About Chesapeake Bay
Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast region supports recreation, business, tourism, learning, and a thriving natural resource for all to enjoy.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Annapolis, Maryland has a warm humid temperate climate with hot summers and no dry season. Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 29°F to 86°F and is rarely below 19°F or above 91°F. The warm season lasts from May 30 to September 18 with an average…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
All Park Hours above refers to the core hours the Chesapeake Bay Program Office is open. This program office manages the National Park Service's responsibilities under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative and the Chesapeake Gateways & Water Trails Network. The office core hours are from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. The office is closed on federal holidays. Quite frequently, the office is open for business at least one hour earlier and one hour later than core hours.
Activities
Getting There
The Chesapeake Bay office is located off of Aris T. Allen Blvd in Annapolis, Maryland. Traveling east on Route 50, take the exit towards Riva road and 665, Aris T. Allen Blvd. Continue on 665 to Forest drive. Our office is on the left through the first light, across from the Safeway.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Rappahannock Adventures
Rappahannock Adventures offers guided paddling, fishing, birding, hiking, and biking experiences on Virginia's Middle Peninsula. Visitors explore the Rappahannock River…
Blue Ridge Hills & Hollows
The Blue Ridge Hills & Hollows Bikepacking Route is a 300-mile cycling experience that connects eight memorials honoring displaced Blue…
Historic 1935 Lady Patty Sailing Charter
St. Michaels Sailing Charters offers authentic sailing experiences aboard the Historic 1935 Lady Patty Sailing Charter, a restored 1935 wooden…
Catamaran Epiphany Sailing Charters
Catamaran Epiphany Sailing Charters offers small group sailing experiences from St. Michaels, Maryland. Guests explore the Miles River and Chesapeake…
Chronic Sailing
Step aboard a sailboat to explore the Chesapeake Bay. Chronic Sailing offers hands-on sailing experiences from Annapolis that showcase scenic…
Paddle the Sassafras River Water Trail
The Sassafras River Water Trail is a 22 mile-long route located in the Upper region of the Chesapeake Bay. The…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Bay Venture Outfitters, North East, MD
Bay Venture Outfitters in North East, Maryland offers kayak and paddleboard access to the North East River and nearby wetlands. Visitors explore…
Riverside Adventure Company Outfitter
Riverside Adventure Company in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania offers paddling and cycling experiences along the Susquehanna River. Visitors explore watershed landscapes, Indigenous heritage,…
James River Batteau Company
Step aboard a hand-built replica of a James River Batteau and explore the history of Virginia’s rivers. Guided cruises include stories of…
Annapolis Sailing Cruises: Schooner Woodwind
Annapolis Sailing Cruises: Schooner Woodwind offers two-hour public sailing experiences aboard classic schooners on the Chesapeake Bay. Visitors help raise sails, steer,…
Explore Historic Annapolis on Foot
Explore Annapolis on a self-guided walking tour that highlights centuries of history along the Chesapeake Bay. Visit the Maryland State House, the…
Paddle the Baltimore Blueway
Choose from 30 miles of trails in the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, Middle Branch, and Patapsco River. Imagine yourself gliding alongside historic…
Paddle the Potomac River
Beginning at Jennings Randolph Lake to the mouth of the Potomac, you may choose to paddle the 355 miles to the Chesapeake…
Paddle the Patuxent River Water Trail
The Patuxent River Water Trail offers visitors the opportunity to paddle the river, camp along its banks and visit its numerous parks,…
Paddle the Anacostia Water Trail
Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island…
Paddle to Sunken Ships at Dutch Gap Conservation Area
Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a wooded area in Chesterfield County, Virginia that surrounds Henricus, the second successful English settlement in Virginia.…
Paddle the Susquehanna
The Susquehanna River is the longest river in the Eastern United States and the 16th longest in the country at 444 miles…
Paddle Leonardtown to Colton's Point
Paddle approximately 12 miles from Leonardtown to Colton's Point via kayak or canoe, stopping at Newtowne Neck State Park. The trip is…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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