BWI Corridor Transportation Guide: Linthicum, Hanover, Glen Burnie and Beyond

The BWI Corridor: How Northern Anne Arundel County Moves

BWI Marshall Airport is the anchor of northern Anne Arundel County. Around it sit a ring of communities, a major shopping and entertainment district, one of the largest military installations in the state and a web of highways that makes the whole area unusually well connected. If you live here, work here or are staying in an airport hotel, this guide explains how the pieces fit.

The Road Network

Four highways do most of the work.

• MD-295, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, runs north to Baltimore and south toward Washington, passing just west of the airport.
• I-97 runs from the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) south toward Annapolis and US-50, along the eastern side of the corridor.
• MD-100 crosses the area east to west, linking Howard County and I-95 with Hanover, I-97, Glen Burnie and Pasadena.
• MD-32 arcs across the southern part of the corridor, connecting Howard County with Fort Meade, Odenton and I-97.

I-195 is the short spur that ties I-95 and MD-295 to the terminal. MD-170, which carries the names Aviation Boulevard and Telegraph Road along its length, threads north to south through Linthicum, Severn and Odenton.

The practical takeaway is that most points in the corridor are a short drive from the terminal outside of rush hour. Weekday mornings and late afternoons are a different matter, particularly on MD-295, MD-100 and the approaches to Fort Meade.

Linthicum

Linthicum borders the airport to the north and is home to many of the airport hotels, along with office parks along the BWI business district. Light RailLink has stops in the area, and the community is minutes from the terminal by MD-170 or I-195. If you are staying here before a flight, you are about as close as it gets. See BWI to Linthicum.

Hanover and Arundel Mills

West of the airport, Hanover is dominated by the Arundel Mills district: the mall, a large casino and hotel complex, and a cluster of hotels and restaurants around them. MD-100 and MD-295 meet nearby, so access is easy, though traffic around the mall builds on weekend afternoons and during the holiday shopping season. Visitors often stay here to combine a flight with shopping or entertainment. See BWI to Hanover or our Hanover limo service page.

Glen Burnie

East and north of the airport, Glen Burnie is the largest community in the corridor. Ritchie Highway (MD-2) and Crain Highway are its commercial spines, and I-97, MD-100 and the Beltway are all close. The southern end of Light RailLink is at Cromwell Station in Glen Burnie, which gives the area a rail link to the airport and downtown Baltimore. See BWI to Glen Burnie.

Severn

South of the airport, Severn is largely residential, with many households connected to Fort Meade or to airport-area employers. MD-170, MD-174 and MD-175 are the local routes, and MD-100 and MD-32 are both nearby. See BWI to Severn.

Odenton

Odenton has grown quickly, helped by its MARC Penn Line station, which offers commuter rail to Washington and Baltimore and makes it one stop away from the BWI Rail Station on that line. MD-32, MD-170 and MD-175 meet here. It is a common home base for Fort Meade personnel and Washington commuters. See BWI to Odenton or Odenton limo service.

Fort Meade

Fort George G. Meade sits between Odenton, Severn and the Parkway, reached mainly by MD-32 and MD-175. It is a controlled-access installation, so identification and access requirements apply at the gates, and those rules can change. Visitors should confirm access procedures with their sponsor or the installation's visitor center before travel. When booking a ride, tell us whether the pickup is on or off post so that we can plan the meeting point properly. Gate traffic is heaviest at the start and end of the duty day.

Pasadena

At the eastern end of MD-100, Pasadena stretches toward the Chesapeake Bay along Mountain Road (MD-177) and Fort Smallwood Road. It is more spread out than the communities near the airport, with waterfront neighborhoods at the end of long peninsulas. Public transit is limited and on-demand rides can take longer to arrive in the farther reaches, so residents generally plan airport trips ahead. See BWI to Pasadena.

Rail and Light Rail at the Airport

Two rail options serve BWI, and visitors often confuse them.

1. BWI Rail Station is on the Northeast Corridor, a short shuttle bus ride from the terminal. It is served by MARC Penn Line trains and by Amtrak, with service toward Baltimore, Washington and beyond.
2. Light RailLink stops at the terminal itself and runs north through Linthicum to downtown Baltimore and the northern suburbs.

Both are good choices for travelers with light luggage heading to a destination near a station. Check schedules before relying on either for a late arrival, since service is less frequent in the evening and on weekends.

Airport Hotels

The hotels in Linthicum and Hanover serve early departures, late arrivals, flight crews and park-and-fly travelers. Many run their own airport shuttles; ask the hotel about hours and frequency, since a shuttle on a fixed loop may not match a very early flight. A private transfer is worth considering when you have a group, a lot of luggage, or a schedule with no margin.

Early-Morning Departures

The first wave of flights leaves BWI early, and that means leaving home or the hotel while it is still dark. A few habits make this painless:

• Arrange the ride the day before. Transit is limited before dawn and on-demand availability can be thin in residential areas.
• Follow your airline's recommended arrival time, and add a cushion during holiday periods.
• Pack the car seat question into the booking. Car seats are available on request and are installed before pickup.
• Keep your phone on. Our dispatch team works 24/7, so someone is reachable at any hour if plans change.

Because the rate is flat and confirmed before you ride, with no surge pricing, the hour of the pickup does not change the price.

How BWI Chauffeur Serves the Corridor

BWI Chauffeur has operated since 2014, and our office is nearby in Laurel. We provide airport transfers, hourly service, corporate accounts with monthly invoicing and group transportation in Mercedes Sprinter vans. Arriving passengers get real-time flight tracking, 45 minutes of complimentary wait on domestic arrivals and 60 on international, and an optional meet and greet inside baggage claim.

For nearby areas, see the Baltimore neighborhoods guide and the Howard County guide. To reserve, book online or call 877-609-1919.