Downtown Annapolis is the city’s historic core, with City Dock, the waterfront and sites such as the United States Naval Academy and Banneker-Douglass Museum. Annapolis city centre is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel.
- Area: Annapolis city centre and Historic District.
- Parking: Downtown has public garages, lots and metered street spaces.
- Getting around: City parking resources include locations; shuttle and parking details can change.
How downtown Annapolis is laid out
Downtown Annapolis combines the Historic District, City Dock and landmarks including the United States Naval Academy, St. John’s College and the Banneker-Douglass Museum. These named destinations give you useful points to build a visit around, even if you plan to leave the exact order flexible.
Historic homes in the area include Chase-Lloyd House and Brice House. The Naval Academy Museum and the wider United States Naval Academy are separate stops to keep in mind when planning your day; the museum is one of the historic district’s cultural attractions.
For a visit centred on the academy, planning around access details can help you make the most of your day.
If the museum is your main stop, its entry and hours are covered in the Naval Academy Museum Annapolis guide.
Getting from the hotel to the historic district
Downtown offers public parking garages, lots and metered on-street spaces. The City of Annapolis directs drivers to its parking resources for location details. For Historic District Zones I and II, the city uses Premium Parking; Annapolis Parking (SP+) handles other areas, including enforcement, meters, permits and city-owned garages and lots.
For parking close to Historic Annapolis sites, the organization says those sites do not have public on-site parking. Street parking nearby is mostly residential, limited to two hours and starts at $2 per hour. Free weekend parking is available at Calvert Street Garage, 19 St. John’s Street, a short walk from the sites.
Walking around the waterfront and historic streets
City Dock, Main Street and the Historic District’s named landmarks can anchor a downtown visit. You can make one of them your main destination, then add other stops according to your interests and the time you have.
Downtown parking rules vary by location. Visit Annapolis says meters require payment Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon–7:30 p.m. Residential parking districts have a two-hour limit, and drivers must move their cars when the limit expires.
Planning a one-day Annapolis visit
For a one-day plan, choose a main focus first: the waterfront and historic streets, the academy, or the city’s museums and historic homes. Then decide where parking fits into the day.
If you drive downtown, the city’s parking resources can help you choose a garage or lot by location. Visit Annapolis also says garages along the West Street corridor can be used with its free purple shuttle to reach City Dock. Parking terms and local transport schedules can change, so check the official site before you go.
Annapolis city centre is about a 10-minute drive from Village Inn. For a trip built around several stops, Village Inn, a one-star hotel in Annapolis, is outside the city centre; factor in the return journey as well as your downtown plans.
FAQs
Where can you park in downtown Annapolis?
Downtown has public garages, parking lots and metered street spaces. The City of Annapolis provides parking resources with location information.
Do downtown Annapolis parking meters have set payment hours?
Visit Annapolis says meters require payment Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon–7:30 p.m. Residential parking districts have a two-hour limit.
Can you visit the Naval Academy Museum and the United States Naval Academy?
They are distinct destinations in Annapolis. The museum and the academy have separate access arrangements, so check their respective visitor information when planning.