Berkley Spring at Spring Gap, Oldtown, MD

## Overview Berkley Spring at Spring Gap is a public drinking spring located near Oldtown in Allegany County, Maryland. The spring is believed to flow underground from the Berkeley Springs area in West Virginia, traveling beneath the Potomac River basin before emerging at a spring house on the Maryland side. The water collects in a cement basin and is dispensed through a metal pipe, making it easy for visitors to fill containers. The spring house is continuously monitored, and the spring flows year-round, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The broader Berkeley Springs region has a long and storied history as a destination for natural spring water. The warm springs in nearby Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, were historically used by Indigenous peoples and later became one of America's first spa towns — George Washington himself surveyed the area and frequented the springs in the 18th century. While this particular spring on the Maryland side is a separate emergence point, it shares the same deep geological aquifer system that has made the region famous for its water quality. Visitors have reported that the water from this spring tastes clean and refreshing. ## Directions The spring is located near the intersection of Brice Hollow Road SE and Berkley Spring Lane SE, off Williams Road SE in the Flintstone area of Allegany County. 1. Take **I-270 North** for approximately 29.1 miles. 2. Take **Exit 32** and merge onto **I-70 West** toward Hagerstown. Continue for about 52.8 miles. 3. Take **Exit 1A** to merge onto **I-68 West / US-40 West** toward Cumberland. Continue for approximately 24.7 miles. 4. Take **Exit 56** toward **MD-144 / National Pike / Flintstone** (0.2 miles). 5. Turn **right** onto **Flintstone Drive NE** and continue for 0.2 miles. 6. Make the **first right** onto **Black Valley Road / Flintstone Creek Road**. 7. Continue following **Flintstone Creek Road**, which becomes **Murleys Branch Road NE**. Continue for approximately 3.7 miles. 8. Continue onto **Williams Road SE** for about 3.0 miles. 9. At **Brice Hollow Road SE**, turn **left**. 10. The spring is just past the **one-lane bridge**, on your **left**. *Note: These directions originate from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. GPS coordinates (39.639687, -78.655487) can be used for navigation, though cell service may be limited in this rural area.* ## What to Expect The spring is housed in a small spring house structure set in a quiet, rural part of western Maryland. Water flows continuously from a metal pipe fed by a cement collection basin, making it straightforward to fill jugs and bottles. The surrounding landscape is typical of the Appalachian ridge-and-valley region — wooded hills, narrow country roads, and a peaceful, secluded atmosphere. The final approach involves crossing a one-lane bridge, so drive carefully, especially if you encounter oncoming traffic. The roads leading to the spring are rural and winding, so allow extra travel time. The spring is open around the clock with no seasonal closures, though winter visitors should be prepared for potentially icy road conditions in this mountainous area. This is a well-loved local water source, and you may encounter other visitors filling up containers. Bring your own jugs or bottles — there are no amenities or facilities at the site.