13 Maryland Beaches to Visit in Summer 2024

MARYLAND — Summer is halfway over, and for many Maryland residents that means it’s time to spend a few days lazing on the beach on the Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay or one of the state’s lakes and rivers.

With ease of travel in mind, here are some great Maryland beaches to visit this summer, as ranked by the Maryland Office of Tourism:

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1. Ocean city: Families have been flocking to the Eastern Shore resort since the first hotel opened in 1875. Maryland residents flock to the amusement park rides TrimSpend time at Marty’s Playland and eat fresh steamed crabs. Things to do: Lay on the beach, go to the movies, visit the Ocean Bowl Skate Park or play a round of mini golf.

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

2. Assateague Island National Marine Area: The undeveloped strip of land with wildlife trails is great for camping and watching the wild horses that roam the park, which spans Maryland and Virginia. Home to bald eagles, island foxes, dolphins and whales. National Geographic Traveler named it one of the top 10 state parks in the US.

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

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

• Opening hours: 7am to sunset, all year round
• Sailing – 24 hour access all year round
• Entrance fee for day use
  • 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 two beaches are an easy weekend trip. The Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa offers luxurious accommodations if you want 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 ensure a great spot. There is a concession stand, a small boat ramp, 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 man-made whitewater courses offer fun for both new and experienced paddlers.

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

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

9. Breezy Point Beach, Calvert County: Breezy Point is a popular destination for families looking for prehistoric shark teeth, thanks to its half-mile of sandy beach, a netted swimming area, a campground and a 200-foot pier for crabbing and fishing.

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

11. Rocky Gap State Park, Allegany County: The lake has public beaches, biking and hiking trails, championship golf, and fishing and boating. Climb to the top of Evitts Mountain and then hike back to Lake Habeeb for camping. Or head to Rocky Gap’s lakeside resort and casino.

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

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

Before you go, know safe swimming practices
• Avoid swimming for 48 hours after a heavy rain shower.
• Be careful not to swallow beach water.
• Pick up your pet’s feces and throw them in the trash.
• Clean up your trash.
• When you go sailing, you must have the waste pumped away at an approved pumping station in the marina.
• Remember not to feed seagulls and other wild animals.
• Avoid swimming if you feel ill or have open wounds or sores. If water contact cannot be avoided, cover your open cut or sore with waterproof dressings.