Known as Furnace Branch Road, the highway runs 2.16 miles (3.48 km) from MD 648 north to MD 3 Business within Glen Burnie in northeastern Anne Arundel County.

The highway heads north as a two-lane undivided road that parallels the northbound side of MD 10 through the Margate neighborhood of Glen Burnie.

North of Thompson Avenue, MD 270 expands to a four-lane divided highway.

The highway curves northwest as it passes through its partial cloverleaf interchange with MD 10.

[5] The entire route is in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County.