Car Rental Baltimore Airport

Parking in Baltimore

• Short-term parking is available at Baltimore Airport close to the terminals at the Hourly Garage (21240). There are long-term daily rates at the Express and Economy lots at the northeast side.
• Downtown Baltimore has many private parking garages and lots including 500 spaces at St. Paul Place Garage (21202), room for 650 vehicles at 100 W Fayette Street (21201) and more than 1,200 spaces at Bunting Garage (21202).
• There are 14 Baltimore city-owned car parks across Charm City – from Penn Station (21201) down to West Street (21230), where you can reserve a space and pay online in advance.  

Traffic in Baltimore

Baltimore’s morning rush hour begins at 6:30am until 9:30am. Traffic gets busy from 3:30pm to 6:30pm for the afternoon rush hour.

How to get from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to Downtown Baltimore

The ten-mile drive from BWI Airport to downtown Baltimore takes just over 20 minutes.

1. Leave the airport along Service Road Lower Level, merge onto BWI Arrivals and keep left onto Friendship Road.
2. Head along I-195 W for around a mile.
3. Use Exit 2A for MD-295 North and follow it for just more than six miles.
4. Keep on the same road as it merges into Russell Street before bearing right onto West Pratt Street.
5. Turn left along South Calvert Street and reach Downtown Baltimore.

Roads and freeways

Main routes in Baltimore

• Interstate 695 (I-695) runs for 51 miles around central Baltimore, joining with I-70, I-83 and I-95 to connect with Washington DC and Philadelphia.
• Interstate 195 (I-195) is only around four miles long but it directly connects Baltimore Airport with key roads including MD 295, US 1 and I-95.
• Charles Street is the longest street in Downtown at nearly eight miles, starting at Federal Hill and heading north to Bellona Avenue.  

Baltimore to New York

The drive from Baltimore to New York is nearly 190 miles and can take just over three hours. Head north along the I-95 and use the I-295 to bypass Philadelphia before rejoining the I-95 and reaching the Big Apple.

Things to do in Baltimore

The American Visionary Art Museum

Standing tall between Federal Hill and the Patapsco River, this striking building – looking like it’s wrapped in aluminum foil – is unlike any other art gallery. Since opening, the museum has showcased work purely by self-taught artists. Work by visionary artists including Ho Baron and Judith Scott sit alongside pieces by everyday housewives and farmers.

Mount Vernon Place

At the heart of Baltimore’s cultural center in Mount Vernon Place is the Washington Monument – commemorating American independence since 1815. Explore the gallery at the bottom with a virtual tour in and outside of the monument, before climbing 227 marble steps up the spiral stair tower to reach the top for some expansive city views.

The Maryland Zoo

Within Druid Hill Park – around a ten-minute drive north of Downtown – you’ll find elephants, penguins, cheetahs and more than 200 different species at home in The Maryland Zoo. Get up close to some of these magnificent beasts with giraffe feeding and goat grooming experiences. Kids will love the ten-minute train ride from the farmyard around the African Journey.  

Baltimore Basilica

The Baltimore Basilica was the first cathedral to open in the USA back in 1821. It still stands in the same central location just west of Preston Gardens Park – although it underwent a mass renovation in 2006. You can visit daily or reserve a spot on one of the tours for a guided introduction to the chapel, crypt and Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden.

Where to eat in Baltimore

Lexington Market

Unsure what to eat in Baltimore? Head to Lexington Market – a Downtown staple since 1782. More than 100 vendors sell local fare including Fadley’s Seafood serving Maryland-style crab cakes and Connie’s Chicken and Waffles that do exactly as their name suggests. Pick up a sweet treat with peanut brittle or a pastry. 

Captain James Landing Seafood Palace

This Baltimore landmark down by the waterfront is more than just a docked boat, it’s a fine seafood restaurant serving up fresh local specialties. Oysters, clams, mussels and crabs fill the menu, alongside intriguing dishes like seafood nachos and shrimp carbonara. Visit for breakfast and tuck into blue crab hash and Bayou shrimp and grits.

The best hotels in Baltimore

Inn at Henderson’s Wharf

The fantastic waterfront location is matched by the lavish style of this 38-room hotel in Fells Point. Rooms feature harbor views and dark wood finishes, tasteful exposed brick and there’s a secluded courtyard where you can join other guests for breakfast.    

Hotel Indigo

In the Mount Vernon neighborhood just behind the Baltimore Basilica, Hotel Indigo is a beautiful boutique hotel in a renovated 1909 building. Hardwood floors and the historic facade allow it to retain its heritage, while colorful furnishings and contemporary touches keep it modern.

Best Baltimore Museums

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum

The first passenger train in the country departed Baltimore in 1830 and this museum pays homage to its legacy. It takes in Mount Clare Station, the print shop and a roundhouse full of historic trains and coaches – most of which are still in working order. The miniature railway system will delight families.

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Understand the importance of industry to Baltimore’s growth and development at this museum, situated a ten-minute drive from Downtown in South Baltimore. Wander among preserved and replicated workshops to learn about the jobs and crafts that built the city – including a print shop and cannery.