Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Annapolis, MD Hours and Location

Learn and Explore

Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.

We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.

Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.

Our Mission

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

National Historic Trail

Operating Hours & Seasons

Hours for the Trail’s Main Office

Core hours at the trail’s main office are from 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday and the office is closed on federal holidays. Quite frequently, the trail office is open for business at least one hour earlier and one hour later than core hours.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:-
• Monday:9:00 AM-3:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-3:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-3:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-3:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-3:00 PM
• Saturday:-

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $0.00 – Main Trail Office Visitor Fees
  There is no fee to visit the main office of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Some of the state parks, museums, wildlife refuges and other sites along the trail may charge entrance fees. Download “Chesapeake Explorer”, the official NPS mobile app for the Chesapeake, to find complete information about each partner site. Or, visit the office and pick up a trail brochure.

About

Chesapeake Bay Journeys

Four hundred years ago Englishman John Smith and a small crew of adventurers set out in an open boat to explore the Chesapeake Bay. Between 1607 and 1609 Smith and his crew mapped nearly 3,000 miles of the Bay and rivers and documented American Indian communities. Smith’s map and journals are a remarkable record of the 17th-century Chesapeake. Come join the adventure on the Chesapeake Bay!

Directions

The trail’s main office is in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis.. Use the Rowe Boulevard exit off of Route 50 to enter the city of Annapolis. Drive along Rowe Boulevard and turn slightly right toward Northwest Street. Turn slightly left onto Northwest Street. Turn right onto Church Circle and use the right two lanes to turn right onto Duke of Gloucester Street. At dead-end, turn right onto the Sixth Street bridge. At traffic light, turn left onto Severn Avenue. The office building is on the left.

Visitor Centers

Zimmerman Center for Heritage

The Zimmerman Center for Heritage sits on the banks of the Susquehanna River and is home to the non-profit Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area. The Susquehanna River has long been a gateway to exploration and a corridor of culture and commerce. As rich in history as it is in breathtaking scenery, spectacular wildlife and soul restoring recreation, the river is a place for experiencing the stories of America. Watermen’s Museum

For more than 30 years, the Watermen’s Museum has shared the stories of the men and women who have worked the water: protecting the waterways and villages, piloting ships, ferrying goods and people, and fishing for our delicious seafood. The Watermen’s Museum is an exciting, vibrant community where staff, members, volunteers, and guests come together to develop, provide, and enjoy museum programs and to just have fun along the shores of the historic York River. John Smith Chesapeake Trail Headquarters

The trail’s headquarters office serves as a visitor center in the Annapolis, Maryland area. Brochures and passport cancellation stamps are available here.

Weather

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°For above 91°F. The warm season lasts from May 30 to September 18 with an average daily high temperature above77°F. The cold season lasts from November 29 to March 4 with an average daily high temperature below50°F.