Celtic Solstice 2008 Parking Plans
This is the basic parking plan for this year’s Celtic Solstice. It includes directions on how to get there and shuttle plans.
PARKING IS LIMITED at the start but plentiful in the park, so read carefully. Cars blocking the course WILL BE TOWED. Long time participants may remember parking much closer to the start area, but due to the size of the race field those areas need to be opened up for runners. Wyman Park Drive will be barricaded except for volunteers, so please follow the directions below. We cannot afford to have vehicles run over the computer mats on the road.
There are three main parking areas, as well as limited parking in other areas.
A) Parking around Druid Lake. As you come off I-83 onto Druid Park Drive, the gates to the Lake Drive will be open. Drive around the lake as far as possible. The course runs around the lake on Lake Drive, so it is important that you park so as not to impede the runners.
a. If you are early, drive all the way around the lake. If you drive past the gate and playground towards the Moorish Tower, you will need to park on the outside Wall AWAY from the water.
b. If you do not get as far as the runner’s entry gate, you will need to park NEXT to the water.
B) Parking around the Mansion House Loop – You may drive almost to the zoo headquarters and park on either side of the Mansion House Loop. Please do not block the loop by attempting to park in the little turn-around area just prior to the Mansion House. Please do not block the entry to the Baltimore City Police K-9 Facility as officers will be reporting to work between 8 and 8:30 as they attempt to avoid the race, so please allow them access to their office.
C) Parking at the Maryland Zoo lot – there is a lot of parking in this area. As the lot fills up cars may park up on the yard area. The current forecast is for rain, so look for hard surfaces instead of grass over there.
DO NOT PARK in the 800 Block of Wyman Park Drive (Stieff Silver Building). That area will be cordoned off for volunteers and race staff.
DO NOT PARK next to the swimming pool on either side of the road. That area will also be cordoned off.
Secondary parking is available on the side of the roads in the park. Make sure that you park in designated parking spaces. Do not block the roadways in anyway through double-parking.
SHUTTLE PLAN – there are four school buses running continous loops. Two of the buses will go from 3001 East Drive to the Mansion House loop. Runners parking on the loop, or on the west side of Druid Lake can walk down to the three-way intersection and catch a ride to the start. Two other buses will be running from 3001 East Drive to the Maryland Zoo parking lot. People parking at the zoo lots can catch a ride on those buses.
DIRECTIONS: (Note – if you are reading this on email or the website you should be able to use google maps or mapquest as a visual aid)
From I-83 South – Take Exit 7 Druid Park Lake Drive toward the Baltimore Zoo
From I -83 North – Take Exit 7 Druid Park Drive IMPORTANT NOTE – Do not take North Avenue which is the same exit as it will lead to some of Baltimore’s least desirable hangout areas and it is difficult to find your way out of them.
1) As you come out onto Druid Park Drive, the gate to Lake Drive will be open. There will be parking staff there, follow directions.
2) Option 2 is to go to the traffic signal just past Lake Drive and turn right onto Swann Drive. There is parking immediately on both sides of the road all the way down to the Mansion House loop. Once to the Mansion House loop turn left and go up around the loop to park.
3) Option 3 is to continue around on Druid Lake Drive which turns into Auchentrolly Terrace. Make a right turn at the traffic signal at Gwynns Falls Parkway and turn left immediately toward the Maryland Zoo. The right turn will be blocked except for bus access.