North of MD 459, MD 201 crosses over the Capital Subdivision's Alexandria Branch, a CSX rail line, and curves northwest and passes under the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
MD 201 intersects Riverdale Road and MD 410 (East-West Highway), then follows the eastern boundary of Riverdale Park to Brier Ditch, just north of which the highway intersects Paint Branch Parkway and Good Luck Road.