Annapolis to Washington DC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check the distance from Annapolis to Washington DC

Annapolis is about 30 miles from Washington, DC. Visit Annapolis, the city's tourism board, says it is "just 30 miles from the Nation's capital" and less than an hour by car. The page gives no rush hour time, and the official pages we checked publish none, so the traffic-day drive time is unknown; leave extra room on a weekday.

The trip is a half-day or a full day out. If Annapolis is too close for the day you want, the page for day trips from Washington, DC also covers longer trips such as tours from washington dc to niagara falls, which it says it cannot offer. The closer Maryland and Virginia options are listed there too.

The tourism board does not compare Annapolis with Baltimore, so we do not say which city is closer. Use a map from your hotel.

Key Takeaway The distance is 30 miles and the drive is under an hour, so Annapolis fits in one day from DC with a car.

Step 2: Drive if you want the simplest way

The car is the simplest way between Annapolis and Washington, DC. The tourism board's figure is under an hour for about 30 miles. That gives you a full day in Annapolis and a return to the city for dinner.

The official pages we checked name no road and no parking garage. They also give no parking price. Check a live traffic map before you leave and plan to arrive early on a weekend. Annapolis is a small old town, so parking in the center can take time.

Drive back with a margin. An evening return from Annapolis may take longer than the daytime figure if traffic is heavy.

Pro Tip Park once and walk. Annapolis is a compact old town, and the harbor cruise meets at 1 Prince George St, so one parking spot covers a whole day.

The drive has one catch. You need a driver who stays sober, so book an evening tour only if someone else drives or you stay the night.

Step 3: Take a commuter bus if you have no car

Two Maryland commuter bus routes link Annapolis and Washington, DC. The Maryland Transit Administration's commuter bus page lists Route 220, "Annapolis - Washington DC", and Route 230, "Severna Park & Annapolis - DC".

The Route 220 schedule page starts at Rowe Blvd & Taylor Ave in Annapolis and runs along West St. In DC it lists stops along K St, Massachusetts Ave and New York Ave. The Route 230 schedule page also starts at Rowe Blvd & Taylor Ave. It reaches Capitol Hill, Independence Ave, 14th St, Pennsylvania Ave and Constitution Ave, and its last listed stop is N Capitol St & H St.

Here is what the pages do not say. They show no days of operation, no fare and no ride time, so we cannot tell you how long the bus takes. Each page only offers a lookup that asks you to pick a departure stop, an arrival stop and a direction. The fare page was marked "Page Coming Soon". The MTA's contact center is at 410-539-5000, Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. Call before you plan a day around these buses.

Commuter routes may run for workers at set times. We could not confirm that, so do not assume you can go and return in a day. For a daily commute from Annapolis to Washington, DC, ask the MTA for the timetable first.

Once you are in DC, see public transport washington dc for the Metro and buses that take you on from the bus stops.

Step 4: Skip the train plan

MARC does not list a train to Annapolis. The MARC page lists three lines: Brunswick, Penn and Camden. Each one is named with Washington. None is named for Annapolis, and the page does not mention the city.

Does a MARC train go to Annapolis? On the page we checked, no. If you see an app that shows a train, check it against the MTA before you buy anything.

The train is the wrong choice for this trip. The honest options are the car or the commuter bus. The Visit Annapolis home page says the city is easily reached via BWI airport, but it gives no route and no time, so we do not plan the trip around it.

The shortest trip on the map is not always the easiest one without a car.

Step 5: Choose what to do once you arrive

Annapolis is the capital of Maryland, and the Naval Academy calls it the "Sailing Capital of the World". That, plus the harbor and the Academy, is the reason to come. The town is easy to see on foot, so a tour is a choice and not a need. A walk from the harbor through the old streets costs nothing. A tour adds a view from the water or a story, and it saves you from planning the stops.

The Naval Academy itself is open to the public on foot. The Academy's visit page says general public visitation resumed on May 11, 2026, with entry through Gate 1 or Gate 8. Visitors aged 18 and over need a REAL ID-compliant license or state ID, a U.S. passport or passport card, or an Enhanced Driver's License, and everyone goes through a bag check and metal-detector screening. The access page says the public hours are 6 am to 8 pm from March 1 to October 31 and 6 am to 6 pm from November 1 to February 28. The page also says general public visitation does not allow non-U.S. citizens. Bags larger than a typical purse are not allowed, and visitors without a base ID park outside and walk in.

Things to Do in Washington DC's count of GetYourGuide listings in October 2026 found 2 Annapolis tours, from €21. Both are short, so they fit around a drive or a bus ride.

The Annapolis harbor and Naval Academy cruise is from €30 per person. It lasts 40 minutes and uses recorded narration. It is rated 4.6 from 294 reviews on GetYourGuide and shows free cancellation. Watermark Journey runs it, and it starts at 1 Prince George St, Annapolis. The cruise does not suit people prone to seasickness. Drinks, snacks and parking are not included, and the group size is not stated.

The Annapolis ghost tour is from €21 per person. It is a 1-hour evening walk through the old town, run by US Ghost Adventures. It starts at Federal House Bar & Grille, 22 Market Space. GetYourGuide rates it 4.3 from 28 reviews and shows free cancellation. The ghost tour does not suit people with mobility impairments or people who cannot walk at least a mile. Tips and transport are not included.

So is a tour worth it? Only if you want a view from the water or a guided story. For most visitors, the free walk is enough, and the car or bus is the real cost of the day. If you want more day trips from the capital, the Day trips from Washington, DC page lists the options next to Annapolis.