CVW - Driving In - Info/Guidance for Parents

I

informe

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We are going to the CVW in September. Trying to get the trip organized. We are driving to Annapolis.
We have the following questions:

1) Web site says drop off is between 4 to 6 PM through Gate 8 but it also says do not arrive before 5.30 PM at the Mitscher Auditorium because the gates will not be open????
2) If do drive in through Gate 8 do we just drop our son and leave the grounds to find a car park, or can we wait in the car until the doors of the Auditorium opens?
3) Or is it better to find a car park let us say at the Marine Center car park and walk to Gate 1 to reach the Auditorium????
3) On pick day, do we drive in through Gate 8 and wait outside the Auditorium or do we car in Marine Center car park walk back to pick son up???

When I look at the map [provided in the web site] I can only see Gate 1 and Gate 3 marked, I do not see Gate 8, just a little confusing ???

I do not want to end up dropping son and we driving around the streets trying to find a car park for hours..:)
If some one knowledgeable can help with these questions it will be great.
Thanks.
 
Gate 8 is easy to find and access; just google usna gate 8 and a bunch of maps come up. Parking on the yard can be especially challenging with the construction this year but can usually be found downtown within easy walking distance of gate 1.
 
Unless something has changed, you will be parking in the road (Brownson Rd.?) in front of the Levy Center where you will enter. They don't man the tables for registration until 5:30 which is why they say don't get there too early. The lobby area gets pretty crowded. If I remember correctly the briefing on that first night is about an hour or so. Afterward your DS/DD meets at their assigned company area, heads for Bancroft, and you are out of there. I would say park at the stadium the next morning and take the shuttle bus provided. You can then walk in and out of gate 1 for lunch (or eat at Dry Dock if you want to stay on the Yard). On pick up day you can drive in gate 8 again and go to Alumni Hall where your DS/DD should be waiting outside for you with their Plebe. You should be in and out in about 10 minutes.
 
Last edited:
@usnadad19
Thank you. Is something going like a football game or something on Sep 19? Almost all hotels are sold out.
 
informe said:
1) Web site says drop off is between 4 to 6 PM through Gate 8 but it also says do not arrive before 5.30 PM at the Mitscher Auditorium because the gates will not be open????
2) If do drive in through Gate 8 do we just drop our son and leave the grounds to find a car park, or can we wait in the car until the doors of the Auditorium opens?
3) Or is it better to find a car park let us say at the Marine Center car park and walk to Gate 1 to reach the Auditorium????
3) On pick day, do we drive in through Gate 8 and wait outside the Auditorium or do we car in Marine Center car park walk back to pick son up???

When I look at the map [provided in the web site] I can only see Gate 1 and Gate 3 marked, I do not see Gate 8, just a little confusing ???
Click to expand...

informe, I'll try to clarify some things (this board was so helpful when DD was applying, time to pay forward)
1) Gate 8 (as well as Gate 3 & Gate 1) are open all day, so you could actually arrive before 4pm and try to find parking and tour the Yard a bit before having to drop off at Mitscher
2) You could try to find parking on the Yard, but have to be careful so you don't get ticketed. Best place I've found is on King George Street next to the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center. However, if you do arrive after 4pm, as USNA 19 Dad mentioned, Brownson Rd would be another good spot also.
3)I honestly don't know what you mean by Marine Center car park (the football stadium, maybe?), is so, that is a long walk to the Yard. If you go to city of Annapolis webpage, there are several city garages in Downtown Annapolis you can park in within walking distance to Gate 1. The Noah Hillman garage is the closest.
4) On pick up day, I'm not sure if you would be able to drive on Yard. I can't remember if the letter you show for drop-off day also works for pick-up day. You may want to verify this. If you can drive on Yard, then that would be your best bet.

If you look at google maps, Gate 8 is located on Decatur Ave off 450. It's actually that little "curve" by Bishop Stadium, that's the guard gate.

And yes, Sept 18-20 is 2C Parents Weekend, as well as a home football game, so the Yard is going to be a busy place!

Hope this helps! Feel free to pm me if you have other questions. Enjoy the roller coaster ride:)
 
Be careful parking on the yard. As they are building a new parking garage on campus so parking is extremely limited right now and they are ticketing like crazy. Heck I think part of the faculty is currently parking at the stadium and shuttling in right now. So if you see a spot labeled with things like F/S or 1/C don't park there. Always nice to drop off as your son will be hauling his stuff around. It is really easy to park off campus and walk on the yard. The drive from the BWI area is really easy. It will be crowded with 2/C Parents Weekend, so plan plenty of time to get anywhere.
 
Is parking allowed on the Yard for non-military (minus faculty & staff)? I didn't think it was, unless things have changed. I know USNA has allowed parents to drive onto the Yard for pick-up and drop-off purposes only. Can someone confirm that USNA is allowing all parents to park on the Yard?
 
I had the same question, didn't used to be. Parents of current mids have an ID card that allows them to drive onto the yard. Unless things have changed, non-military personnel can't drive onto the Yard. You can walk onto the yard during the day by passing through security and showing an ID like a driver's license.
 
I am still not clear....driving onto the Yard and parking are two different things. I can't see USNA allowing all these entities to park on the Yard (though, I could be wrong)...where does 1/C and Faculty and Staff park?
 
In the times we were there, you couldn't drive onto the Yard without the parent ID card (like to attend church services). Parking only matters once you have access to the Yard.
 
08 my thoughts are that the letter gets then access to drop off and pick up their kids for the CVW. My guess is if they find a visitor spot nothing can really stop them from parking there although my guess is they aren't supposed to. To be honest, especially M-F, I don't think there is pretty much any parking that is really designated visitor at this point. Maybe a few but probably very few. From my understanding with construction, some staff are having to shuttle in from the stadium, parking is extremely hard to find if any, and parking enforcement is apparently being very strict from what I have been told. Best bet for parents is to call admissions for guidance. I would honestly plan to drop off your kid then go park or all ride the shuttle from the stadium.
 
I would agree it is best to call Admissions.
USNA says that only those with a CAC or a USNA issued ID card may drive and park on the Yard. My thought would be that just like the Permit to Report allows new candidates' families to drive onto the Yard for the sole purpose of dropping off their son/daughter (not park), the access granted to CVW would be for the same. Lack of parking enforcement isn't justification to not follow the rules (should that be the case). If Admissions says you are good-to-go, then no problem...but probably should find out first or obtain the appropriate pass.
 
The Noah Hillman public parking lot in downtown Annapolis is a 5-6 minute walk from Gate 1. (You can Google it for directions.) We've never had a problem finding parking there, even on PPW. We've also done the stadium/shuttle bus thing and we prefer Noah Hillman for its proximity and ease of entry/exit. It's not too far for your candidate to easily schlep a duffle bag/sleeping bag/pillow. Parking on the Yard is *very* limited, as someone mentioned, due to construction, and parking enforcement is enthusiastic.
 
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