How to get to Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry is at 2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, in Locust Point, roughly three miles from the Inner Harbor. Two warnings before you set the satnav: do not confuse it with the Fort McHenry Tunnel, which is a tolled I-95 crossing that shares the name, and do not assume a boat runs there. The grounds open at 7:00 a.m., which makes an early arrival easy: what is free before 9:00.

Address2400 East Fort Avenue

CityBaltimore, Maryland 21230

NeighbourhoodLocust Point

From Inner HarborAbout 3 miles

Grounds open7:00 a.m.

Not the sameThe I-95 tunnel

The address, and why it matters

2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. Type the address, not the name. Some devices may read “Fort McHenry” as the tunnel, which is a tolled interstate crossing operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority and about as far from a day out as a road can get. The toll figures, if that is genuinely what you were after, are on the tunnel page.

Is there a ferry or water taxi?

I do not know, and that is the honest answer. Whether a water taxi or ferry currently serves Fort McHenry, and what it would cost, is not something I have verified, and harbour services in Baltimore change hands and change routes. Do not build a morning around a boat you found mentioned on a page of unknown vintage. Check the National Park Service page for Fort McHenry or the operator directly on the day you are travelling.

Arriving by car

The park sits in Locust Point, roughly three miles from the Inner Harbor, and East Fort Avenue runs to it. What I cannot tell you is what the parking costs or how much of it there is, because neither figure is verified here; that is dealt with plainly on the parking page.

Insider tip

If you are staying near the Inner Harbor, the fort is about three miles away. That is close enough to be a morning rather than an expedition, and the 7:00 a.m. opening makes it a good first stop of the day.

Seeing the fort from the water instead

The Inner Harbor sightseeing cruise runs 45 minutes and names Fort McHenry as a sight, passing it from the water. It does not land there. None of it includes entry to the star fort. That is a National Park Service ticket, sold at the gate and nowhere else.

Check dates for the harbor cruise

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on most tours — book now, decide later.

Frequently asked questions

What is the address of Fort McHenry?

2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, in Locust Point, roughly three miles from the Inner Harbor.

Is there a ferry to Fort McHenry?

We have not verified whether a water taxi or ferry currently serves the fort, or what it would cost, so we will not state one either way. Check the National Park Service page or the operator on the day you travel.

Is the Fort McHenry Tunnel the way to the fort?

No. The Fort McHenry Tunnel is a tolled I-95 crossing under the harbour operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority. The monument is a separate place at 2400 East Fort Avenue.