Interstate 97 is a very short north-south highway between Baltimore and Annapolis, in Maryland. Interstate 97 is only seventeen miles in length, yet it has its own two-digit number for some reason. Arguably, it might be eighteen miles long if you count the spur ramps reaching northward to Interstate 895, but I don't believe those are officially included with Interstate 97's mileage. Either way, Interstate 97 is glaringly tiny for a two-digit Interstate, and it probably should carry a three-digit number.  Regardless, it pokes outward from Interstate 695, radially toward the south from that circumferential highway.  If you want to reach Interstate 97 from some other major Interstate like Interstate 95 or Interstate 70, you'll have to go down Interstate 695 first.  The southern end of Interstate 97 merges with US Route 50's freeway on the northwest side of Annapolis.  Note that US Route 50 provides a fast link to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge just to the east, and that it also carries US Route 301 (and unsigned Interstate 595).

My photo of Interstate 97 signage comes from an intersection between Maryland Route 3 and Maryland 175, just barely west of where Maryland Route 3 meets Interstate 97.  The aperture looks southeast. Turning left toward the northeast, like the signage here suggests, will essentially put you on a piece of Maryland Route 3 that's just a big freeway ramp to Interstate 97. I was elated to get the chance to take a good-looking photo of this sign, because the pouring rain stopped just in time to let me do so! This photo was taken in April 2024, during my trip to Pennsylvania, the Delmarva, and the Carolinas.

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