Travel Information

In this section:

• Conference Location
• Transportation
• Getting Around the Baltimore Inner Harbor
• About the Conference Venue
• About Baltimore Inner Harbor
• Travel Safety Guidelines
• Visa Information

Conference Location

Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor
401 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

What is the Baltimore Inner Harbor?

Where Baltimore’s shipbuilding and steel mills once stood, you’ll now find a busy destination for fun. The Baltimore Inner Harbor has everything, from scenic waterfront views to fresh seafood restaurants to spectacular museums. The Inner Harbor is a sightseeing hub, home to Maryland Science Center with a planetarium and observatory, and the National Aquarium, featuring giant turtles, dolphins and electric eels. The Top of the World Observation Level offers sweeping views of the city, while a collection of historic warships is docked below. Power Plant Live! is a complex of bars, eateries and music venues in a former power station.Learn more about the Inner Harbor and things to do there.

Getting to Baltimore

Airports

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is located 10 miles from the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.  

Getting to the Hotel from BWI

Light Rail

Travelers can use the light rail service northbound from BWI to the Camden Yards station. and then walk three blocks to the hotel. The light rail takes approximately 26 minutes at a cost of $2.00 per ride or $4.60 for a one-day pass.

Taxi

The taxi stands are located just outside of the baggage claim area on the Arrivals/Lower Level of the BWI Marshall Airport terminal near Doors 5 and 13. Please note that this service is available only for rides originating at BWI Marshall Airport.

Ride Apps

App-based ride services provide prearranged transportation between BWI Marshall Airport and passenger-specified locations. Passengers arrange service online, typically using a smartphone app. Drivers use their personal, non-commercial vehicles to transport passengers. App-based ride services pick up and drop off passengers along the outer curb of the Departures/Upper Level between Doors #5-12. Crosswalks leading to the outer curb are located near Doors 5, 8 and 12.

Fare and travel time may vary. Passengers should contact the ride service company for further details.

For your safety, keep in mind these tips when using a rideshare service.

• Request your ride inside.
• Check your ride.
• Have the driver confirm your name.
• Be a back-seat rider.
• Always wear your seat belt.
• Share your trip details with loved ones.
• Protect your personal information.
• Follow your intuition.

Rental Cars

BWI provides a spacious, rental car facility providing a one-stop rental car station for passengers and rental car customers. The facility is located at Stoney Run Road and New Ridge Road. Free airport shuttle service transports rental car customers between the airport terminal and the Car Rental Facility. The Rental Car Shuttle, which runs between the airport terminal and the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, operates on an approximate 8-10 minute frequency.Passengers arriving on flights can board the Rental Car shuttle from any of 3 locations: Inner Curb of our Arrivals/Lower Level at Doors 1, 11 and 16. When returning a vehicle, look for highway directional signs to the facility. For GPS navigation, the Car Rental Facility is located at 7432 New Ridge Rd., Hanover, MD 21076.

Getting Around the Inner Harbor

Charm City Circulator

A free bus service with four routes that go north-south and east-west to many attractions and hotels. The closest stop to the hotel is the Eutaw St./West Pratt stop on the orange line. Take the orange line four stops up and hop off at the Inner Harbor stop to each the waterfront entertaining and dining district. The circulator runs every 15-20 minutes seven days a week. Check out the circulator website for hours and more information. 

Electric Scooters

Electric scooters are available throughout the city. With an app, you can pick up a scooter wherever you find one, scoot around town and drop the scooter when you are done.

Water Taxi and Water Trolley

The Baltimore Water Taxi is the oldest of its kind in the country. It offers one price for all-day, unlimited on-off service to more than 30 attractions and neighborhoods. Routes are seasonal and schedules can vary depending on the weather so we encourage you to check out the water taxi website for the latest information.

The Harbor Trolley is  a water-based trolley bus service around the harbor. Explore Baltimore's vibrant history aboard our Harbor Trolley! These safe and enjoyable rides offer stunning views of historical landmarks and the picturesque skyline. Feel the wind in your hair as you immerse yourself in the city's rich heritage.

Nearby Things to Do

Want to explore all that Baltimore has to offer? Check out these resources:

• Baltimore Visitor's Bureau 
• Where Should I Eat?
• Visitors' Guide (view online, download PDF, or request mailed copy)

Climate

Baltimore sees an average September high of 80F, low of 64F, and averages 6 days of rain.

Attendee Safety Guidelines

As a general rule, please use common sense when traveling to and attending the event. If you need assistance at any time, please reach out to the ION at 703-366-2723 or registration@ion.org.

Before the Event: Travel Safety Considerations

• Be sure to write down the name and contact information for all key venues: 

  • Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor
    401 West Pratt Street
    Baltimore, MD 21201

• Share travel plans with a friend or family member, including dates, flight (or other transport) information, and your lodging information.
• Research your destination and familiarize yourself with requirements for entry/exit, visas, local laws, customs, medical care etc. 
• If traveling abroad, note the location of the embassy or consulate of your home country. 
• Inform your financial institutions of your travels and familiarize yourself with the local currency.
• Keep a sufficient supply of medications in your carry-on luggage
• Make at least two photocopies of all your travel documents (passport, driver’s license, etc.). Leave one set with a trusted person at home and carry the other separately from your original documents.
• Keep your passport separate from your wallet; do not carry your passport in your back pocket.

During the Event: Safety Considerations

• Protect your identity. Wear your name badge only inside the meeting and convention facility
• Plan for an emergency. Be aware of your surroundings. Know where the nearest exists are located. Use the buddy system. Exchange contact information with another meeting attendee. In the event of an emergency, agree where you will meet up. Call for help if your buddy doesn’t meet up at the agreed location within a reasonable amount of time.
• See something, say something. If you see something that raises a safety or security concern, please say something
• Keep a close eye on your belongings at all times.  Avoid leaving bags out of sight
• Report any lost/stolen items immediately to local authorities. Promptly cancel any lost or stolen credit cards.
• Do not leave beverages unattended; do not accept food or drinks from people you do not know
• Lock your vehicle and secure any valuables 
• Do not write your room number on your hotel key

To Report an Emergency (Medical or Other)

• If an emergency occurs within the hotel, please pick up the nearest house phone and dial 0 so that hotel security may efficiently direct emergency services to your location. If you are not able to quickly locate a house phone, please notify the nearest hotel staff member that there is an emergency.
• If an emergency occurs outside the conference venue, please call 9-1-1.

Emergency Evacuations

• If you hear an alarm, please listen to the PA system for instructions. If evacuation is necessary, please evacuate the facility immediately in a calm and orderly fashion. Pay close attention to your surroundings.
• Follow all directions from emergency personnel and event staff.

Local Medical Facilities

Below is a list of the closest hospital and urgent care centers to the conference venue.

• Johns Hopkins Hospital. Joseph Hospital (2.2 miles) - 1800 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21287 - +1-410-955-5000
• University of Maryland Medical Center Urgent Care (3 blocks) - 105 Penn Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 - +1-410-328-1660

Visa Information for International Participants

Visa Waiver Countries

Visa waiver travelers from ALL 27 visa waiver program countries must present either a machine-readable passport or a U.S. visa. To learn more about the visa waiver program & machine readable passports see http://travel.state.gov/visa.

Non-Visa Waiver Countries

We recommend that you apply for your visa at least three months in advance. Currently there is a mandatory security check period of 30 days for people whose passports are issued from several countries. U.S. consular offices now interview most applicants as part of the application process. Please ensure you arrive at the embassy with all required documentation at the time of your interview. Note that the ION does not intervene in U.S. State Department’s issuance of visas.

Conference attendees requesting a visa letter to attend a conference must:

1. Submit the visa letter request form using the button below.
2. Register and pay all conference registration fees BEFORE a letter of invitation will be sent.

Exemptions to this policy apply only to those authors whose papers have been accepted for presentation, company personnel working in the exhibit area or trade associated press.

If the attendee is unable to secure a visa, he/she will need to apply for a refund according to the printed refund rules of the event. Visa letter requests will only be reviewed AFTER you have submitted the visa letter request form for your desired conference.

Request a Letter of Invitation