Getting to Annapolis

Annapolis is the capital of Maryland, the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It has population of 36,000 and is part of the Baltimore Washington Metropolitan Area. It is located 25 miles south of Baltimore and about the same distance east of Washington DC.

By car

Car hire is a popular way of getting around as many of the attractions are spread out. It is easy to organise and relatively inexpensive. The road system in Maryland is fairly good, although traffic can be heavy during rush hours and holiday periods. To reach Annapolis from Baltimore, take I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway) to I-97 south and US Route 50 east. From Washington DC, take US Route 50 east off the Washington beltway (I-495) to Rowe Boulevard. Visitors should note that parking can be difficult, particularly in the historic district in Annapolis.

By rail

Amtrak provides train services throughout the country to over 500 destinations. The trains are comfortable and reliable, but journey times tend to be slow compared to European trains. The nearest Amtrak station is at New Carrollton or Baltimore. This is part of the main East Coast Amtrak line and there are frequent direct services from as far afield as New Orleans and Miami. There are also regular trains to Washington DC, New York and Boston.

By bus

Greyhound is the main long-distance bus operator in America and it has an extensive network covering destinations throughout the country. No reservations are necessary, but you should arrive at the station early to purchase your ticket.

The Greyhound bus terminal is at 308 Chinquapin Round Road and it has frequent services to Washington DC and Baltimore. Dillon's Bus Service provides services to Washington DC with stops at the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium, Harry S Truman Park and Ride, and West Street. Baltimore MTA operates buses to and from Baltimore and Washington DC.

By air

The recently re-named Baltimore Washington International Airport is the main domestic and international air hub in the region. Last year, the airport served nearly 20 million passengers, with 650 domestic and 22 international flights daily. It is located 10 miles south of downtown Baltimore, just off I-295. There are five concourses in the terminal, although concourses A and B were merged in a recent renovation.

The airport has the normal range of facilities including ATMs, bureaux de change, restaurants, bars and a large choice of shopping outlets. There are disabled persons toilets as well as lifts and ramps, and reserved disabled persons parking. Long-term and short-term parking lots are available and free shuttle buses are provided to transport passengers to and from the terminal.

Ground transportation to Annapolis includes a super shuttle bus, a metro bus service and taxis. Transfer time is approximately 45 minutes, depending on traffic. If you are hiring a car, then you need to take I-97 south, following the signs for Annapolis.

Taxis

There are many taxi companies operating in Annapolis and at the airport. Each licensed taxi cab has a round, coloured sticker with its official number on it. They charge a basic fare and then charge for each one-sixth of a mile. You may have problems hailing a cab on the street, so ask at your hotel and they will call one for you. Alternatively, look out for designated taxi stands around the city. Two taxi cab stands are located at the foot of Main Street.