The 9 Best Beaches in Maryland

There are miles and miles of coastline in Maryland. Maryland offers beachgoers an amazing experience thanks to the shorelines along the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay. Every year, many families travel to Maryland and its many beaches to enjoy the sun and swim around in the beautiful waters. In this article, we’re going to break down some of the best beaches in Maryland and what makes each one special. You’ll learn all about the many beaches in the state and narrow down which ones are worth your time!

1. Ocean City Beach

Our list starts with the most popular beach in Maryland, Ocean City. For many locals, the summer doesn’t start until that first trip to Ocean City. The Worcester County beach is known for its 10-mile shoreline and 3-mile boardwalk. This is an amazing beach if you’re looking to go with your kids or just a group of friends. The area features amusement park rides, lots of tasty food options, mini golf, and lots more. The area is also known as the ​​”White Marlin Capital of the World.” Every year, tons of anglers come out to the area in hopes of catching a huge fish. Overall, this is a fantastic beach to visit, and you’ll never find yourself bored here. If you’re the adventurous type, then you’ll love that you can rent jet skis or enjoy paddleboarding. You don’t want to miss out on the fun at Ocean City Beach.

2. Cherry Beach

Our next option is a fantastic beach if you’re interested in enjoying the sun while casting a fishing line. This is a small beach in Sharptown that features a well-maintained beach area. Cherry Beach is located on the Nanticoke River and features both a fishing pier and a boat ramp. The area also features a large picnic area complete with tables. You’ll also love that finding parking isn’t a major problem here as the parking area is quite large. The beach is also pet-friendly — so you can bring your furry pal with you on day trips here! Cherry Beach also connects to Cope Bennett Park, which offers you lots of trails to enjoy.

3. Assateague Island National Seashore

Are you looking to leave civilization behind and explore a stretch of land home to wild horses? Then you’re going to want to make time to visit Assateague Island National Seashore. This long barrier island is a protected piece of land. It is particularly known for its beautiful beaches where you can spot tons of wildlife. Assateague Island is home to wild horses that continue to roam the shoreline to this day. Along with wild horses roaming around, you can also spot bald eagles and foxes around. In the ocean, you may also be able to spot dolphins and whales — if you’re lucky! The water is perfect for swimming and splashing around. Additionally, if you’re feeling up to it, you can bring a kayak and sail out into the water. This is a stunning island that you will want to check out this summer.

4. Sandy Point State Park

Sandy Point State Park is a fantastic family-friendly beach that is only minutes away from downtown Annapolis. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel County. Essentially, that means that this beach is a convenient location for many city-dwellers to head out to and enjoy the water. At the beach in this state park, you can hang out on the sand and tan or hop into the water to cool off. The beach does have lifeguards on duty during the summer months, so you can feel safe coming here with the family. However, that’s not all. You can also rent a boat at the marina and sail off into the sunset. The state park also features lots of fantastic hiking trails as well.

5. Calvert Cliffs State Park

Are you looking for a unique beach experience? Then look no further than the public beach at Calvert Cliffs State Park. The beach here is stunning and faces the Chesapeake Bay. The state park in Calvert County is named after the cliffs there that are a unique orange-ish shade. At the beach portion, you’ll find that you can sunbathe, swim, and enjoy everything that any typical beach has to offer. However, Calvert Cliffs offers a little more than just that. The beach is known for being a hotspot for scavenging fossils. People have discovered prehistoric sharks’ teeth and other fascinating fossils! So if you’re interested in uncovering ancient fossils while soaking up the sun then you’ll want to check out this beach.

6. North Beach

Unlike Chesapeake Beach, which doesn’t feature a public beach, North Beach features a public beach area and so much more! North Beach is located in a small Chesapeake Bay town in Calvert County where you can enjoy the western part of the bay. The beach here features a beautiful boardwalk where you can stroll around. It also has a pier where you can cast a fishing line or simply look out for bald eagles and even Canadian geese. North Beach is pretty big, which means that you’ll be able to spread out. Also, if you’re planning a beach day with the whole family, you can enjoy the ice cream and funnel cake options all around. There are also tons of great restaurants around, such as ​​Hook & Vine – Kitchen and Bar, which is perfect once you’ve worked up your appetite swimming around in the water.

7. Breezy Point Beach

Located on the Chesapeake Bay’s western shore is Breezy Point Beach. This beach is a pretty popular spot, with thousands of visitors coming to the beach each year. If you’ve ever been here you’ll understand why. Breezy Point Beach offers visitors a fantastic experience — especially for kids. The water is clean and great for swimming, and there is also a playground nearby for kids to enjoy. The Calvert County beach also offers tons of other activities that you can enjoy, such as camping and fishing. However, it is important to note that the beach often gets crowded during the hot summer months, so you’ll want to get here early. Those that come later are often unable to enjoy the beach, so plan accordingly.

8. Betterton Beach

If you’re looking for a quaint small-town feel, then look no further than Betterton Beach. Betterton Beach is located in the town of Betterton, which sits on a peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay. This was once a fishing town; however, once the steamboat was introduced, the area became more resort oriented. The beach has around 700 feet of shoreline access along with 300 feet of water area. This Kent County beach is quite charming, and many families enjoy coming here because of how quiet and peaceful the area is. Along with the beach, you’ll find 500 feet of boardwalk and public restrooms to use.

9. North East Beach

Are you looking for a beach with amazing scenery? Then you’ll want to check out North East Beach. North East Beach is part of Elk Neck State Park. Since it is part of the state park, you’ll find that the beach area offers a lot to visitors. Besides swimming, you can also canoe or kayak. As you walk the sandy shoreline, you’ll also see the beautiful white clay cliffs. Another fantastic part of this beach is the historic Turkey Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse is located at the south end tip of the park, and many visitors come here to look at how beautiful it is. This is a great beach to visit if you’re looking to hang out in the sun, with the option to fish and explore marshland and forests.

Summary of 9 Best Beaches in Maryland

Here’s a recap of the nine beautiful beaches located in Maryland we took a look at.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Tevi Ann