Solomons Island, Maryland

Solomons Island, Maryland

Visiting Solomons Island

Solomons Island is a major boating center located at the mouth of the Patuxent River, in southern Calvert County, Maryland.

The island is about an hour and a half drive from Washington DC or two hours from Baltimore.  As you approach the island, you’ll cross the rather impressive looking Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.  The bridge is a tall one, reaching 135 feet.  You’ll get a nice view of Solomons as you cross.

Solomons is the home of the Calvert Marine Museum, a popular day trip destination, plus the Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.  The town is also just a nice place to go enjoy some seafood and the waterfront setting – it’s a very popular destination for cruising boaters.

The Chesapeake Bay Biological Lab is located a little beyond the southern end of the boardwalk. They have visitor Center with exhibits about the health of the Bay and the research being conducted at the lab, and the visitor center also has an oyster reef community aquarium. Campus tours are also available on Fridays at 2:00, June through October. Visit the Lab website for more information about the visitor center and tours. 

Other places to visit nearby include the Annmarie Gardens and Sculpture Park, where you can enjoy outdoor sculptures in a 30 acre park. Annmarie also hosts many special events throughout the year. Fossil hunters will enjoy a trip to Calvert Cliffs, where tall beachfront cliffs have eroded away to expose fossils, which can be found on the beach.

There are several lodging options in the area. Most of the chain hotels are located nearby but off the island. If you want to in the heart of Solomons Island, there are several bed & breakfast options available.

There are a lot of restaurants available on Solomons and, as you’d expect for an island, many are waterfront. Some of the waterfront dining options include Zahniser’s Dry Dock, Kingfishers Seafood Bar and Grill, Island Hideaway, Lighthouse Restaurant and Dock Bar, and Charles Street Brasserie

Hilton Garden Inn Solomons  Located off Solomons Island but close enough to serve as a good base for exploring Solomons Island and the surrounding area. 

Holiday Inn Solomons Conference Center and Marina Closer to Solomons Island than the Hilton Garden Inn, this hotel has an attached marina, making it a good choice for boaters. 

Solomons Victorian Inn.  Bed & breakfast located on the tip of Solomons Island. 

Back Creek Inn.  Bed & breakfast with boat slips available for guests. 

Map of Solomons Area Hotels

More Solomons Island Area Information