Overnight Visit Accommodation Reccs

Flyboy522

USAFA 1986
5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2012
Messages
44
My DS is going to USNA for an overnight visit this Thursday and Friday nights -- my wife and I are looking into any recommendations for where to stay while we're there. Appreciate any feedback -- need to makes reservations today or tomorrow.
 
My DS is going to USNA for an overnight visit this Thursday and Friday nights -- my wife and I are looking into any recommendations for where to stay while we're there. Appreciate any feedback -- need to makes reservations today or tomorrow.

I can't give you a direct response myself but while you wait for others to respond you might try searching the forums for recommendations on where to stay for this or other academy events (I-Day, Parent's Weekend, home Football games, etc.)
 
A Starter

My DS is going to USNA for an overnight visit this Thursday and Friday nights -- my wife and I are looking into any recommendations for where to stay while we're there. Appreciate any feedback -- need to makes reservations today or tomorrow.

Sounds like you're heading to Candidate Visit Weekend. It should be a great experience for all of you.

Downtown Annapolis (DTA) is literally a 5 minute walk from Gate 1, the main gate for visitors. The closest hotels right in Downtown are the Marriott Waterfront and The Maryland Inn. They are within easy walking distance to the academy. Right next to the Maryland Inn is a traffic circle, Church Circle. From Church Circle runs West Street. On West Street there are Loews Hotel, O'Callaghan Hotel and The Westin. These hotels are within walking distance to the academy but it will be more of a walk, around 15-20 minutes. However, there is a shuttle that runs along West Street that will take you into DTA. All other hotel brands and numerous B & Bs are scattered throughout Annapolis. Becareful where you park. There is 2 hour parking near the academy and from what it has been said here, they enforce it. There is a garage in DTA on Duke of Gloucester, coming off of Church Circle. I believe there is also parking at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. You can walk, 20-25 minutes, but there is a shuttle service that will take you to the academy and DTA. I was just in Annapolis and the temperature is starting to get chilly. You may also want to pack an umbrella if you are planning to walk around the academy, or the yard, they call it. The campus has to be seen while you're there.

This should help you get started. Go online and search for The Annapolis Guide. Good luck on your visit. Be sure to stop by the Visitor's Center and adjacent gift store. There's lots of good things to be seen and heard there.
Cheers...
 
Last edited:
The Marriott is the closest to the Academy in DTA, but tends to be VERY expensive and charges for parking. Be sure to ask about parking arrangements when making reservations at any of the DTA hotels since some have NO onsite parking and you have to use a nearby public parking garage. "Within walking distance"......tends to depend on your definition.

The Sheraton near the Mall has free onsite parking and runs a shuttle bus to/from the academy and is a short drive by car.

Mostly depends on your budget, what you plan to do and how much driving around you might be planning.
 
Our son did NASS, CVW and I- Day on his own, so our first visit was at Plebe Summer Parent Weekend with no clue and on a budget. We stayed at the Hilton Garden and loved the price, the rides to and from downtown (or anywhere in town) that they provide. It was great for us. You can spend a lot on places and parking, so it all depends on budget. Have a blast, it is everything you hear! Great town. Great people. Great process. You can hardly go wrong.
 
The Marriott is the only hotel w/in easy walking distance. But, IMO, it's a pit. They charge a ton b/c they can and give you bad service and crappy rooms in return. I can stay there free on Marriott points and choose to pay to stay at another hotel. Seriously.

The Westin is relatively new and nice. It's walking distance from the stadium but not to USNA, unless you're a serious walker. The Loew's and O'Callaghan are on the same street and are both fine. Not super cheap but in the "off season" (no football games or major USNA/Annapolis events) aren't too bad. You will pay for parking, so consider that in the total cost.

There are cheaper hotels out near the mall and off Route 50 -- most with free parking -- but you'll trade driving distance for savings on cost. Probably not a big deal for CVW on an uncrowded WE. When USNA is in "full swing," such as PPW or graduation week, that distance can seem like forever.
 
Hotels

After researching some Annapolis hotels I'd suggest you try Priceline, name your own price, or Hotwire. Annapolis Downtown is closer to USNA, but will require extra $ for parking like usna1985 said. Annapolis (non-downtown) is about a 10 minute drive with free parking and some of those hotels offer free breakfast. Downtown has many, many shops and you might want to take the USNA Visitors Tour. Near the other hotels you'll find a mall and lots of other shopping as well. You can't go wrong either way especially if you've never been to Annapolis before. I've often used Priceline with great results for Annapolis.
 
If you have your own transportation out by the Mall is much cheaper with free parking (as has been stated) and many have great free breakfasts. Any of those are good and about ten minutes from Main Gate on a normal day. Downtown hotels even with priceline charge some bucks for overnight parking which is not in their advertisement. That was our shock. Marriott is overpriced for any weekend. Being very near the Mall is not bad as it is an easy drive downtown and there are a lot of restaurants near by. Just don't go around the rotary more than twice on your way to Main Gate. For PPW we rented a house in Eastport within walking distance and left the car in the driveway. O'Callaghan was great but expensive. Easy walk though.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all of the quick feedback -- you always find great people -- grads, parents etc when you deal with any of the Academies. It is a great experience. I'm beginning to have a lot of flashbacks lately with my son applying to the service academies of my days as an '86 grad of USAFA. I've been to West Point for the first time ever a few times over the last few months and am looking forward to visiting the Naval Academy this weekend too! Once again appreciate all of the great feedback. Just 15 minutes ago my DS received his BFE in the mail -- now if he accepts he'll be a member of the Class of 2017. This weekend will be very important to him!!!
 
If your military you can stay on the campus at the Navy Gateway Inn. We stay there when we visit our Mid's. Also, there is a Sheraton and a Hampton Inn near the academy that will take you about 5 min to get to and from and lots of yummy food around town!
 
Congratulations and Welcome Aboard!

...my days as an '86 grad of USAFA.

We won't hold that against you ;-)

Just 15 minutes ago my DS received his BFE in the mail -- now if he accepts he'll be a member of the Class of 2017. This weekend will be very important to him!!!

Congratulations. After you visit USNA, you'll have a new understanding of the phrase, "location, location, location". Have a nice visit.
Cheers...
 
Ending up deciding to stay at the Flag House B&B - ditching the other 3 kids and don't often have opportunity to stay somewhere like a B&B. Looking forward to this weekend and the CVW. Thanks for everyone's help! We believe another set of parents are staying at the Flag House also - should be great experience.
 
We won't hold that against you ;-)



Congratulations. After you visit USNA, you'll have a new understanding of the phrase, "location, location, location". Have a nice visit.
Cheers...

So if my son does choose the Naval Academy then your son or daughter will be one of his primary trainers - quite a deal!

I always said how happy I was to have USAFA in my rear view mirror and that if I had to do it all over again I might not. Now I feel that if I was 18 again I'd be ready to go. Going to work hard to get my sorry butt in shape by the time he enters his summer festivities next year.
 
A Great Place to Be...

I always said how happy I was to have USAFA in my rear view mirror and that if I had to do it all over again I might not. Now I feel that if I was 18 again I'd be ready to go. Going to work hard to get my sorry butt in shape by the time he enters his summer festivities next year.

All my USNA friends say, "the academy is a great place to be from". I take their word for it since I went to '"college";-) Again, have a nice trip. We look forward to hearing your comments once you get back. It looks as if you're going to have good weather.
Cheers...
 
Back
Top