Maryland Route 286

Maryland Route 286
Maryland Route 286 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA
Length:	2.09 mi (3.36 km)
Existed:	1930 – present
Major junctions
West end:	MD 537 in Chesapeake City
East end:	DE 286 near Chesapeake City
Location
Counties:	Cecil
Highway system
Maryland highway system Interstate US State Scenic Byways ← MD 285 MD 287 →

Maryland Route 286 (MD 286) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Bethel Road, the highway runs 2.09 miles (3.36 km) from George Street, which is one of the segments of unsigned MD 537, east through Chesapeake City to the Delaware state line, where the highway continues east as Delaware Route 286 (DE 286). MD 286 roughly parallels the south side of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in southern Cecil County. The highway was constructed around 1930 and originally served the former community of Bethel instead of crossing the state line. A connection to Delaware was added in the late 1940s, and the segment to Bethel was removed in the late 1950s. MD 286's course within Chesapeake City was changed to its present routing in the mid-1960s.

MD 286 begins at an intersection with George Street (unsigned MD 537C) on the south side of Chesapeake City. The highway heads east as two-lane 2nd Street through the South Chesapeake City Historic District. At Bohemia Avenue, MD 286 becomes Bethel Road and curves around the Back Creek Mooring Basin. After crossing Back Creek, the highway makes a right-angle turn at the entrance to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Museum, which includes the Old Lock Pump House. MD 286 leaves the town limits of Chesapeake City and passes along the southern boundary of the Bethel Managed Hunting Area. Shortly after the intersection with Bethel Cemetery Road, which leads to the eponymous burial ground, the highway reaches its eastern terminus at the Delaware state line. The highway continues east as DE 286 (Bethel Church Road), which terminates at DE 15.