Arriving By Plane -- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (tel. 800/I-FLY-BWI or 410/859-7111) is 10 miles south of downtown Baltimore, off I-295 (the Baltimore-Washington Pkwy.). It's a major domestic and international hub. Domestic airlines serving Baltimore include American (tel. 800/433-7300), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525), Southwest (tel. 800/435-9792), United (tel. 800/241-6522), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322). To get to Baltimore from the airport, take I-195 west to Route 295 north, which will take you into downtown. SuperShuttle (tel. 800/258-3826) operates vans between the airport and all major downtown hotels. The cost is $11 per person one-way. The Light Rail also connects the airport with downtown Baltimore and the Amtrak stations at BWI and at Penn Station. By Car -- I-95 provides the easiest routes to Baltimore from the north and south. From the north, follow I-95 south through the Fort McHenry Tunnel ($2 toll) to Exit 53, I-395 north to downtown. Bear left off the exit and follow signs to the Inner Harbor. From the south, follow I-95 north to Exit 53, I-395 north to downtown. Bear left off the exit and follow signs to the Inner Harbor. From the west, take I-70 east to Exit 91, I-695 south (the Baltimore Beltway) heading toward Glen Burnie. Take Exit 11A, I-95, to I-395 north to downtown. From I-83 (Pennsylvania to the north), follow I-83 south to where it merges with I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway). Continue on I-83 south for 1 mile to Exit 23A (I-83 south, downtown). Continue until the expressway (Jones Falls Expwy.) ends at President Street downtown. Once you arrive, you'll find lots of parking garages, as well as metered on-street parking throughout the downtown district. Garages charge about $18 a day, or $5 to $8 for special events or evening visits. Parking meters must be fed $1 an hour (in quarters only). New meters in tourist areas enable visitors to use both credit cards and cash to pay parking fees. By Train -- Baltimore is served by Amtrak (tel. 800/872-7245). Trains on the Northeast Corridor route arrive at and depart from Pennsylvania Station, 1500 N. Charles St. (tel. 410/291-4165), north of the Inner Harbor, and BWI Airport Rail Station (tel. 410/672-6169), off Route 170 about 1 1/2 miles from the airport. In addition, MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) trains provide rail service on two routes from Washington, D.C., stopping at BWI en route. One route ends at Camden Station, closest to the Inner Harbor, and the other ends at Penn Station, about 20 blocks north. From here, you can take a taxi or the Light Rail, which runs Monday through Friday from approximately 6am to 11pm, Saturday from 7am to 11pm, and Sunday and holidays from 11am to 7pm; the fare to the airport is $4 one-way. For more information, call tel. 800/325-RAIL or go to the website. By Bus -- Regular bus service is provided to and from Baltimore via Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222) and Peter Pan/Trailways (tel. 800/343-9999). Buses serve two stations in the area: in South Baltimore at 2110 Haines St. (tel. 410/752-7682), and in East Baltimore at the Baltimore Travel Plaza, 5625 O'Donnell St. (tel. 410/633-6389). Visitor Information Contact the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, 100 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21202 (tel. 877/BALTIMORE). It has all sorts of information to help you plan your trip, including maps, brochures, and water taxi schedules. In town, the visitor center is located at the Inner Harbor, adjacent to Harborplace. Stop by to pick up a copy of the Baltimore Quick Guide, a purse-size guide to events in and around the city. A short film shown several times an hour will introduce you to Baltimore. You can also stop at the Downtown Partnership, 217 N. Charles St., for directions, maps, and other information. Or ask one of the safety guides wearing a purple cap. |
