Getting Here

The bow of a large red and lime green ship at port, tethered by long lines.

Photo by Kim Holzer

Conference Venue

ICMB XI will be held at the be held at the [Colwell Center], home to the University System of Maryland's Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), at the foot of Pier 5, in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 USA

Entrance to the conference event spaces is immediately off E. Pratt St., just east of the intersection with Market Place, through the doors facing the historic U.S. Coast Guard ship. If map apps are directing you to the back of the building, try entering the destination as "East Pratt Street & Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202".

Getting Here By Air

Three international airports provide easy access to Baltimore:

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): 10 mi/16 km to conference venue. 25-30 minute drive. 45 minutes via transit.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): 45 mi/73 km to conference venue. 1.5+ hour drive. 2 hours via transit.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD): 65 mi/105 km to conference venue. 2+ hour drive. 2.5-3 hours via transit.

All three airports have comprehensive ground transportation connections including train, bus, shuttles, taxis, ride apps, and rental cars. Information desks are available to help passengers with arranging further transport upon arrival. Traffic in the D.C.-Baltimore area can be severe, so allow yourself plenty of time to get to and from the airport.

Transit

Public transit connects all local airports to rail and bus networks. This is the least expensive way to get from any airport to the conference venue.

From BWI: Take the Light RailLink tram ($2) from BWI to the Convention Center Station in downtown Baltimore. Board the free Charm City Circulator Orange Route bus at nearby stop 219 (Howard Street, eastbound) and disembark at stop 224 (Colwell Center, formerly Columbus Center).
From DCA: Reagan National Airport connects directly to Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail subway system. Take Metrorail to Union Station ($2.50). Then pick up either a MARC Camden Line or Penn Line commuter train ($9), or an Amtrak intercity train ($10-$60, depending on fare type and service class) to Baltimore. Use the free Charm City Circulator bus to transfer from the train station to the conference venue (details below).
From IAD: The Silver Line Express Bus ($5) connects Dulles International Airport to Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail subway system. Take Metrorail to Union Station ($4-$6), then continue to Baltimore via rail as described for DCA, above ($9-$60, depending on route).

Taxis and Ride Apps

Taxis may only pick up passengers at designated airport taxi stands or counters, and are prohibited from soliciting rides outside of those areas. At DCA and IAD, ride apps are also restricted to picking up passengers in designated areas. Check the airport website to orient yourself before you arrive. Ride apps serving each airport are:

BWI: Lyft, Uber
DCA: Lyft, Uber
IAD: Lyft, Uber, Alto

Limited advance reservations may be available via Lyft and Uber. See their websites or apps for details.

Airport Shuttles

If you'd prefer to make advance reservations for shared or private shuttle service, try these operators:

Make sure to confirm with the operator exactly where they will pick you up, since each airport has its own rules about where different modes of ground transport may receive passengers.

Getting Here by Train

Baltimore is well-connected to regional and national rail systems.

For train schedules and fares, visit the web sites for Amtrak (national rail network), MARC (regional commuter rail), and Baltimore Light RailLink (regional tram) services.

The nearest stations to the conference venue are:

Light RailLink: Convention Center Station, 0.8 mi/1.3 km
MARC (Camden Line): Camden Station, 1.1 mi/1.8 km
MARC (Penn Line): Penn Station, 2.1 mi/3.4 km
Amtrak: Penn Station, 2.1 mi/3.4 km

The free Charm City Circulator bus connects all of these stations to the conference venue.

From the Camden or Convention Center Stations: board the Orange Route bus at stop 219 (Howard Street, eastbound) and disembark at stop 224 (Colwell Center, formerly Columbus Center).
From Penn Station: board the Purple Route bus at stop 321 (Penn Station, southbound), and disembark at stop 329 (Pratt Street - Inner Harbor). Cross Pratt Street to board the Orange Route bus at its stop 221 (Pratt Street), disembarking at stop 224 (Colwell Center, formerly Columbus Center).

Getting Here by Bus

Intercity Bus

The major intercity bus operators serving Baltimore are Greyhound (pan-North America), Peter Pan (New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.), Megabus (select northeastern cities and college towns, plus Toronto), and FlixBus (Boston, New York, Philiadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, VA)

The closest intercity bus stations to the conference venue are:

Greyhound and Peter Pan: Downtown Baltimore Station, 2.1 mi/3.4 km
FlixBus: Eastern Baltimore, 3.5 mi/5.4 km
Megabus: White Marsh Mall (northern suburb), 14 mi/22.5 km

None of the intercity bus stations are within easy walking distance from the conference venue. Further connections can be made by taxi or ride app, or via local bus service.

From Greyhound/Peter Pan: Take bus Route 73 ("State Center") and get off at the corner of Paca and Baltimore streets. Walk one block west on Baltimore Street, crossing Greene Street to board the free Charm City Circulator bus at Orange Route stop 216 (Baltimore St. & Greene St. - University of Maryland Medical Center, eastbound). Get off at stop 224 (Colwell Center, formerly Columbus Center).
From FlixBus: Take a CityLink Blue bus that says "CMS", getting off at the corner of Eastern Avenue and Conkling Street. Walk one block west on Eastern Avenue, and board a CityLink Navy bus that says "Mondawmin". Get off at the corner of Lombard Street and Market Place, then walk one block south on Market Place to reach the conference venue.
From Megabus: Take a CityLink Brown bus that says "Downtown", getting off at the corner of Lombard Street and Market Place. Walk one block south on Market Place to reach the conference venue.

Note: Megabus has two stops at White Marsh. If your bus arrived to the Outer JC Penney Parking Lot stop, then you will have to walk 0.4 mi/0.6 km east along the shopping center access road to reach the MTA Park & Ride, where the CityLink Brown bus departs.

Regional Commuter Bus

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) operates a network of commuter buses connecting Baltimore to its surrounding suburbs and Annapolis. See the MTA transit maps page for a Combined Commuter Bus & Rail map that can help with finding your best regional transit route.

The closest regional commuter bus stops to the conference venue are:

Gay & Fayette (City Hall), 0.4 mi/0.6 km (buses from Kent Island/Annapolis, Annapolis, Columbia)
Pratt & Howard (Convention Center), 0.7 mi/1.1 km (buses from Churchville, Hickory, Havre de Grace)

The free Charm City Circulator Orange Route bus connects the Convention Center stop to the conference venue. Board the bus at the corner of Pratt Street and Howard Street (stop 219), and get off at stop 224 (Colwell Center, formerly Columbus Center).

Getting Here by Car

Interstate 95, traveling North or South to Baltimore

Take exit 53 for I-395 N towards Downtown/Inner Harbor. Stay to the left of the road through the split in the ramp (I-395 on left, MLK Blvd on right), then move to the right lane. Just prior to the first traffic light, bear right onto W. Conway Street and remain in the far right lane. Just past the second light at S. Charles Street, the lane will move slightly left. At the third traffic light, turn left onto Light Street and move into the far right lane.

Continue to follow Light Street around to the right until it merges with E. Pratt Street. Follow Pratt Street for several blocks, passing the National Aquarium, the Power Plant shopping and restaurant complex (Phillips Restaurant, Barnes & Noble, Hard Rock Café), and the USCG Cutter 37 (historic ship) on the right. The Colwell Center/IMET is just past the USCG Cutter 37.

Interstate 83 (Jones Falls Expressway), traveling South to Baltimore

At the end of the Expressway, continue straight onto N. President Street (note that President Street changes from N. President to S. President at Baltimore Street). At the third traffic light, turn right onto E. Lombard Street and move immediately into the far left lane. At the next traffic light, turn left onto Market Place. At the next traffic light, turn left onto E. Pratt Street and immediately move into the far right lane. The Colwell Center/IMET is on your immediate right.

Parking

Beware that parking in downtown Baltimore is expensive, and the conference venue does not offer attendee parking. The nearest public parking garage (Pier V Parking, just past the Colwell Center building) charges $28-$30 per day, and visitors staying at nearby hotels can expect similar rates.