The state highway was extended north to the city of Frederick as part of a project to overhaul MD 355's interchange with I-70 in the first decade of the 21st century.

MD 85 heads north through farmland as a two-lane undivided road that parallels the Monocacy River about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east.

The road runs through rural land and passes to the west of Saint John's Catholic Prep school.

At the north end of the industrial area, MD 85 crosses Ballenger Creek and passes the George Markell Farmstead and the historic home Arcadia.

[1][2] MD 85 is a part of the National Highway System as a principal arterial from I-270 in Ballenger Creek north to I-70/US 40 just south of Frederick.

At that time, US 15 had yet to be constructed as a modern highway from Tuscarora to the bridge across the Potomac River at Point of Rocks.

[9] The first significant improvement to US 15 between Tuscarora and Frederick came in 1951 and 1952 when the U.S. highway was reconstructed and widened from Evergreen Point to Lime Kiln.

[15] After US 15's present alignment north of Point of Rocks was completed in 1970, MD 85 was assigned to Buckeystown Pike south of I-270.

[2][18] The reconstruction of I-70 Exit 54 began in 2001 to replace the tight folded diamond interchange between the Interstate and MD 355 constructed in 1956 as part of the Frederick Freeway.

Related to the project was an extension of East Street south from downtown Frederick to near I-70 that was temporarily designated MD 475.