Maryland Route 144 connects with Maryland Route 97
Mount Airy – Ellicott City
MD 144 begins at an intersection with MD 27 (Ridge Road) just south of MD 27's interchange with I-70 south of Mount Airy.  The state highway, known as Frederick Road, immediately turns north and after 0.07 miles (0.11 km) crosses the Frederick–Carroll County line.  MD 144 passes Parr's Spring, the source of the Patapsco River, before curving to the east through residential subdivisions and closely paralleling the eastbound lanes of I-70.  Shortly after crossing the Patapsco River and entering Howard County, the state highway veers away from the freeway and passes through a mix of farmland and scattered residences.  MD 144 intersects Long Corner Road and Watersville Road before reaching Lisbon, where the highway meets MD 94 (Woodbine Road) at a roundabout.  The state highway continues past Daisy Road and Morgan Station Road to Cooksville, where the highway passes the historic Roberts Inn and intersects MD 97 (Roxbury Mills Road). A park and ride lot is located at the northeast corner of this intersection. MD 144 continues east to West Friendship, where the highway crosses the Middle Patuxent River and Terrapin Branch, passes the Howard County Fairgrounds, and intersects MD 32 (Sykesville Road).  The state highway leaves the farmland behind and passes through a mixture of forest and residential subdivisions, passing Marriottsville Road and Folly Quarter Road.  On the western edge of Ellicott City, MD 144 reaches its eastern terminus at US 40 (Baltimore National Pike).