The route bypasses Maryland Route 140 (MD 140; Reisterstown Road), carrying part of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)'s Baltimore Metro SubwayLink in its median for a four-mile (6.4 km) stretch, and provides direct access to the former Owings Mills Mall.

I-795 begins in Pikesville at a directional T interchange with I-695 (Baltimore Beltway), which heads south toward Glen Burnie and east toward Towson.

I-795 parallels and has two crossings of CSX Transportation's Hanover Subdivision as the freeway and transit line head northwest.

The subway line ends just north of its and the highway's second crossing of Gwynns Falls at the terminal Owings Mills station.

The highway has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Franklin Boulevard before reaching its northern terminus at MD 140 on the edge of Reisterstown.