Our downtown Annapolis ultimate guide series continues. We investigated parking garages and compared meter prices. We braved all the public bathrooms. And now we’ve traversed Annapolis on both road and water to give you a rundown of public transit. Because while these historic streets are great for wandering and exploring, sometimes it’s good to hop on a bus (especially a free one) to get where you’re going a little bit quicker.
We’re focusing this list on getting around downtown. From West Annapolis to Eastport to State Circle to City Dock, you’ll learn all the essentials: what, where, and how much.
Tips & Tricks/Know Before You Go
- Download the apps. The apps will tell you the locations of stops and buses. Also, some apps let you pay for the ride—the water taxi, in particular. The Annapolis buses do not have this option yet.
- Bring some cash. We have specific costs below, but be prepared to bring about $2 per person per ride for the buses, and a minimum of $4 per person per ride on the water taxi. Buses only accept cash on board unless you have an Annapolis Department of Transportation (ADOT) pass.
- Consider a day pass. According to the ADOT website, you can purchase a day pass on the bus for $4 (cash only).
- Little ones ride free. Up to three children (5 years old and younger) ride for free with a paying adult.
- Fold up the stroller. This is important for keeping the stroller out of the aisle and to make room for others.
- Don’t be afraid to ask. Drivers are not going to stop at every stop, so make sure you let them know where you want to get off. And Annapolis is a tourist town, so don’t be embarrassed to say, “Is this the right bus to get to West Street?”
- Wear good walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. There aren’t many bus shelters or places to sit and wait for the bus.
Public Transit Options in Downtown Annapolis
Annapolis Current Free Trolley
This weekend-only trolley is an environmentally friendly addition to the Annapolis streets. It is weather-dependent, so you’re unlikely to see it on rainy or snowy days. But if you spot it, flag it down. My son (eight years old at the time) and I were able to ride it back to where we parked. In fact, the driver was kind enough to go a bit off of his usual route to drop us at the Knighton Garage. I wouldn’t expect this level of service every time, but it just shows how Annapolitans are always looking out for each other!
App: None.
Hours: Saturday to Sunday, 11 AM to 5:30 PM.
Cost: Free!
Stroller Allowed: No.
Free Downtown Shuttle
Park Place is the first stop on the free shuttle’s route.
The Free Shuttle is a hop-on, hop-off bus that will take you from the parking garages on West Street all the way to City Dock and back.
Both the free downtown shuttle and the Go! Time shuttle are ADA accessible.
The Free Downtown Shuttle still has signs that call it the Magenta bus, but it’s white.
These are free, hop-on/hop-off buses that hit all the parking garages from West Street, down Duke of Gloucester, then back up Main Street. They’re comfortable, ADA accessible, and strollers are permitted. However, it seems the kinks are still being worked out—several times during my downtown excursions, the shuttle was nowhere to be found on either the streets or the app. The app refers to it as the “Circulator Trolley,” but you should know that it’s different from the Annapolis Current Free Trolley. And finally, it is still listed on signs as the Magenta shuttle. I don’t know if there are still pink-colored buses, but the ones I see nowadays are exclusively white.
App: Where in Annapolis—Apple and Google Play
Hours: According to their posters—Monday to Thursday, 6 AM to 11 PM. Friday, 6 AM to midnight. Saturday, 7 AM to midnight. Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM.
Cost: Free!
Stroller Allowed: Yes, folded.
Go! Time, Annapolis On-Demand
Annapolis Transit’s newest option is the Go! Time Shuttle, which works like an on-demand rideshare.
Pay attention to all the instructions on the Transigo app, so you can ride the Go! Time Annapolis Shuttle.
Replacing the Orange and Purple bus routes, the Go! Time bus is basically a rideshare…it comes when you call. You can call Transportation Dispatch during service hours at (410) 263-7964 or use the Transigo App to hail the ride. But because it’s on-demand, there’s no timetable to work with. Instead, you input your destination when you book the ride. According to the website, “Once you start a ride, the destination cannot be changed. If you have not yet boarded the bus, you can cancel the ride and re-book with a new destination.” When I used it, I didn’t realize I needed to tap ‘Accept’ before it cancelled automatically. Then, when I requested a ride again, my wait time had increased from about 20 minutes to 40. So pay attention to all the instructions on the app!
App: Transigo GoTime—Apple and Google Play
Hours: Orange Line area—Monday to Friday, 5:30 AM to 7 PM. Purple Line area—Sunday, 7 AM to 8 PM. Monday to Saturday, 7 to 10 PM.
Cost: $2 per trip (seniors and disabled, $1 per trip). Local students (K-12) free during school hours. Payment accepted in cash or via a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual transit pass.
Stroller Allowed: Yes, folded.
Public Bus Green Route
The Go! Time bus replaced the Orange and Purple routes, but there is still the Green route that travels from Annapolis Mall to Eastport Shopping Center via West Street, taking you through Downtown Annapolis. In fact, you can get from the mall to Church Circle in about 15 minutes. On weekdays, you can expect it every 30 minutes, and on Saturdays, you can expect it every hour. (Side note: The Red and Brown routes don’t go through the downtown area, so we did not include them on this list.)
App: Transit
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Cost: $2 per trip. Up to 3 children ride for free with a paying adult. More fare info on their website. Payment accepted in cash or via a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual transit pass.
Stroller Allowed: Yes, folded.
State Shuttle
This bus travels from the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on weekdays. Parking at the stadium is $11 per day, which is worth it if you plan to be downtown for four hours or more during the week. The bus is $2 per person. It will take you to Church Circle at the top of Main Street. While the parking lot for visitors is on the southern side of the stadium, follow the signs for shuttle pickup.
App: None.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:40 AM to 8 PM.
Cost: $2 for a one-way trip. Free for children 5 and under. $1 for seniors, people with disabilities, students, and Medicare cardholders.
Stroller Allowed: Yes, folded.
Water Taxi
During the warm-weather seasons, the Water Taxi is a great option for both locals getting to work and tourists seeing the sights. Download the Where in Annapolis app to find your nearest stop. Once you’re there, call (410) 263-0033 and request a ride. Very soon, you’ll see the yellow- or red-roofed boat floating your way. You’ll have to get yourself into the boat without help from the captain, because he or she will be busy keeping it steady. Once you’re on, it costs a minimum of $4 per person. Keep in mind, though, that the Water Taxi is not ADA accessible.
App: Where in Annapolis—Apple and Google Play
Hours: September and October—call for hours. Mid-May to Labor Day—Monday to Thursday, 9:30 AM to 10 PM. Friday, 9:30 AM to 11 PM. Saturday, 9 AM to 11 PM. Sunday, 9 AM to 10 PM.
Cost: $4 to $9 per person, depending on the destination. Rates are one-way. Tips for the captain are welcome and expected.
Stroller Allowed: Yes, folded.
The options for public transit might be a little confusing, but we hope this guide will help you get your kiddos from one side of town to the other. Save money on expensive parking, take the environmentally friendly option, and see Annapolis from a different perspective. And don’t forget to enjoy the ride!
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