Known as Fairview Road, the state highway runs 6.83 miles (10.99 km) from the Pennsylvania state line near Fairview, where the highway continues north as Pennsylvania Route 75 (PA 75), east to MD 63 in Cearfoss.

The highway continues north across the state line as PA 75 (Fort Loudon Road) toward Mercersburg.

From there, the state highway heads east through farmland and scattered residences, passing through the hamlet of Fairview.

MD 494 intersects Rockdale Road, which leads to the Joseph Fiery House, before crossing Conococheague Creek.

[1][2] MD 494 was paved from the Pennsylvania state line east to Toms Run, including the bridge over Conococheague Creek, by 1933.