Driving Short-Cut, Navy-Marine Corps Stadium Parking

We have lived in Annapolis for five years, and during the four years that our son was at the Naval Academy, we learned the best ways to get around town when visitors would pour into town. We live on the south side of the city (off Bay Ridge Road), so have seen how traffic flows (or not), depending on normal commuting patterns, scheduled events, and times of the day when the weather is nice on weekends and everyone and his grandmother are in the Downtown Annapolis and City Dock areas.

Without a DoD identification, automobile pass, or disabled driver placard, you cannot park on the Naval Academy Yard. There is also municipal parking available around town, but I won't make any recommendations about that, and of course, if you are staying at a hotel, there may be shuttle service available. A good option for your car while attending an event at the Academy is parking at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for five dollars. When major events are happening, the typical way folks come into town is on Route 50 and Rowe Boulevard - these can be painfully slow.

If you are driving into Annapolis, the route we recommend is to take Exit 22 from Route 50 onto Aris T Allen Boulevard to Forest Drive East, and then taking Hilltop Lane to Spa Road (turn left) (1). Spa Road leads to the traffic circle at West Street, where you drive half way around to Taylor Avenue. Follow Taylor Avenue to the entrance of the stadium parking (you will have to turn left across traffic into the entrance). It costs $5 to park, but the shuttle buses to the Academy are free. More information about parking at the stadium can be found clicking here.

After your event, either exit the way you entered, or if the gates to south are open, exit to Cedar Park Road and turn left until you get to Taylor, and then turn right and back out the way you came. We found that even leaving parking after football games, this was the easiest way to get away from the stadium. (2) It is also worth noting, you can take lawn chairs or wheel chairs with you when you catch the shuttle buses at the stadium - there are storage areas under the buses. This is really helpful when you need to wait for the buses to return to the stadium while on the Yard, and for helping elderly friends or relatives getting around instead of walking.

A significant length of Forest Drive was widened to three lanes in both directions this past year, and since the construction was completed a couple of months ago, I have yet to have to wait more than one stop light to get through the intersection of Chinquapin Round Road where Aris T Allen turns into Forest Drive, east. Gone are the days of traffic backed up a quarter mile or more, beyond the overpass of Route 2. (3)

A Google Map showing the route can be found by clicking here.
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(1) You can also go to the light at Spa Road with Forest Drive and turn left onto Spa Road.

(2) Often on football game days, it is possible to enter parking with a season parking pass through the gates along Cedar Park Road.

(3) This has taken at least 10 minutes off of my commute home every day from the Washington, D.C. Beltway - I-495.