Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay is a Park Service program for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It is not a park unit.
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.
About under an hour from Baltimore and 1.5 hours from Washington by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| NPS Chesapeake Bay Office Hours | Varies by day ▾
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Explore
Things to do
- Annapolis Sailing Cruises: Schooner Woodwind120 Minutes
Annapolis Sailing Cruises: Schooner Woodwind offers two-hour public sailing experiences aboard classic schooners on the Chesapeake Bay.
Opens on the Park Service site - Rappahannock Adventures2-7 Hours
Rappahannock Adventures offers guided paddling, fishing, birding, hiking, and biking experiences on Virginia's Middle Peninsula.
Opens on the Park Service site - Blue Ridge Hills & Hollows1-8 Hours
The Blue Ridge Hills & Hollows Bikepacking Route is a 300-mile cycling experience that connects eight memorials honoring displaced Blue Ridge communities.
Opens on the Park Service site - Historic 1935 Lady Patty Sailing Charter2-7 Hours
St. Michaels Sailing Charters offers authentic sailing experiences aboard the Historic 1935 Lady Patty Sailing Charter, a restored 1935 wooden ketch departing from St. Michaels, Maryland.
Opens on the Park Service site - Catamaran Epiphany Sailing Charters2-7 Hours
Catamaran Epiphany Sailing Charters offers small group sailing experiences from St. Michaels, Maryland. Guests explore the Miles River and Chesapeake Bay while learning about maritime history, estuarine ecology, wildlife, and the importance of…
Opens on the Park Service site - Chronic Sailing3-8 Hours
Step aboard a sailboat to explore the Chesapeake Bay. Chronic Sailing offers hands-on sailing experiences from Annapolis that showcase scenic coves, lighthouses, and maritime history.
Opens on the Park Service site
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- 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 river trail offers several options for paddle trips in beautiful landscapes that are rich in history.
Opens on the Park Service site - Bay Venture Outfitters, North East, MD60-240 Minutes
Bay Venture Outfitters in North East, Maryland offers kayak and paddleboard access to the North East River and nearby wetlands.
Opens on the Park Service site - Riverside Adventure Company Outfitter60-180 Minutes
Riverside Adventure Company in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania offers paddling and cycling experiences along the Susquehanna River. Visitors explore watershed landscapes, Indigenous heritage, and industrial history while learning about water quality…
Opens on the Park Service site - James River Batteau Company2 Hours
Step aboard a hand-built replica of a James River Batteau and explore the history of Virginia’s rivers. Guided cruises include stories of the boatmen who carried goods and culture along the James, complimentary charcuterie and live music, and…
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore Historic Annapolis on Foot60-90 Minutes
Explore Annapolis on a self-guided walking tour that highlights centuries of history along the Chesapeake Bay. Visit the Maryland State House, the U.S. Naval Academy’s John Barry Gate, historic churches, homes of free and enslaved African Americans…
Opens on the Park Service site - Paddle the Baltimore Blueway1-6 Hours
Choose from 30 miles of trails in the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, Middle Branch, and Patapsco River. Imagine yourself gliding alongside historic ships, seeing the skyline from the water, and paddling around Fort McHenry. Take a selfie with Mr.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- 10:00 AM · runs through Oct 21 · registration requiredTappahannock Artists Guild, 200 Prince Street, Tappahannock, VA 22560
- 06:30 PM · registration requiredTappahannock Artists Guild 200 Prince Street Tappahannock, VA 22560
- 09:30 AM · registration requiredTour departs from the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Your tour includes admission to the museum. 723 Second St, Annapolis, MD…
- 10:00 AM · freeDeltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park 287 Jackson Creek Rd, Deltaville, VA 23043
- KidzArt at TAG10/1710:00 AM · freeTAG - Tappahannock Art Gallery 200 Prince Street, Tappahannock, VA 22560
- Art on the Wall10/2405:00 PM · registration required620 Airport Rd, Tappahannock, VA 22560
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- 06:30 PM · registration requiredBordley History Center 301 High Street Chestertown, MD 21620 Tours will start at the Bordley History Center.
- 05:00 PM · freeTappahannock Artists Guild 200 Prince Street Tappahannock, VA 22560
- 06:30 PM · freeDeltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park 287 Jackson Creek Rd, Deltaville, VA 23043
- 01:00 PMThe Mariners' Museum and Park 100 Museum Dr. Newport News, VA 23606
News
- Applications Open for 2027 Chesapeake Gateways Grants ↗2026-08-27
Applications are open for the 2027 Chesapeake Gateways Grants supporting enhanced outdoor recreation and heritage tourism in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The application period runs from Aug. 27 through Nov. 4, 2026.
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Chesapeake Bay
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- Maryland and Delaware Cruising Guide 2022-2023: Nautical Atlas of the Upper Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay3rd Williams & Heintz Map Corporation, 2022Find at Bookshop.org
- Guide to the Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay and James River, and an Ocean Voyage to Northern Ports. a Series of Interesting and Instructive Excursions by Water from Washingtonde B. Randolph (de Benneville R. Keim, 2022Find at Bookshop.org
Local history books for Chesapeake Bay
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Activity guides for this park Canoeing and kayaking in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
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 daily high temperature above 77°F. The cold season lasts from November 29 to March 4 with an average daily high temperature below 50°F.
Questions people ask
Does Chesapeake Bay charge an entrance fee?
No. Chesapeake Bay is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Chesapeake Bay?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 4:00PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and it is closed on Sunday and Saturday.
Source: National Park Service
What is the weather like at Chesapeake Bay?
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.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
Nearby units
