The state highway crosses Piscataway Creek and continues northeast through a mix of forest and residential subdivisions.

MD 223 intersects Tippett Road, which heads south toward the historic home Wyoming, southeast of the Washington Executive Airport.

MD 223 continues east to the community of Woodyard, where the highway passes the historic home His Lordship's Kindness and crosses the upper reaches of Piscataway Creek.

The state highway, now named Mellwood Road, meets MD 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue) at a partial cloverleaf interchange, then immediately intersects Old Marlboro Pike, which leads east to the historic home Melwood Park.

On the west, the highway was extended southwest to Livingston Road, which ceased to be part of MD 224 the same year.

On the east, the highway was extended northeast along Woodyard Road from Clinton to MD 4 (now Marlboro Pike) at Melwood.

[18][19] MD 223 was relocated at its intersection with Rosaryville Road in 2012; this work included a new bridge across the upper reaches of Pisacataway Creek.