Maryland is a state filled with water, and large bodies of water equate to many beaches. There are dozens of beaches to visit in Maryland, but only a handful are the best of the best due to amenities like boardwalks, unique wildlife, and scenic nature trails.
If you’d like to visit a beautiful beach near the Chesapeake Bay today, then you can find information about the best beaches in Maryland below; multiple of which are located in Southern Maryland counties.
Point Lookout State Park
Location: St. Mary’s County
Point Lookout is a stunning state park in St. Mary’s County. The park is located on a large peninsula near the Chesapeake Bay, so it’s filled with natural beauty and aquatic wildlife. Hiking trails and a historical museum are also available to guests, though the beaches are of most interest during warm seasons.
The beach area opens at 7:00 am in May through September. In October through April, the beach opens at 8:00 am instead. Complete with grills, picnic tables, and a natural beach, Point Lookout State Park is the perfect family getaway for a fun day in the sun, especially if you’d like to avoid commercial beaches.
If you want to plan a beach day at Point Lookout, then you can visit the Point Lookout State Park webpage.
Ocean City
Location: Worcester County
Located on the shore, Ocean City is one of the best vacation destinations you can visit in Maryland, but whether it’s the right beach for you or not depends on your preferences. Featuring multiple amusement parks and a sprawling boardwalk, children and teens will have dozens of activities to entertain them.
On the flip side, Ocean City isn’t ideal if you’re looking for a relaxing day alone on the beach, as it’s one of the most popular and expensive beaches on the Eastern Shore. Another neat benefit of Ocean City is that it often hosts events on weekends and holidays. In August, an air show was held above the beach, while a Jeep show took place on the ground.
You can plan a trip today on the Ocean City website.
Chesapeake Beach & North Beach
Location: Calvert County
Chesapeake Beach is a community in Calvert County known for its expansive waterpark and marinas. Close in proximity, North Beach has walkable beaches and features a boardwalk, so there’s something exciting for families and those who wish to explore the local community.
Tucked on the Western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, North Beach is one of the best beaches in Southern Maryland. The water is tame, so you won’t experience large waves on most days, but it’s perfect for those who wish to relax or walk on the beach. If you don’t live in the surrounding area, then you’ll have to pay a small fee to enter the beach, which varies based on age and other factors.
One of the best parts about the beaches in Calvert County is that their communities care about the local environment. A unique example, the Chesapeake Beach Green Team helps foster opportunities for residents to keep local forests and beaches maintained. Relaxing on the beach is great, but it’s even better knowing that the community you’re supporting does its part in improving the health of Maryland’s environment.
Start planning your beach getaway today on the North Beach website.
Sandy Point State Park
Location: Anne Arundel County
Another one of the best beaches in Maryland, Sandy Point State Park is nestled in Anne Arundel County, so it’s perfect for Marylanders who live near Annapolis. While relaxing on its beaches, you’ll get a front-row view of the northwestern section of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.
Sandy Point has a one-mile beach with swimming areas. There are pavilions around the park, as well as bathhouses with showers so that you can change into your swim outfit and wash off before heading home. Boasting a large beach full of families and fun, Sandy Point State Park is a unique location where you can sunbathe during the Summer.
The Sandy Point State Park webpage provides all the information you need to plan a fun day for the whole family.
Assateague Island
Location: Worcester County
Assateague Island is a State Park on the Eastern shore that you can visit to explore trails, watch wild horses, or relax on the beach. The beaches in Assateague are visually stunning, and you may see a horse frolicking every once in a while, too. You can’t interact with the horses, but you can watch them from a distance.
One of the most beautiful beaches in Maryland, with majestic wildlife to boot, Assateague Island has the best beaches in the state. It only costs $25 for each car entering the State Park, so it’s also a cheaper option than locations like Ocean City, especially if you live close to the shore. If you’re already visiting the Maryland shore, then you should consider adding a stop to Assateague because it’s less than a half-hour car ride from Ocean City, MD.
Assateague Island is highly recommended as a vacation spot on online forums. MosiDownTheRoad on TripAdvisor.com shared his experience at Assateague Island. He said, “Beautiful! Quiet. Not too many people. Lots of wild horses. Pleasant, short nature trails (with boardwalks). Gorgeous beach, with toilets and showers.”
Baynet Staff also visited Assateague during the Summer of 2024. They shared, “The beach was stunning with wild horses everywhere. If you’re an equestrian enthusiast or just a nature lover, Assateague Island is the perfect beach for a vacation getaway or an exciting day trip.”
To find out more about this horse-filled paradise, visit the Assateague webpage.
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