History & waterfront · Maryland

Annapolis day trip

Annapolis

A day in Maryland's small colonial capital, about an hour east of Washington: the State House where George Washington resigned his commission, a 1760s mansion and terraced garden, the Naval Academy's chapel and noon formation, crab cakes by Ego Alley, a short harbor cruise and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at dusk.

Time: 9–10 hour day
Driving: About 2–2½ hours of driving in total, most of it on US 50
Best time: All year; best April–May and September–October
Updated: October 13, 2026 at 11:14 PM Pacific

$4 USD

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Sunset over a calm Annapolis harbor, with moored boats and sailboat masts along the shore, a church spire against an orange and blue sky, and a small boat in the foreground water — Andrew Parlette · CC BY 2.0. September 2023 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

8:00 amLeave Washington, DC
9:00 amMaryland State House
10:00 amWilliam Paca House & Garden
11:30 amU.S. Naval Academy
2:00 pmCity Dock, Ego Alley and Main Street
3:30 pmHarbor cruise from City Dock
5:00 pmSandy Point State Park
6:00 pmReturn to Washington, DC

Highlights

Worth the trip

The Old Senate Chamber, where the Continental Congress met in 1783–84
Noon formation at the Naval Academy on academic-year days
A 40-minute harbor cruise past the Academy seawall, then the Bay Bridge from the beach at Sandy Point

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

In April and May and from September to October, Annapolis usually brings mild to warm days and cool mornings, with spring showers and the occasional early-fall tropical rain. It is breezier and cooler on the harbor and at Sandy Point than in town. July and August are hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms that can cancel cruises; winter is cold and raw, with some snow and ice. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

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