A Baltimore suburb that is more than just the airport and the highways
Glen Burnie is a small town, home to just over 71,000 people. It is threaded through by winding suburban streets and connected to its larger neighbor Baltimore by several highways. “Glen Burnie has been our best-kept secret,” says Realtor Lisa Gilmore with Keller Williams Flagship of Maryland, who has 18 years of experience and lives in the city. “Traffic is getting worse now because more people know about it, but it’s right by all the highways, so you can get anywhere very easily.” The town’s largest employers are the airport and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, ranked as the No. 5 hospital in the state. In addition, Glen Burnie’s favorable location between Baltimore and the nation’s capital and its proximity to Baltimore Washington International Airport make it an appealing destination for commuters. “There have been times that it only takes me 30 minutes to get to D.C.,” says Lisa’s husband, Realtor Lonnie Gilmore, also with Keller Williams Flagship. “Going to Baltimore, it’s even quicker. You don’t have to drive, because there are trains either way. But it’s right in the middle of everything. People who don’t live here may not realize that just looking at a map.” But while it appeals primarily to residents who work elsewhere and is often associated with the airport, its shaded green lawns, water access and understated sense of community help to make Glen Burnie anything but flyover territory.
Modest homes and waterfront properties, with some in the BWI flight path
Clusters of apartments, townhouses and condos sit north of Furnace Creek, framed to the north and west by highways and to the east by shopping centers. These tend to cost anywhere from $225,000 to $270,000. However, most of Glen Burnie is made up of detached single-family homes built between 1950 and 1970. Ranch-style houses, Cape Cods and cottages with Craftsman features are commonplace, although two-story Colonial Revivals constructed as recently as 2024 can also be found. Some subdivisions are lined alongside creeks and tributaries, offering docks for residents to take boats out on the rivers. Prices can range from $250,000 to $500,000 for inland homes, with waterfront properties reaching price points of $900,000 and up. While some communities are in the flight path of Baltimore Washington International Airport, most residents are not bothered by the sound. “Honestly, the planes are like white noise,” Lonnie Gilmore says. “We live 10 minutes from the airport, and we don’t even notice it.”
Glen Burnie has many new construction developments to choose from.
There are many newly constructed townhomes in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
Homes in Glen Burnie, Maryland have a sleek and modern appeal.
Waterfront properties in Glen Burnie offer a close retreat from modern Baltimore city life.
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River access and unique playgrounds with airplanes overhead
Glen Burnie offers several options for outdoor and indoor recreation. The city is close to the Patapsco, Magothy and Severn Rivers, so boating and fishing are common pastimes. Boat owners can keep their vessels at the Marley Creek Marina, although there are many ramps available to the public in nearby Pasadena as well. Sawmill Creek Park on Dorsey Road is home to several baseball diamonds, tennis courts and a skatepark. Sawmill Creek Park is also just a few blocks from the start of the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, a 13-mile bike path that traces the path of a former railroad from Glen Burnie to Annapolis. There are many parks with playgrounds, but Friendship Park is unique as it is located at the end of the Baltimore Washington International Airport runway, making it a prime spot for aviation enthusiasts. “Friendship Park is cool because they have real mini-golf. It’s not putt-putt,” Lonnie Gilmore says. “So you can take the kids over there and enjoy that while the planes are flying overhead.” The park is also the starting point for the BWI Trail, a paved 12-mile loop around the airport.
Glen Burnie has plenty of areas to cruise around on a sunny day.
Locals can enjoy the Skatepark at Sawmill Creek Park in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
From sunrise to sunset, Sawmill Creek Park provides top tier amenities for free public use.
BWI is located a few minutes east of Glen Burnie.
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Exciting year-round events in Baltimore
Residents of Glen Burnie will often head north to Baltimore for events. Sports fans gather to cheer on the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles or to attend the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the prestigious Triple Crown series. Artscape, regarded as the largest free outdoor festival in the country, is held in August and features live music, craft shows, exhibitions by local artists and food stalls. From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor transforms into a German Christmas Village, complete with a traditional 30-foot-tall wooden pyramid tower stocked with mulled wine vendors.
Camden Yards is a quick walk from the Inner Harbor, and is home to the Baltimore Orioles.
Pimlico Racetrack is being demolished and rebuilt, and will host the 150th Preakness in May '25.
Artscape is one of the largest art festivals in the US and takes place in Baltimore, MD.
Enjoy the Christmas spirit this winter in Baltimore, Maryland at the Christmas Village.
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Shopping centers, a flea market and Oprah's favorite crab cakes
Casual eateries, grocery stores and big-box retailers line either side of Maryland Route 2, the highway that bisects Glen Burnie. Residents can choose between Giant Food, Target Grocery, Aldi and Lidl. There’s also Marley Station Mall, which houses 40 retailers and the local Horizon Cinemas movie theater. The 8th Avenue Flea Market, held every weekend, is open to all vendors looking to sell their items, from handmade crafts to extra items that have been cluttering up the garage. Given the town’s proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, seafood restaurants are common in Glen Burnie. Highlights include Pappas, where the crabcakes were featured on “Oprah’s Favorite Things” in 2015. “The crabcakes at Pappas are great,” says Lisa Gilmore. “But there’s also G and M Restaurant. Everyone loves G and M. People come down from other counties just to get the crabcakes there.”
Stop by and shop for your favorite brands at the Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie.
Find a unique gift at Antiques and Collectables in Glen Burnie.
The 8th Ave flea market in Glen Burnie has something for everyone.
Head to Pappa's Restaurant in Glen Burnie for their double crab cake platter and house brew.
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Access to the Baltimore Beltway, public trains and BWI Airport
Glen Burnie is often a top choice with commuters due to its access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Interstate 695, also known as the Baltimore Beltway, loops through the northeastern portion of the town; however, due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, Interstate 895 is the most direct route into the city. Glen Burnie is the southernmost stop on the Baltimore Light RailLink line, so folks can make the trip into the city in about 30 minutes. Interstate 97 and Maryland Route 2 both head south 20 miles to Annapolis, while Maryland Route 32 is the quickest way to make the 35-mile drive to Washington, D.C. Those who prefer not to deal with the notorious D.C. traffic can instead opt to take the MARC train from Baltimore Washington International Airport, which is just 7 miles up Dorsey Road.
Well-rated schools and Academic Influence's top community college
The Anne Arundel County Public School district serves Glen Burnie and scores an overall B-plus from Niche. The district has a total of 126 schools, including 13 high schools. Students in Glen Burnie may attend one of four high schools, all of which earn a B or higher. Old Mill High receives a B-plus and serves students on the south side of town. Glen Burnie is also home to Monarch Academy’s Leroy Merritt Campus, a public, tuition-free charter school for students in kindergarten through grade 8. Faith-based private schools include Monsignor Slade Catholic School, which receives an A-plus. For post-secondary education, Anne Arundel Community College is just 10 miles down Route 2. In 2021, Academic Influence ranked AACC as the best community college in the country.
North Glen Elementary School
in Glen Burnie embraces a culture of learning.
Old Mill High School is a top rated public school in Maryland.
Monarch Academy is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school serving grades K-8.
Monsignor Slade Catholic School in Glen Burnie embraces a culture of learning.
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Crime rates in Anne Arundel County fall within and below the national average
Glen Burnie is in Anne Arundel County, which experiences violent crime at a rate of 101 incidents per 100,000 individuals, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer. This rate sits slightly below the national average. Property crime in the county falls more in line with the average, occurring at a rate of 173 incidents per 100,000 residents as of December 2023.
Sharon Daugherty is a leading resort and luxury real estate specialist, recognized throughout Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia for her industry expertise. Her high energy and sharp business acumen have propelled her to the forefront of the coastal real estate market.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
