Top 13 Maryland Beaches: Ocean City, Sandy Point And More

MARYLAND — Summer is just around the corner, and for many that means days spent lounging on the beach at the Eastern Shore or on a stretch of Chesapeake Bay.

Most beaches open Memorial Day weekend. Many towns are still hiring staff for the summer season, including lifeguards. Filling openings has been difficult in the last few summers, so it's always wise to double-check with the location where you're headed to make sure there are no issues on a particular day.

With traveling in mind, here are some great Maryland beaches to check out this summer, as ranked by the Maryland Office of Tourism:

1. Ocean City: Families have been heading to the Eastern Shore resort since the first hotel opened in 1875. Marylanders head to the amusement park rides at Trimper’s, spend time at Marty’s Playland and dine on fresh steamed crabs. Things to do: Lie on the beach, go to a movie, hit the Ocean Bowl Skate Park or play a round of mini-golf.

Ocean City is ranked as Maryland's No. 1 beach by U.S. News. Visit Ocean City, MD to find hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, and more information for a visit.

2. Assateague Island National Seashore: The undeveloped strip of land laced with wildlife trails is great for camping, and views of the wild horses that roam the park that straddles Maryland and Virginia. Home to bald eagles, island foxes, dolphins, and whales, National Geographic Traveler named it one of the 10 best U.S. state parks.

3. Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis: This state park offers bay views, swimming, fishing and hiking. It’s also home to the Maryland Seafood Festival in September.

The park offers a marina store and boat rentals, and also has food and beverage concession, fishing, picnic areas, shelters, bathhouses and playgrounds.

• Hours: 7 a.m. to dusk, year-round
• Boating - 24 hr. access year-round
• Day-use Admission Fee
  • May 1- September 30 - Weekends and holidays: $5/person, Weekdays: $4/person
  • October 1 - April 30 - $3 per vehicle

4. North Beach and Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County: These twin beaches are an easy weekend trip. The Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa offers upscale digs if you’re looking to get away from it all.

5. Gunpowder Falls State Park, Hammerman Beach, Baltimore County: The Hammerman area of the park has a popular beach and swimming area—get there early to make sure you get a great spot. There’s a concession stand, small boat launch and a place to rent kayaks and paddleboards.

6. Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County: With 69 miles of shoreline, Deep Creek is the state’s largest man-made lake, with a swimming beach and boat rentals. Check out Adventure Sports Center International, where manmade white-water courses offer fun for new or seasoned paddlers.

7. Cunningham Falls State Park, Frederick County: In the Catoctin Mountains near Thurmont, the DNR has three designated swimming areas in Hunting Creek Lake. Swim, picnic, camp out overnight, or visit the 78-foot waterfall.

8. Calvert Cliffs State Park, Calvert County: This natural bay beach is great for swimming, hiking and fossil collecting along the quarter-mile stretch. More than 600 species of fossils including massive megalodon shark teeth dating back 10 to 20 million years have been found along the shore.

9. Breezy Point Beach, Calvert County: A half-mile of sandy beach, a netted swimming area, campground, and a 200-foot pier for crabbing and fishing make Breezy Point popular with families who also like to search the beach for prehistoric sharks’ teeth.

10. Rocky Point and Hart-Miller Island State Park, Baltimore County: Rocky Point Golf Course is the only waterfront golf course on the western side of the Chesapeake. Hawk Cove and Pleasure Island at Hart-Miller Island State Park — accessible by a short boat trip — offer beach camping.

11. Rocky Gap State Park, Allegany County: The lake has public beaches, bike and hike trails, championship golfing, and fishing and boating. Climb to the top of Evitts Mountain, then hike back to Lake Habeeb to camp out. Or head to Rocky Gap's resort and casino on the lake.

12. Matapeake Beach, Eastern Shore: Just across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shore, Matapeake has great trails and a public beach (including a separate dog beach). Visit Matapeake Beach & Club House, a restored 1930s ferry terminal, or nearby Stevensville Crab Shack.

13. Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary's County: This peninsula formed by the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River was the site of a Confederate prison camp during the Civil War. A museum, monuments and mysterious hauntings recall its notorious past.

Residents and visitors can check the state's interactive beach map to find the current conditions at a favorite beach. Data is available during Maryland’s beach season, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Maryland Healthy Beaches app is available for Android (Google Play) and on the state website so you can check conditions on your phone.

Use the interactive map to find the current conditions at your favorite beaches. To always stay informed, download our new smartphone app or sign up for one of our text or email alerts. Data is available during Maryland’s beach season, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Be sure to avoid swimming near storm drains along the beach and within 48 hours of a heavy rain event, or until the water clears.

Know Before You Go, Safe Swimming Practices
• Be sure to avoid swimming within 48 hours of a heavy rain event.
• Try not to swallow beach water.
• Pick up waste left by your pets and dispose of it in the trash.
• Pick up your trash.
• When boating, use an approved marina pump-out station for waste disposal.
• Remember not to feed seagulls or other wildlife.
• Avoid swimming if you feel ill or have open cuts or sores. If water contact can’t be avoided, cover your open cut or sore with waterproof bandages.