Commute Times from Annapolis, MD: Driving, Bus and Train Options

by Jen Holden

Updated on: October 27, 2026

Commute times from Annapolis, MD run about 25 to 30 minutes to Baltimore in normal traffic and 40 to 47 minutes to downtown Washington, DC off-peak. The city's position between Washington and Baltimore makes it a common home base for workers heading into both cities, as well as nearby military installations. US 50 and I-97 are the main corridors, linking Annapolis to employment hubs across Anne Arundel County, Maryland and beyond.

Key takeaway

Most Annapolis commuters drive, and departure time matters more than distance: the DC drive that takes well under an hour off-peak can double at rush hour. Annapolis has no train or Metro station, so car-free commuters ride MTA commuter buses from local park-and-ride lots or drive to a rail station outside the city. Test your route at rush hour before you choose a home.

Who this guide is for

Buyers and renters considering Annapolis who will commute to Washington, DC, Baltimore, Fort Meade or BWI.

Annapolis commute times at a glance

DC: 40 to 47 minutes off-peak, 1 to 2 hours at rush.
Baltimore via I-97: about 25 to 30 minutes in normal traffic.
Fort Meade and BWI: I-97 to MD 32, plus time at the gates.
Buses 220 and 230 board at Truman Park and Ride; $6 one way.
Nearest rail: New Carrollton, BWI and Odenton, none inside Annapolis.

How departure time changes your drive

Trip-time estimates for the Annapolis to DC corridor, which follows westbound US 50, flag weekday rush hour as roughly 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Two local patterns stretch those windows:

For the bigger picture, see Living in Annapolis.

General Assembly session (January to early April): the evening rush on US 50 between Annapolis and the Beltway can run past 8 p.m. as legislators and staff head home.
Naval Academy event days: morning congestion in Annapolis can build from 6 a.m. and peak between 7 and 10 a.m., which slows the US 50 and Rowe Boulevard approach into the city.

Before you commit to a home, set a mapping tool's "depart at" option to your real start time on a weekday and compare it with the off-peak estimate.

Annapolis to Washington, D.C. commute

As of 2026, trip-planning estimates put the drive to downtown DC at roughly 30 to 35 miles via US 50 and US 301, then the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95). In typical non-rush traffic the trip takes about 40 to 47 minutes. Weekday rush hour can stretch it to 1 to 2 hours.

The worst delays build where US 50 meets the Capital Beltway, with sustained stop-and-go traffic there at peak times.

Carpoolers can save time. A 7.5-mile stretch of US 50 between the Beltway and US 301 (Crain Highway) in Prince George's County has HOV lanes, one in each direction, open to vehicles with two or more occupants. Unlike rush-hour-only HOV lanes elsewhere in the DC area, these operate 24 hours a day, every day.

Central Avenue (MD 214) and Defense Highway (MD 450) provide secondary paths when US 50 slows for accidents or roadwork.

Annapolis to Baltimore commute

Annapolis sits roughly 25 miles south of Baltimore, and the route north relies almost entirely on I-97. The highway runs from US 50 near Annapolis to the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), and under normal conditions that stretch takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Rush hour adds time, and you still have the drive from the Beltway into your office's part of downtown.

Backups occur most often where traffic merges onto I-695 and filters toward the downtown exits.

To drive less, go partway by car and finish by rail. The Baltimore Light Rail's southern end is Glen Burnie station, at 7378 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, with 795 free parking spaces. From there the line runs north through Linthicum, BWI and Baltimore Highlands into downtown Baltimore, with stops including Camden Yards, then on to Mount Royal/North Avenue and Hunt Valley.

Annapolis to Fort Meade and BWI commute

The standard route to Fort Meade takes drivers up I-97 and west on Maryland Route 32. Traffic can build near the main entry control points, so allow time for gate lines in your morning schedule. Many Fort Meade workers start early, and leaving before 6:00 a.m. lets drivers bypass the heaviest highway volume.

BWI Marshall Airport sits on the same I-97 corridor, a short way past the MD 32 exit toward Baltimore. Airport workers and frequent flyers face similar traffic patterns.

MTA commuter bus routes from Annapolis

The Maryland Transit Administration runs three commuter bus routes that serve Annapolis:

Route 220, Annapolis to Washington, DC: runs between Rowe Boulevard/Taylor Avenue in Annapolis and Virginia Avenue/C Street NW in DC, Monday through Friday only, with no Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday service.
Route 230, Severna Park and Annapolis to DC: also runs into Washington, and riders can transfer between 220 and 230 at the Harry S. Truman Park and Ride.
Route 215, Baltimore to Annapolis: runs between downtown Baltimore (near Wolfe and Orleans streets) and downtown Annapolis, with stops including Westfield Mall, Anne Arundel Medical Center and Rowe Boulevard/Taylor Avenue. It does not stop at the Truman lot.

MTA proposed in 2024 to discontinue Route 220 and fold its service into an expanded Route 230, but both routes are still listed separately. Before you rely on either, check the Route 220 and Route 230 schedules, or the official MTA commuter bus schedules page, which lists every route. You can also call the MTA Transit Information Contact Center at 410-539-5000, weekdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The main Annapolis lot, Harry S. Truman Park and Ride, sits at Harry S. Truman Parkway and Riva Road and is also served by Annapolis Transit's Yellow route. Maryland's state park-and-ride lots are generally free, but confirm parking costs before your first trip.

Annapolis routes are in fare Zone 3: $6.00 one way, or $5.00 for seniors and riders with disabilities. A Zone 3 31-day pass has been listed at $204.00 full fare and $170.00 senior and disability, so confirm the current price with MTA. You can buy both one-way fares and 31-day passes on your phone with the CharmPass app, or get paper tickets through MTA CommuterDirect. Real-time arrivals are on the Transit app, and the MTA Trip Planner maps door-to-door trips.

No MTA or Annapolis Transit route runs directly to New Carrollton station. Despite its name, WMATA's Metrobus P40 (the Annapolis Road Line) stays inside Prince George's County. It runs between New Carrollton and Rhode Island Avenue stations and does not reach the city of Annapolis.

Train options: Amtrak, MARC and Metro

Annapolis has no Amtrak, MARC or Washington Metro station. The closest rail is outside the city:

New Carrollton: served by Metro's Orange Line, MARC's Penn Line and Amtrak, including Northeast Regional, Palmetto and Vermonter trains.
BWI Marshall Airport and Odenton: both on the MARC Penn Line between Washington and Baltimore, with no Metro service.

For DC, the common pattern is to drive west on US 50 to the New Carrollton Metro station, park, and catch the Orange Line or a train into the capital. Weekday garage parking there costs $4.95 for riders who tap in and out with SmarTrip on a trip of at least two stops, or $8.95 for non-riders. Parking is free on weekends and federal holidays.

For occasional trips rather than daily commuting, FlixBus runs scheduled intercity buses between Union Station in DC and a stop at 80 West Street in downtown Annapolis, near the State House.

Highway layouts and daily traffic flow

US 50 is the primary east-west artery through the county. I-97 carries the north-south traffic and meets US 50 just outside the city limits.

Summer changes Friday and Sunday driving times. Weekend beachgoers heading to the Eastern Shore add volume on eastbound US 50, which can slow local trips during the warmer months.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge sits just east of the city, and its toll applies only to eastbound trips across the bridge. For two-axle vehicles, the toll is $2.50 with E-ZPass Maryland and $4.00 with other E-ZPass accounts, and video tolling costs more. Toll increases are paused through 2027.

Choosing where to live based on your commute

Your commute direction points to different parts of the area. Prices vary with location and corridor access, so compare median home prices in the Annapolis area across the spots on your shortlist.

DC commuters: gain the most from living near the US 50 and I-97 interchange. Broadneck and Parole offer immediate highway access without requiring drivers to pass through downtown streets.
Baltimore and Fort Meade commuters: benefit from quick access to I-97 north.

Nearby towns sit along those same corridors: Crofton lies west toward DC, Severna Park and Arnold sit toward I-97 north, and Kent Island lies east across the toll bridge.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get from DC to Annapolis by transit in the evening or on weekends?

Route 220 runs on weekdays only, so check the official Route 230 schedule before planning an off-hours trip. The reliable fallback is Metro or a train to New Carrollton, then a short drive or rideshare home, or FlixBus from Union Station for occasional trips.

How much is an Uber or Lyft from DC to Annapolis?

The fare depends on the 30-plus-mile distance, the time of day, traffic and surge pricing, so get a quote in the app before you book. For regular trips, the commuter bus fare is the low-cost alternative.

Is a long commute from Annapolis worth it?

A daily round trip to downtown DC covers roughly 60 to 70 miles, which can mean 2 to 4 hours in the car at rush hour. A bus ride can turn drive time into work time, and a hybrid schedule with fewer office days changes the calculation.

What is the nearest city to Annapolis, Maryland?

Annapolis is Maryland's capital. Baltimore, to the north, is the nearest large city, followed by Washington, DC, to the west, while Anne Arundel County communities along US 50 and I-97, such as Crofton and Severna Park, sit closer still.