The BWI Trail

A Recreational Resource for Communities of Anne Arundel County

Welcome to the BWI Trail! We are proud to provide the communities of northern Anne Arundel County with a recreational resource to share with family and friends. To our knowledge, BWI Airport is the only U.S. airport to have a dedicated hiker/biker trail, and its success is evidenced by people like you who have been using it every day since the first sections opened on July 23, 1994.

The 12.5-mile scenic trail encircles airport property and connects hikers, bicyclists, walkers and joggers to community resources, public transportation and area attractions. Most of the trail is constructed of asphalt; however, wooden boardwalks were used in environmentally sensitive areas to protect natural features. The trail has been built and maintained through a public/private cooperative effort that includes the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, the Maryland Aviation Administration, the State Highway Administration, the BWI Airport Neighbors Committee, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Mass Transit Administration. Rangers from the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks routinely patrol the BWI Trail during daylight hours.

The Trail begins at the Linthicum Light Rail Station, runs past the historic Benson-Hammond House, home of the Anne Arundel County Historical Society, and continues along Aviation Boulevard to the Stewart Avenue Bridge. At the bridge, trail users have two options: continuing over the bridge for connection to the B&A Trail or the Cromwell Light Rail Station; or, traveling westward to the Thomas A. Dixon Jr. Aircraft Observation Area.

The observation area provides a park-like setting for viewing aircraft using BWI, with public parking spaces and rest rooms, a tot-lot, bicycle racks and a trellis with aircraft identification markers and bench seating. During the summer months, stop there to enjoy hot dogs, snowballs and refreshments.

Leaving the Aircraft Observation Area to travel west along MD 176, the Trail crosses over to airport property at the intersection of MD 176 and WB&A Road. It continues west to Aviation Boulevard (MD 170) where it turns north. Crossing MD 170 at the Stoney Run interchange, the Trail then travels up the west side of MD 170 to the BWI MARC/Amtrak Rail Station. Near the station, a pedestrian bridge crosses over I-195. Beyond the bridge trail users again have two options. One leg of the Trail crosses Elkridge Landing Road and proceeds north, past the BWI Business Center Light Rail Station, through Andover Equestrian Center, and past the Lindale/Brooklyn Park Middle Schools, where it meets the original section of the Trail.

The second option is a half-mile spur, including a pedestrian bridge over MD 170, to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) headquarters building. A bicycle rack is located in the rear of the headquarters building. This is the end of the dedicated hiker/biker trail. From this point, pedestrian/bicyclist access to the BWI Airport terminal is by means of a sidewalk and an on-road bicycle route beginning directly across Elm Road from the headquarters building. This route leads to the BWI Light Rail Station adjoining the International Terminal. Additional bicycle racks are located in the Light Rail Station.

Enjoy!