Because much of the 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail runs through towns with spotty cell service, it’s best to gas up and pack your road trip snacks and meals in the event your only food ...

THE ROUTE: You can map out your own route, but here's the one I used to trace the Appalachian Trail and regularly intersect with it, driving south to north.

Directions: The Appalachian Trail in Maryland crosses South Mountain west of Frederick, Md., at Gapland Road, and continuing north at Reno Monument Road, Alternate U.S. Route 40 and Interstate 70 ...