According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.91 square miles (2.36 km2), all land.[4] The Youghiogheny River flows through the town and is renowned by the whitewater kayaking/rafting community as the take-out for the famous Upper Yough run.Friendsville is named after its first European settler, John Friend, who came to what is now Garrett County before the American Revolution.Interstate 68 passes through the town, with access provided via an interchange at Maryland Route 42.Maryland Route 742 also serves Friendsville, following the old alignment of MD 42 through the center of town.