There is nothing quite like a Navy football weekend in Annapolis. The tailgates, the Brigade, March On, Navy football and singing Blue & Gold at the end of the game make for a pretty special day.
But there is one thing I wish someone had told us before our very first Navy football game.
Where you stay matters. A lot.
Our daughter Lizzie was a plebe for our first Navy football game. We were so excited and did what we thought was everything right. We arrived about two hours before kickoff, found street parking roughly a half mile from Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and walked over.
We tailgated, watched March On and soaked up every minute of our first Navy football game. It was the best day. And then we tried to leave. After staying for Blue & Gold, we walked back to our car and started what should have been a very short drive to our hotel. Our hotel was only about two miles away.
It took us nearly two hours to get there.
Welcome to Navy football traffic in Annapolis! That first game taught us something we never forgot. If you are coming to Annapolis for a Navy football weekend and can find a place to stay within walking distance of the stadium, do it.
Walkability Changes Everything
Annapolis is a wonderful walking town, but Navy football Saturdays are busy. Really busy.
Thousands of people are arriving for the game, parking around the stadium, heading to tailgates and then trying to leave at roughly the same time when the game is over.
A drive that looks like five or ten minutes on a map can be a very different story on game day. After our first experience, walking distance to Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium became something I really appreciated.
It is also one of the things I love most about the location of The Goat Getaway. The house is about a half mile from the stadium. Guests can leave their cars at the house, walk to the game and walk home afterward.
No searching for game day parking. No getting back into the car after Blue & Gold and immediately joining stadium traffic. Just walk home.
Do Not Miss the Navy Game Day Traditions
If this is your first Navy football game, arrive early. Game day is so much more than just the football game. Tailgating is part of the fun, and you absolutely want to be in the stadium in time to see the Brigade March On.
We always stayed through the end of the game for Blue & Gold too. Some of my favorite memories from Lizzie's four years at the Academy happened on Navy football Saturdays. Give yourself plenty of time and enjoy all of it. You will be glad you did.
Your Home Away From Home in Annapolis
After years of traveling to Annapolis to visit our MIDN, we also learned that where you stay is about much more than having somewhere to sleep. Some of our favorite memories came from simply having time together as a family. That is one of the reasons I love staying in a home for a Navy football weekend. You can wake up Saturday morning and make breakfast together. You can prepare food for your tailgate, have coffee around the kitchen and get ready for the game without everyone being scattered.
And when your MIDN has liberty, they have a comfortable place to come home to. There is something special about cooking a home cooked meal and having everyone sitting around the dining table together. Your MIDN can put their feet up, eat, relax and just be part of the family for a little while.
When your child is at the Naval Academy, you quickly learn to appreciate those hours. That was a big part of what we wanted when we created The Goat Getaway. A comfortable home where USNA families could spend time together while they are in Annapolis. The large kitchen is perfect for making family meals and preparing food for game day, and there is plenty of room around the dining table for everyone to gather. After the game, you can walk home from the stadium, change clothes, make dinner or order in and spend the rest of the evening together.
For me, that is what a Navy weekend in Annapolis should feel like.
Less time sitting in traffic and more time with your MIDN and the people you came to see.
Think About Parking Before You Book
Parking is something people do not always think about when choosing a place to stay in Annapolis. Ask about it before you book. Where will you park? How many cars can the property accommodate? Will you need street parking? And most importantly for a football weekend, will you need to drive to the stadium? If you are staying somewhere within walking distance, my advice is simple.
Park your car at your rental and leave it there on game day. The Goat Getaway has off street parking in the driveway and garage, which makes this especially easy for our guests. It can easily handle 4 cars!
Choose the Right Home for Your Group
Navy football weekends look different for every family. Sometimes it may just be parents coming into town to see their MIDN. Other weekends, grandparents, siblings and friends come too. Navy alumni often return to Annapolis with groups of friends for a home game.
Think about how you want to spend the weekend together when deciding where to stay. At The Goat Getaway, families can choose a two bedroom, three bedroom or the full five bedroom home depending on the size of their group. I love having that flexibility because not every USNA family needs a five bedroom house for every visit. Whatever you choose, having a common space where everyone can gather makes a Navy weekend feel much more like home.
One Last Piece of Advice From a Navy Mom
Navy football weekends became some of our favorite weekends during Lizzie's four years at the Academy. There is nothing quite like Annapolis on game day. The tailgates, the Brigade marching into the stadium, Navy football and singing Blue & Gold together at the end.
If I could give a first time Navy family one piece of advice, it would be this: Stay close enough to walk. We learned that lesson the hard way during Lizzie's plebe year!
And if you can find a place that also feels like home, with a kitchen where you can cook together, a dining table where your family can gather with your MIDN and a comfortable place to come back to after the game, even better. That is exactly what we wanted The Goat Getaway to be. A home away from home for families spending time together in Annapolis, just a short walk from Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Go Navy! Beat Army!
Planning AHead? We've Got You Covered.
Whether you’re planning for your first football weekend or you are a seasoned pro, we'd love to host your family at The Goat Getaway. Located just minutes from the Naval Academy, it's the perfect place to relax, reconnect, and make the most of your time together in Annapolis. We’d love to welcome you!
