Plan Your Thanksgiving Trip to the 2024 Annapolis Sailboat Show
June 27, 2024
The Annapolis Sailboat Show (October 10-14) is an easy sell. Simply put, it’s the largest sailboat show in the world with over 200 sailboats and more than 550 exhibitors. If you’re looking to see the best of what the sailing industry has to offer, rendez-vous with like-minded sailors, or brush up on your seamanship skills – come October – Annapolis is the place to be. And while getting there can seem like a daunting task, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your trip to the United States’ Sailing Capital is as easy as possible.
Get There by Air…
One of the things that makes the Annapolis Sailboat Show shine as an international event is the ease of access for air travel. Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is a 30-minute drive from Annapolis and offers hundreds of daily connecting flights to and from Canada’s major airports.
Those looking to fly nonstop from Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), or Ottawa (YOW) should search for flights to Reagan National Airport (DCA) – only 45 minutes from the showgrounds by car. Dulles Airport (IAD) is about 30 minutes further away and receives nonstop flights from the those airports as well as from Vancouver International (YVR).
Being the US, public transport is limited. Once you land stateside, your best bet for ground transportation will be rental cars, ride-sharing apps, and driver services.
…or by Water
For those coming by boat, Annapolis is less than 130 miles from the mouths of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays with moorings and marina berths within walking distance of the showgrounds. The crème de la crème of boat space is a mooring off of City Dock – essentially allowing you to be part of the show, complete with a water taxi service to the mainland. Spots are first come first serve and usually fill up a couple of days before the show, so it’s a good idea to have a plan B.
Accommodations
Historic Annapolis has some top-notch hotels and inns. They do fill up fast in the lead up to the show, so booking ahead is key. For that, the Annapolis Boat Show website has some great resources. If the picking gets slim, Kent Island is a fantastic alternative. It’s only 15 minutes from the show, has lots of hotels, great restaurants, and offers some unbeatable views of the Chesapeake Bay.
Canadian Sailors Save
The key to keeping travel expenses to a minimum is booking your trip in advance – and the same goes for buying tickets. To even out the exchange rates, Annapolis Boat Shows is offering a 25% discount to Canadian sailors who purchase tickets online ahead of the show (type in promocode THANKSGIVING25 before checkout on the ABS website). And if you have any questions about getting to Annapolis, VisitAnnapolis.org has everything you need to know.
