I'm pretty sure my sadistic girlfriend somehow manipulated her Waze app to take us over this terrifying junk heap of scrap metal on our way back from Florida. As someone with multiple phobias (flying, clowns, massages, classical music, cruise ships and you know, scary-ass bridges!) I'd heard that this was known as a real white knuckle ride but figured I'd never have the displeasure of experiencing it first hand. Well, here we go! From the Annapolis approach, the curvature of the highway gives you a nice wide view of pretty much the entire bridge in all its horrific, ominous glory so you know exactly what you're in for. First thing you notice is that it looks totally randomly pieced together like they just decided to add different shit after people crashed through the side or something. At one point, I swore it looked like it was just straight up missing a giant chunk of the deck. I could feel my legs getting rubbery already. By the time we get on the bridge I'm begging to turn back. But we press on. The rise is steep and seems to keep going and going but you have to look straight ahead, because the span is so damn narrow that if you look to your side, you can see straight over the edge. Fortunately, when you get to the top you have the deck truss to make you think you have less of a chance of getting blown over the side. At least there's that. By the time we reached the other side, I could start feeling my limbs again and stopped hyperventilating. As a New Yorker, I've been on all the scary bridges we've got: Tappan Zee, Goethals, Pulaski Skyway, you name it, I've driven on it. But this bridge takes it to another level, a terrifying, nightmarish, hair-raising, feel-like-you're-about-to-plummet-a-thousand-feet-to-your-death level. It will be a good day for everyone when this bridge gets de-commissioned, dynamited and sold for scrap. read more

Hahaha how do I rate the bridge? Architecturally sound...check. At least it didn't break while we drove over it! Thank god! Seriously though this bridge freaks me out! It's so long! The first time I drove over it I tried to hold my breath until it was over...obviously I didn't make it! My mother in-law once told me there are volunteers available to drive your car over if your too scared...I've never seen them. Maybe, she was kidding, who knows read more

Nice view of the bay but the $7 toll is annoying so if you have an EZ Pass make your life MUCH easier and get in the EZ Pass lanes to avoid a major headache at the cash toll lanes. This bridge has low guard rails in parts and feels almost unfinished compared to the bridges in Florida so be prepared for that. Oh and don't speed and pass people like a jackass on here, that won't end well for anyone! Relax, enjoy the view, and know you don't have to pay a toll going back towards DC. read more

Beautiful view. A little scary at first but I love the view. I hear that the bridge can be dangerous at times. But it wasn't bad the times that I went on it. Beautiful view. Some good and some bad restaurants on the other side of the bridge. read more

Reviewing a Bridge?! Seriously?! Well its not in the same category as the Golden Gate Bridge but the Chesapeake Bay Bridge does provide a swift route to the Maryland Eastern barring an accident or high wind conditions. As with other reviewers, I bypassed the long lines by flashing my trusty EZ Pass at the toll gate using the far left lane (headed east bound). However, during this particular Saturday, the far left lane was going "AGAINST" the west bound traffic on the opposite bridge. With no solid barrier, I was driving the speed limit (55 mph) against traffic, on the bridge! After finally crossing the bridge and merging onto the east bound traffic lanes, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I survived the CB Bridge while driving against traffic. But in all seriousness, everyone should consider driving the speed limit with a higher state of alertness especially after a woman survived when her car plunged off the bridge after being hit by a tractor-trailer. In summary, as a Yelp Public Safety announcement / review, always drive cautiously on a bridge and if you have a moment, write the NTSB demanding safety reviews for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge be re-evaluated immediately! https://midatlantic.aaa.com/PGA/NewsReleases National Transportation Safety Board 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 read more

Our gateway to the Eastern Shore... I can't imagine how things were before the bay bridge. Waiting in long lines for a car ferry... that trip must have taken 45 minutes each way! The span built only had two lanes, the second three, and thankfully the Maryland Transportation Authority has been smart enough to allow two way traffic on the spans depending on the day and season to allow for the easiest flow of traffic. The reason I give it 4 stars is because the current bridges have outgrown the amount of cars that use it in the summer. I think a new bridge should be considered at the bay passed Waldorf and it could link to 50 at Cambridge. With that one serving DC and points south and the current bridge serving the burbs north of the city, traffic would flow much smoother! Total span is 4 miles, on clear days you can even see downtown Baltimore in the distance. I love driving over the Bay Bridge, it's nostalgic and affirms that I'm no longer in the Metro Area once crossed... of course it affirms that I'm back when I cross it to come home. If you've never gone, it's $2.50 round trip and payment is collected in the eastbound direction. (When I was kid, you used to pay coming and going). The Queenstown Outlets are about 10 miles from the end of the eastbound span, so if for no other reason, check the bridge out and go shopping. There's a bunch of tidbits and cool stuff about the bridge on their website. It will also tell you about the once a year bridge walk. Maybe that will be future Yelp event! read more

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is beautiful and provides an unbelievable scenic view of the Chesapeake Bay. It always serves as a highlight on a trip through the Eastern shore of Maryland as an alternate route (by-pass) around Baltimore when traveling north or south on Interstate-95. The toll road is able to switch the direction of some of its lanes to facilitate heavy traffic flow. This seems to be effective and a lot speedier than the Baltimore route during rush hours, construction backups, and/or accidents. read more

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Yeah right. You certainly can't cross it BEFORE you come to it. I crossed this bridge most recently 08/30/12 and 09/01/12. But I could have FTRd this bridge because I've been back and forth over it and under it (in my dad's boat) tons of other times. I love this thing when it's smooth sailing. When a lane is shut down or it's a holiday weekend, it can be a nightmare. Tips: get an EZ pass, go to the bathroom BEFORE you get on the bridge, and pack your patience whether the traffic is backed up or not (you're likely to get stuck behind some bridge-phobic slow driver). Other than that, you should be good to go. read more

Blah! There is nothing good about this bridge other than the fact that it connects the shores of the bay. It gets brutally congested during the beach season and frankly, the height and length freaks me the heck out! Still, it's part of life for mainland-Marylanders that can't stay off the Eastern Shore. read more

Nice bridge. Always a nervous tingle for me when going over it. No room for error at all. Flat tire? Emergency? Sorry. No room for any of that. The sides of the bridge, in places, are just concrete jersey walls. Nice view...if you're a passenger. read more

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Use your ezpass for quick easy on and off access. While on the bridge enjoy the beautiful water and scenery and pray it doesn't collapse or anyone gets into an accident read more

Always an adventure to cross the bridge as you never know what to expect, traffic wise...or wind wise. On a perfect day during the perfect time it is a beautiful place to be at. The boats are all over the place and there is a park right there with a sandy beach. read more

Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

If i am going over this bridge it usually means I'm going shopping in Queenstown! Or going to the beach! There are a lot of crazy commuters during peak hours of 0700-0900 and 1600-1800. Avoid if you can during these times of day. Definitely avoid after 1500 Fridays and Fridays of 3 day weekends. If you need to go East Bound on that bridge in the summer, I suggest you go online and check the traffic. It can ruin your weekend if you get stuck in traffic. read more

This bridge is so pretty, so long, and SO SCARY! Normally when it's open both ways and there is not much wind the bridge is good to go. But if there is traffic, construction, or it's a summer Friday afternoon when everyone is heading towards the shore I would not recommend it. It has to be the longest bridge I have ever been over and I am not a fan of driving on it AT ALL! It's so tall! read more

Traffic, traffic, traffic. One lane switched. OC here they come. Traffic never stops. Smooth sailing anyway

Not my favorite bridge to cross, but necessary to get to the Eastern shore of MD and VA, from the DC area. Its quite expensive at $6 to cross, but the upside is that you only pay it on the eastbound side. E-Z Pass is a must on this bridge, especially during the summer season, otherwise you could be backed up forever in the horrible traffic. The views from this bridge are incredible, and may help to distract from the scary height, which is worse if you get stuck in traffic at the top and can feel the bridge swaying. I always pray to get over quickly! read more

I rarely use this bridge, but if I wish to leave the Eastern Shore and go to the main land- more urbanized part of Maryland, it's a must. This bridge is kind of scary- the guard rails are low and one of the lanes switches directions to aid in the flow of traffic in the afternoons. The good thing is that you only have to pay on the side leaving Annapolis unlike the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel where you pay regardless of direction. read more

Can't believe this is on yelp but I have to admit it's a scenic bridge that gets you to the beach without having to take I-95 through Delaware all the way around. I personally do not find it scary. If I can offer one piece of advice, do not look down! read more

A bridge is a a bridge, right? Well, unless it's a really big high long bridge. I lived in the area long enough to know that the ferry was the only way to get to the eastern shore, so this bridge was important otherwise the eastern shore would have been just another country. What is striking about the bridge is that it goes up really high. Really high. Glad they only charge a toll going eastbound otherwise the traffic tie up could be even worst in the summer. It's really good to be a passenger instead of the driver to appreciate the engineering and the scenes of the Chesapeake Bay. read more

The Bay bridge is so awesome. Every time I cross it. It mean only another four more hour on Greyhound bus to Ocean City Maryland. Really nice had not been in a traffic cents the 90's. Alway off season and stay away from manager holidays. Don't even thing about dropping in the water. Looking forward in coming this way. This is my 200 review. The bay bridge a great place to have it and a great way to get to my best place in the world Ocean City, MD. read more

Seriously, someone needs to show some leadership and reconstruct this bridge with some safety in mind. The guard rails are meager and the bridge shows major rust and paint peel. Jeesh! read more

I have to travel over the bridge 1-2 a week so it's something I can't avoid. Having an Ez-pass is awesome so I can avoid the long toll lines during high traffic times. The only thing this bridge needs is lights at night. read more

Always love the views and imagine passage before these bridges were built. Awesome suspension bridges!

It is a 4.35 mile long structure! Overwhelming but beautiful! It is a little scary as well because at certain times of the day, traffic runs on both sides. read more