BWI Airport just south of Baltimore; credit James G. Howe
Baltimore Transportation
Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is an attractive 5-terminal airport with modern artwork selectively paced throughout. One of America’s 20 busiest airports, BWI features flights to nearly all major cities in North America. It has WiFi, charging stations, retail, dining, lounge, meditation room and business service amenities in each terminal. The concourse between Terminals C and B features a tribute and monument to Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court Justice, and Baltimore native. Unusual for an airport, it has a very nice greenbelt jogging trail surrounding the premises. BWI AIRPORT TERMINAL MAP
In 2023, MTA Light Rail returns to 15-minute service from BWI Airport to downtown Baltimore Mon-Fri 6a-11p, Sat 7a-11p, Sun and Holidays 11a-7p, though the time between trains lengthens to 30 minutes after commute hours.
Super Shuttle is available for the 10-mile ride to downtown Baltimore. Make your reservation via 800-258-3826. Taxis: Diamond and Yellow cabs at the ground transportation level are plentiful.
Car Rentals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty provide service. Board the Rental Car shuttle bus as you exit any terminal to reach the BWI Rental Car Facility. When exiting that facility, follow signs to Baltimore-Washington Parkway, then go northbound to Baltimore or southbound to Washington or westbound towards Columbia as befits your travel itinerary.
Dramatically lit Baltimore Penn Station at night; (c) Soul Of America
Train Station
Baltimore Penn Station, with its neo-classic architecture, gift shop, airy atmosphere and close proximity to the University of Baltimore, is an attractive venue for travelers. Located just north of downtown at 1500 North Charles Street, this intermodal transportation center hosts Amtrak, Metro Light Rail, MARC commuter rail, Taxis/Uber/Lyft and several Amtrak routes:
Acela: DC-Baltimore-Philadelphia-Newark-NYC-Stamford-New Haven-Providence-Boston
Northeast Regional1: DC-Baltimore-Wilmington-Philadelphia-Newark-NYC-Stamford-New Haven-Providence-Boston
Northeast Regional2: DC-Baltimore-Wilmington-Philadelphia-Newark-NYC-Stamford-New Haven-Hartford-Springfield
Crescent: NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC-Charlotte-Atlanta-New Orleans
Palmetto/Silver: NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC-Richmond-Jacksonville-Miami
Carolinian: NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC-Richmond-Raleigh-Charlotte
Cardinal: NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC-Cincinnati-Indy-Chicago
Vermonter: St Albans-Burlington-NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC
Amtrak Acela and Amtrak Northeast Regional trains run between New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington every 20-30 minutes. Other Amtrak trains go from NYC to Boston every 50-60 minutes. Coach class features comfortable seating with at least 39 inches of legroom, outlets for your laptop, complimentary WiFi, and extra storage space for luggage. Budget-minded travelers can take advantage of Amtrak Saver Fares and save when they book Coach seats 21 days or more in advance.
Northeast Regional Business class features even more extra legroom, extra Amtrak Guest Rewards Points an extra car dedicated to them, extra flexibility with an easily refundable ticket for those last-minute changes, reserved seating, and a complimentary beverage. Amtrak Crescent, Palmetto, Carolinian, Cardinal, Vermonter, and Capital Limited run once or twice daily.
In fall 2023, Nextgen Acela high-speed trains will run at 140-160 mph in part of the Northeast Corridor and feature a better onboard experience. The same infrastructure will improve Amtrak Northeast Regional service too.
Baltimore Metro Light Rail at Convention Center Station; (c) Soul Of America
Mass Transit Administration (MTA) operates the Metrorail system. It consists of 1 Metro Heavy Rail line and 2 Metro Light Rail lines. The Metro Heavy Rail line is called Metro SubwayLink and runs from Johns Hopkins Medical Center through Downtown then northwest to Mondawmin, Reisterstown Plaza and up to Owings Mills.
The longest Light RailLink runs from BWI Airport through downtown and up to Hunt Valley. The second Light RailLink runs from Baltimore Penn Station to Camden Station where it enables easy transfers to MARC commuter trains. Thus, Baltimore’s rapid transit options the airport, 2 train stations, 2 colleges, 2 major medical centers, and place the baseball and football stadiums only one block from Light RailLink Stations. Another route by the longest Light RailLink headed south goes to Glen Burnie in Anne Arundel County. See routes on Baltimore Metrorail Map
Both modes of Metrorail use a fare card common to transit systems worldwide. They operates from 5am-Midnight with an 8-20 minute frequency.
MTA is in a holding pattern to construct a long-awaited Metro Red Line light rail for the Social Security-West Baltimore-Downtown-East Baltimore corridor. It is the first of several projects needed to correct blunders by the “Highway to Nowhere” and failure to fund the Baltimore Metrorail System as planned in the 1960s.
MARC commuter rail is managed by the MTA and features two routes from Baltimore to Washington: MARC SYSTEM MAP
Check out this Youtube video by Just a Countertenor on how to ride the Baltimore Metro called Metro SubwayLink.
MARC trains traveling 40 miles between Baltimore Penn Station and Washington Union Station cost less than $8, but make stops every 5-6 miles. If you need to get between the cities faster, take Amtrak Northeast Regional trains that make fewer stops but cost twice as much. A shuttle bus from the MARC-Amtrak BWI Station runs every 10-15 minutes to BWI Airport. The other MARC commuter trains leave from Camden Station, located next to Baltimore Convention Center, then go to Washington Union Station.
Big plans lie ahead for an upgraded MARC West Baltimore Station as part of the Amtrak Northeast Corridor project.
Tours
Renaissance Productions and Tours
DESCRIPTION: Award-winning tour guides, they create special events of historic significance in period costume which enables one to relive by-gone eras; tours offered for African American Landmarks, Underground Railroad, and Civil Rights; reservations required
PHONE: 410-728-3837
WEBSITE: http://www.RenaissanceProductions.biz
African American Cultural Tours and Travel
DESCRIPTION: Visit a wide range of African American Heritage sites, including historic Underground Railroad sites, nightlife, and shopping tours; adding a Civil Rights Tour; reservations required
PHONE: 410-727-0755
Baltimore Black Heritage Tours
DESCRIPTION: Louis Fields, a member of the African American Tourism Council of Maryland leads Underground Railroad, plantations, churches, restaurants, day and evening tours, Fells Point, Black Heritage, and customized tours; Louis is a specialist on the history of Pennsylvania Avenue; reservations required
PHONE: 410-783-5469
Baltimore Shuttle
DESCRIPTION: Ride a small bus between The National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Fells Point, Little Italy, Fort McHenry, and Camden Yards stadiums; small fee to ride all day; seats up to 25 passengers on a mini-bus or van
PHONE: 410-732-5098
Carnival cruise ship at Cruise Maryland port in Baltimore
Cruiseport
Cruise Lines
DESCRIPTION: Passengers depart from the South Locust Point Cruise Terminal managed by Cruise Maryland; cruise season runs year-round and boasts 67 vessel calls sailing to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Eastern Caribbean islands; upon arrival, passengers will be directed to drop off their luggage in luggage boxes for screening and handling; please have your cruise line issued luggage tags filled out and attached to your bags:
– American Cruise Lines
– Carnival Cruise Lines
– Celebrity Cruises
– Norwegian Cruise Lines
– Royal Caribbean International
ADDRESS: 2001 East McComas Street MAP
PARKING: $15/day passenger cars, $30/day RVs
PHONE: 866-427-8963
WEBSITE: http://www.cruisemaryland.com
Baltimore Harbor Cruises
DESCRIPTION: Cruise choices include Inner Harbor, Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, Crab Feast, Annapolis, Moonlight, and Holiday; reservations are recommended; the ships include, Spirit of Baltimore, Lady Baltimore, and aptly named Prince Charming
ADDRESS: 561 Light Street MAP
PARKING: Royal Sonesta Hotel Garage
PHONE: 410-347-5560
WEBSITE: https://www.spiritcruises.com/
Baltimore Water Taxi
DESCRIPTION: These series of short harbor cruises originate from National Aquarium, Harborplace, Federal Hill, Science Center, Pier Five, Harbor East, Maritime Park, Anthem House, Locust Point, Captain James Landing, Lighthouse Point, Fells Point, Canton Waterfront Park, and Fort McHenry
PRICES: $12 All-Day Adult ticket; $6 All-Day Child ticket
ADDRESS: 901 South Broadway Street MAP
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 410-563-3900
WEBSITE: http://www.baltimorewatertaxi.com
Freeways
Baltimore Freeway Network features a “wheel and spoke” network of 6 freeways that mostly go to Downtown. Each freeway has 6-10 lanes. The network has well-designed intersections and exit/entry lanes. Nevertheless, the freeway network is a victim of decades of growth with an inadequate rapid transit system.
