Naval Academy Commissioning Week and Induction Day: getting the family around

When is Commissioning Week, and why does it matter for transportation?

Commissioning Week is the Naval Academy's end-of-year celebration, built around the graduating class. Events run through the middle and end of May and finish with the graduation and commissioning ceremony at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Academy posts each year's schedule on its Commissioning Week page.

For families, the week is a logistics puzzle. Relatives fly in from across the country, there can be several events in a day, and downtown Annapolis is crowded. The Academy itself notes that vehicle access and parking on the Yard are limited during the week.

How early should we book rides for graduation week?

As soon as you know your dates. Many families need rides on the same days and often at the same hours, graduation morning above all, so the earlier you book, the better your choice of vehicle and time. Our general advice is to book at least 24 hours ahead for any ride (48 hours ahead gets a lower rate), but for Commissioning Week, think in weeks, not days.

Have the basics ready before you start:

• Who is flying into which airport, on which flight.
• Where everyone is staying.
• Which events you plan to attend, with times.
• How many people and how many bags travel together.

That is enough to price each leg on the booking form.

Which airport should visiting family fly into?

BWI Marshall is the closest, about 30 minutes from Annapolis, and the easiest choice for most families. Reagan National is about 50 minutes away and suits relatives who are also spending time in Washington. Dulles is about 75 minutes away and mainly makes sense for international travelers or when the flights are much better.

We monitor commercial flights, so a delay does not throw off the pickup. Domestic arrivals get 30 minutes of free waiting after landing and international arrivals 45 minutes. When relatives land at different times, it is usually simpler to book each arrival as its own pickup than to make early arrivals wait at the airport for later ones.

Our comparison of BWI, Reagan National and Dulles goes into more detail.

Should the family ride in a van or an SUV?

If everyone is going to the same events, one vehicle is easier than a convoy of cars. It means one booking, one pickup point to agree on and nobody hunting for parking.

• SUV: up to 6 passengers and 5 bags. Right for parents, grandparents and a sibling or two.
• Private Van: a Mercedes Sprinter with forward-facing seats for up to 10 and room for 10 bags. The practical pick for a large family arriving with luggage.
• Luxury Van: an executive Sprinter, also for up to 10, with upgraded seating and lighting for a celebration dinner.
• Corporate Bus: up to 32 passengers, quoted on request, for several families or a group traveling together.

There is no per-person charge, since the vehicle is booked as a whole. If you need a child or booster seat, ask when you book: we will try to provide one at the applicable rate and tell you in advance if we cannot.

What are traffic and parking like in downtown Annapolis that week?

Expect crowds. Downtown Annapolis is a compact historic district of narrow streets, and parking is tight even on an ordinary summer weekend. With thousands of visitors in town for Commissioning Week, it gets harder. The Academy's guidance says vehicle access and parking on the Yard are limited, and visitors on foot go through ID checks and security screening at the gates.

Road and gate arrangements change from year to year, so check the Academy's schedule close to the date. A chauffeured ride helps in two ways: you are dropped as close to your event as traffic control allows, and you do not have to walk back to a car parked across town. Agree on a pickup point and a time before you split up, because the crowd leaves all at once.

Graduation day has its own rhythm. The ceremony is at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Rowe Boulevard, west of downtown, and thousands of guests leave together when it ends. An hourly booking keeps your car and chauffeur waiting for you, which is far easier than looking for a ride at the same moment as everyone else.

How does Induction Day drop-off work?

Induction Day, often called I-Day, is when the incoming plebe class reports to the Academy to begin Plebe Summer. It usually falls in late June or the first days of July, and the Academy publishes the date and the family schedule on its Induction Day page.

It is a long day for families. Candidates report early in the morning, families say goodbye, and the day ends with the oath of office ceremony in the early evening. In 2026 the Academy encouraged families to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and ride its shuttles, with the first shuttle leaving at 5:30 a.m. Check the page for the current year's plan.

For families who fly in, a car service fits around the Academy's plan:

1. The day before: a pickup at BWI, Reagan National or Dulles, straight to your hotel.
2. I-Day morning: an early ride from your hotel to the drop-off point the Academy names for that year, so nobody looks for parking before dawn.
3. The evening: a ride back to the hotel after the oath of office ceremony.
4. The trip home: a transfer to the airport the next day.

An SUV fits most families and their bags; larger groups take a Sprinter van.