Hope this is the right place for this question

I know folks are sweating out appointments here, if I should be asking this in on a different page let me know.

I am trying to figure out ground transport from BWI to Annapolis and then from hotel to Campus.

I've had really good luck with UBER in my own business travels lately, but I have learned that UBER varies a lot between airports and cities. Has anyone used UBER from BWI to Annapolis? or should I rent a car or take a taxi? I understand there are no good public transport options.

Is parking available in town if we choose to stay in a hotel a little farther out?

Is staying in town the best option?

Also, does anybody REALLY know how far Loews is from campus? I've seen 1.3 miles, .82 miles and .4miles so far.

I'm sure these questions have been asked before, so feel free to just hit me with a thread reference.

It's about a mile from Loew's. It's a nice walk through downtown. I think they have a shuttle there and can drop you off at USNA. Uber is pretty reliable from BWI and around downtown Annapolis. Also if you choose to drive, there are Parking garages downtown. Closest one is next to Jimmy John's.

Super Shuttle can get you to and from airport, or other shared ride service.

Call Loew's to see if they can shuttle you to Gate 1 or nearby, and if you can call for a pickup.

It's a walk, but pleasant. App says .8 mile, 18-20 minutes.

Uber should be fine. Use "Naval Academy Gate 1." Or, 110 Prince George St., which is actually a B&B adjacent to a Gate 1 ped gate.

For map purposes, look at the intersection of Randall St. and King George St., where the vehicle gate and one of two ped gates are located. Ped gate is on Randall St. The other ped gate leading to the Gate 1 security entrance is adjacent to 110 Prince George St.

We have stayed at Loews several times. They charge $23/day for parking in case you rent a car. Cab rides from BWI to DTA is at least $50 one way. There is a super shuttle, I have not used, I believe its at least $35, and you stop and several locations. Easy walk from Loews to DTA, unless you have anyone elderly with you, that can be a long walk especially in the hot summer. Parking in Annapolis on the street is difficult. And they only allow 2 hours at a time. There is a parking ramp in town and it cost you a good $20/day if you keep it there for the day. I really like to rent a car and stay in a place that is walking distance. Also I think where you stay depends on what you are coming in for. If this is for I-day, I would stay in town. If this is plebe parent weekend then staying farther out is not a bad option. Just my opinions. Hope this helps a bit! GO NAVY!

I always stay at Lowes--when I can get a good rate. Join the parents club and you get special rates. Sometimes parking is free sometimes I've paid $10/day. It does vary. I ALWAYS walk from Lowes to the academy. It is a pretty easy walk-but I do walk a lot at home. Wonder if the different distances are based on which gate you go to. Gate 3 is the closest with gate 8 being the furthest and gate 1 in between. Parking in DTA can be tricky at peak times. There are several parking garages and sometimes I've found free parking on the side streets. I always try to avoid driving in DTA. Worst case park at the Westin $10 each entry and catch the trolley. There is the super shuttle from the airport to DTA and if you get the discount codes it can be reasonable. We did our entire IDay experience without a car--ended up wishing we'd had one. We were exhausted by the end of the weekend. It is doable. However, I've rented a car every time since.

Whether you should choose to stay at a close-in hotel or one further out really depends on the event. For I-Day, it doesn't much matter and you can save some money staying at one of the "outer" hotels. The reason is report times are staggered and, once you leave your kid, your time is your own until the swearing-in ceremony. And then you're done. For PPW, I recommend one of the close-in hotels b/c your plebe has limited time which you want to maximize. Also, it's the same release and return time for 1100+ people and the roads of Annapolis can turn to gridlock. Being able to walk is a good deal. For later events (football games, Commissioning Week, etc.), it depends on a lot of things.

Obviously, if money is no object, close-in hotels are always best. But if you're budget conscious, the hotels on the periphery can be a good deal for certain events.

Also recommend checking airbnb or vrbo or similar sites to look at house/apartment/condo rentals as an option, particularly if you are traveling with a larger family group. If you're on a budget (aren't most of us?), it's great to buy breakfast makings and drinks. (Hotel fridges are always tiny and no ice!) Definitely check to make sure whatever you're renting has parking. There are many options in walking distance to either the yard or the stadium.

Lots of older posts on the subject of hotels/parking etc. If you have never stayed in Annapolis, good to know that some hotels do NOT include onsite parking. Others charge for the limited onsite parking they have. Be sure to ask when making reservations to avoid surprises. Within 'walking distance' is subjective and can be a LONG walk vs. 'across the street'. Hotels near the mall have plenty of free/onsite parking and some offer a shuttle bus to the Academy.

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com...Parents-Weekend-Commissioning-Week-CVW.47512/


Hotels thread.

For I Day and PPW, book hotels well in advance; availability goes down and prices go up. If you stay somewhere too far away to walk, USNA runs shuttles from the football stadium to the Academy for I Day and PPW. You may have to wait in a line to get on a bus if you pick the wrong time, but waits weren't bad and the shuttles run pretty regularly. Just give yourself plenty of time any time you have to bring your Mid back to the Academy. It's not worth getting a little extra time with them if they are going to be a basket case wondering about being late - and they will be worried about it.

Just Dad said:

I am trying to figure out ground transport from BWI to Annapolis and then from hotel to Campus.

Is parking available in town if we choose to stay in a hotel a little farther out?

Is staying in town the best option?

Click to expand...

I use Priceline for rental cars at BWI. For a full size car, I have received rates of $15/day during the winter and $20/day during the summer. They add on taxes & fees (you will see total price during bidding process), but was still less than any other 'out the door' rates I could find. Bidding process is somewhat an art. Look at prevailing advertised specials, start early, bid low, and be persistent. I start ridiculously low and keep bidding for a few days, then raise $1 and go a few more days, repeat until successful.

We have made the SpringHill by Marriott our backup hotel if we cannot find reasonable deals elsewhere. Once again, plan early. I made reservations in December and locked in a low rate for Herndon/Commissioning week. Rates have doubled since then and I still have the option to cancel.

Depending on how long you plan to park, here are some options that are close to the Yard:

A 2-3 hours, DTA or residential streets around Maryland Ave and King George Street.

All day, Navy/MC Stadium (shuttle), DTA (Hillman Parking Garage).

Enjoy your visit and put our name in for a table at the Iron Rooster.

The walk isn't too bad from Lowes, and I would highly recommend a SuperShuttle from BWI to the yard. My dd and I have done that at least three times now. Good luck.

DTA street parking:

Read the white signs with red lettering or ANY signs carefully. Keep an eye out for "Impound" temp signs on a stake, designed to clear a certain area for utility work or a special event.

Some unmetered parking is two hours, during certain hours of the day. Residents have zone stickers for 24-hour parking. That does not mean two hours there, run out, move the car 4 spaces down for another two hours. Annapolis Parking Officers are contractors, and I swear they are paid by the ticket. They track license plates.

Some street parking is 7 hours. Look on King George St. near St. John's College.

If you get a ticket, the price goes up the longer you wait to pay. Pay over the phone, online, or drop payment into yellow payment boxes in DTA area. The ticket comes with its own convenient envelope.

Parking ticket revenue is a reliable source of City income, spiking when all those out-of-state license plates descend upon the town during I-Day, Comm Week, PPW, football weekends, fall boat shows, etc.

And yes, I know so much about this for the wrong reasons, except for Impounding, which I have watched many times. I used to work at an office on Prince George St. near the Barry ped gate into USNA.

Edit: And, please, as a local, if you don't have traffic circles at home, please take a minute to read up on who has the rightaway. There are several in Annapolis. If you miss getting off at the right time because you are in the wrong lane, just go around again and adjust your lane.

Final tip: If you are coming from USNA on Randall St., toward the traffic circle at the foot of Main St., you may not make a left onto Dock St. It is clearly posted, but I can't tell you how many times I have been coming from the opposite direction, turning right into Dock St., and had quite a scare by someone making an unlawful left and stopping short of my driver door. There is a lot going on, traffic-wise, and if you are watching for pedestrians, jaywalking and otherwise, looking at your GPS, it's easy to miss.

Super Shuttle has always been great at any Airport. You d0 drive around in the vehicle but they get you on time to your destination. Navy/MC is a great option for parking.