Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Chesapeake Bay is one of the most storied locations in the United States. The largest estuary anywhere in the country, it’s seen thousands of years of human activity—from ancient native peoples to European explorers and settlers. One thing all of those people had in common was the sea itself and the boats they built to master it. It’s this rich history that’s celebrated at the Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum, a can’t-miss destination for lovers of the sea and all things nautical. This beautiful part of the country is made a true vacation destination by attractions like the museum, and there’s no better way to see it than from behind the wheel of a rented RV. Here’s everything you need to know to plan an RV vacation out to the National Maritime Museum in style and comfort.
The permanent exhibitions on display at Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum are designed to give you an interactive experience perfect for visitors of all ages. Enjoy fun, traditional museum exhibits like At Play on the Bay, which captures the most recent 100 years of history as Chesapeake Bay converted from a business port to a playground. The Small Boat Shed houses Native American and modern American canoes and skiffs used for crabbing and fishing, and the Bay History exhibit explores the deep history of Chesapeake Bay.
The area’s crabbing culture comes to life in exhibits like the Maryland Crab Meat Company exhibit, which offers an in-depth look at a meticulously recreated crabbing factory with its ships, work floor, and staff lockers. The fun continues out on Waterman’s Wharf, where a replica crabbing shanty invites guests to try their hand at checking crab and eel pots to snag a fresh meal, or to watch crabs molting right before your eyes. Learn more about these and other great exhibits here.
During your visit to the museum, don’t miss a chance to tour the real working shipyard at Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum. As you walk through the many ships in progress, you’ll see what modern shipbuilding looks like in Chesapeake Bay. The shipyard is an active manufacturer of ships, and the staff and students there learning the trade of ship building are always happy to interact with guests and educate them about their craft.
If you want to really get your hands dirty and have an extra day to spend at the museum, the shipyard offers regularly scheduled Apprentice for a Day programs, where visitors can learn from master shipbuilders. You’ll experience workshops and demonstrations from the builders themselves and get an opportunity to go out on the water to see the craftsmanship at work. Learn more here.
In addition to the permanent exhibits at the museum, there are also a constantly rotating set of seasonal and special exhibitions designed to offer a broad look at the culture of boating in Chesapeake Bay. Examples include a special look at the War of 1812 and how it played out in the bay area and the side jobs of Chesapeake Bay shipbuilders making wooden duck decoys.
Many of the rotating special exhibits are designed to shine a light on local artists inspired by the Chesapeake Bay’s natural beauty and culture. Expect to find photography, paintings, and antique collectables on display to offer a glimpse into what life is like for locals throughout the Chesapeake Bay area. Learn more about the current special exhibits and get caught up on past exhibitions on the museum’s website.
What better way to experience the nautical history of Chesapeake Bay than by witnessing historical boats on the water? Since the museum opened in 1965, one of its main goals has been to preserve historical vessels afloat as they were meant to exist. With a range of ships and canoes from the 19th century through the 1960s, the floating fleet is perfect for lovers of sailing and of history alike.
At the museum, you’ll get the chance to see historic vessels like the Edna B. Lockwood, which was built in 1889 and represents a unique style of Chesapeake Bay shipbuilding that mimics the hollowed-out canoe building of the area’s Native Americans. A river tugboat from 1912 harkens back to a bygone era of big business in the bay, and more modern examples like the Rosie Parks, a 1955-era skipjack sailboat, give a look at leisure sailing in the area. Get a full list of vessels on display here.
No RV-bound vacation to the Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum would be complete without exploring the rest of what the area has to offer. Nowhere else in the country will you find better examples of classic Atlantic Ocean towns and fishing villages built up over hundreds of years. The Great Chesapeake Bay Loop is a well-documented travel route that takes visitors around the bay through cities like Baltimore and Annapolis, home to the U.S. Coast Guard and another top attraction for fans of the sea and sailing.
Destinations like Smith Island offer unforgettable experiences. The island, which was discovered by the Captain John Smith, offers ferry rides to the island where visitors can get a slice of Maryland’s state dessert, Smith cake, and meet Marylanders with the distinct, not-quite-British Elizabethan accent. Another top destination is the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark and the only remaining lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay that’s built directly into the ocean sand. Get a full list of activities and landmarks on the Visit Maryland website.
Though most are a bit of a drive from St. Michaels and the Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum, there are several excellent RV parks and resorts in Maryland and nearby Virginia and Delaware within arm’s reach of Chesapeake Bay. Whatever you’re looking for in a place to call home for your trip, you’ll find it at one of these five top campgrounds and RV parks.
The quaint and beautiful Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina in Abingdon, Maryland puts you close to St. Michaels and just a half hour from Baltimore, making it a prime resort for your Chesapeake Bay vacation. The swimming pool and playground are favorites for kids, and the fishing and crabbing opportunities on the Bush River from the park’s pier make for a memorable camping experience.
If family fun is a top priority on your vacation, you can’t do much better than Pohick Bay Regional Park over the state line in Lorton, Virginia. The park boasts full hookup RV sites plus a waterpark, full 18-hole championship golf course, boat launch, and beautiful hiking trails to enjoy. The only problem here is you might not find the time to leave for the museum!
Another longer drive from the museum, but well worth it depending on the kind of vacation you’re hoping for, Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Maryland is the closest RV park to Washington, D.C. itself. Continue your museum tour with the Smithsonian museums in D.C. and escape back to the quiet peace of this beautiful campground.
Out in Georgetown, Delaware, Homestead Campground offers another potential getaway from the everyday with its farmland setting on an old family homestead. Enjoy spacious pull-through RV sites with full hookups and close access to both the Chesapeake Bay National Maritime Museum and beach attractions in Delaware.
Roaring Point Waterfront Campground in Nanticoke, Maryland is a great option for Good Sam Club members with its discount and great reviews. There, you’ll enjoy a smaller RV park on land that was once home to Civil War soldiers and today offers crabbing, fishing, sandy beaches, sports courts, hayrides, and other fantastic family amenities.
When you’re in the Chesapeake Bay area, the name of the culinary game is seafood. You won’t have to go far from the museum to find world-class options unlike anywhere else on the planet. If you’re focused on getting your fill of delicious Maryland blue crab, The Crab Claw Restaurant and St. Michaels Crab & Steakhouse can’t be beat. Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company is the only oyster bar in St. Michaels where the museum is located.
For a full list of restaurants in and around the St. Michaels part of Chesapeake Bay, visit Maryland's tourism website.