Best Beaches in Maryland
Dreaming of your next beach getaway? Maryland is the perfect place, whether you’re looking for a quiet beach to relax or one that offers lots of activities for the family. With miles and miles of coastline that stretches from the shores of Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, there are all kinds of beach attractions for everyone. Here are some of the best beaches in Maryland that you might want to explore.
Ocean City Beach
Roughly three to four hours away from Baltimore, Ocean City is the best place to go to for a last-minute vacation, road trip, or quick getaway. This resort town located between the Atlantic Ocean and Isle of Wight Bay is famous for its beautiful sandy public beaches. Ideal for family vacations, there are numerous waterfront activities to enjoy in Ocean City, such as kayaks and tour boats that take you to the nearby Assateague Island. In the summer, there are free concerts and events on the beach, such as Sundaes in the Park. One of the most iconic things to do while in Ocean City is to visit its famous Boardwalk and grab a freshly fried funnel cake, hot Thrasher’s French fries, and chocolate fudge.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore is Maryland’s only park on the oceanfront. Popular for its sandy beaches and stunning wildlife, you can see beautiful wild horses galloping along the sandy seashore or grazing further inland in the state park. The diverse and unspoiled environment is also home to deer and many kinds of water birds. The marshes and coastal bays at Assateague Island make it ideal for camping, kayaking, and exploring the beautiful natural surroundings, while the beach is great for swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, and surfing.
Chesapeake Beach
Chesapeake Beach is a small beach town just one hour away from the District of Columbia. The town’s beach at Bay Front Park, also called “Brownie’s Beach”, is a narrow strip of sand, hemmed in by the Calvert Cliffs. Because the beach is on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, its waters are usually murky but calm. This is one of the few fossil-hunting areas along the Calvert Cliffs that is open to the public so, if you are fond of searching the sands for fossil bones, you will love this beach. Chesapeake Beach is also a preferred location for weddings. A lot or couples get married on the beach or at one of the hotels.
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Calvert Cliffs State Park is a day-use park that features a lovely sandy beach at the end of a 1.8-mile-long trail, enormous cliffs that dominate this 30-mile-long portion of the Chesapeake shoreline, unique fossils from 600 species from the Miocene sub-epoch, more than 160 species of birds, recycled tire playground, a freshwater and tidal marshland, and 13 miles of hiking trails located in Calvert County. This is the perfect haven for nature lovers, fossil hunters, and birdwatchers. The massive cliffs are said to have been formed more than 10 to 20 million years ago, when the entire southern Maryland was covered by a warm, shallow sea. As the sea receded, the cliffs were exposed and began eroding. Today, these cliffs reveal the remains of prehistoric species of sharks, whales, rays, and seabirds.
Cherry Beach
Located in Sharptown and just 15 minutes from Salisbury, Cherry Beach is a popular park on the shore of the upper Nanticoke River that features a beautifully maintained beach, fishing pier, a boat ramp, and a spacious picnic pavilion with picnic tables. Cherry Beach is a popular attraction for families who want to spend a warm sunny day enjoying nature and wildlife at the Nanticoke. Pets are allowed on the beach, so feel free to bring your furbabies along.
Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake is the largest Maryland inland body of water, with almost a mile of scenic shoreline. This vast man-made lake was created in 1920 as the result of the damming of Deep Creek. Today, this place is visited by those who want to go fishing, boating, hiking, whitewater rafting, birdwatching, skiing, and camping. The sandy lakeshore beach is great for swimming and sunbathing during hot summer days. It’s very accessible, just three hours from Baltimore, Maryland and the Washington, D.C. and two hours from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Breezy Point Beach
Breezy Point Beach is a half-mile long stretch of groomed sand facing east across the Chesapeake Bay. This popular destination is a great place for camping, swimming, fishing, and picnics. Kids will enjoy building sand castles or searching for shark teeth at the beach. The main swimming area is surrounded by a net in the water to
keep out nettles and other critters. There is a 200-foot fishing pier for fishing and crabbing enthusiasts. Just off the beach is a large, shaded picnic area surrounded by cedar trees, with picnic tables, grills, and a playground for children. The campground offers seasonal and daily camping.
Betterton Beach
Betterton is a famous beach resort town sitting on top of cliffs at the edge of a long, farm-covered peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay. Betterton Beach is isolated at the bottom of those high cliffs, close to where the Sassafras River enters the Bay. The town is known as the Jewel of the Chesapeake because of this vast, five-acre beach. The freshwater currents from the Sassafras River lower the salinity of the upper Chesapeake Bay, keeping the Betterton Beach free of sea nettles. There are several shaded benches and picnic tables near the sandy beach area, as well as a picnic pavilion on the bluff overlooking the beach.
Hart-Miller State Park
Located on Hart-Miller Island, a 1,100-acre uninhabited island in Baltimore County on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of Middle River, Hart-Miler State Park can only be accessed by personal boat. At the western shore of the island is a 3,000-foot sandy beach, as well as areas for safe mooring and wading. Hart-Miller Island State Park also includes Hawk Cove and Pleasure Island, which also offer several recreational opportunities and campsites. The southern part of the park has over eight miles of hiking trails that run around a large, clear pond, offering visitors a magnificent view of Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland offers many choices for enjoying nature and the beach. These are just some of the best beaches in the state, and there are a lot more worth visiting. If you love the sun and the sand or want to live near these attractions so your family can always go for a quick vacation, I am more than happy to show you your home options. Please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 443-992-5700 or send me an email at frank@rosati-realty.com.
