Immediate deceleration and acceleration access to I-68 / U.S. 40 corridors heading east toward Hagerstown or west toward Frostburg and Morgantown.

Ideal For

Daily Regional Commuters: Drivers carpooling or vanpooling along the I-68 and US-220 corridors into Allegany, Garrett, or Washington counties.
Outdoor Adventurers & Cyclists: Trail travelers and campers staging vehicles before venturing into Rocky Gap State Park or riding the Great Allegheny Passage.
Students & Faculty: Regional commuters attending Allegany College of Maryland or Frostburg State University looking to consolidate rides.
Long-Distance Motorists: Drivers seeking a convenient, well-lit rendezvous point off Interstate 68 to swap drivers or regroup during cross-state travel.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Commuters should note that this facility operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no permit required; however, morning rush hours (between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM on weekdays) see the highest turnover of spaces. Ensure that your vehicle is fully locked and keep personal belongings out of plain view, as the lot is unattended. While overnight carpool parking is generally tolerated for multi-day trips, long-term storage or abandoned vehicles are subject to towing under Maryland State Highway Administration regulations. When navigating via GPS, look for the official MDOT Park & Ride directional signage along Naves Cross Road NE immediately off Exit 46.