BeachMapThe Best Beaches in Maryland
Maryland’s short Atlantic coast is all Ocean City boardwalk and the wild dunes of Assateague — but the calm, warm Chesapeake Bay beaches round out the state, from Sandy Point near Annapolis to North Beach and Point Lookout. On the ocean side, plan for metered lots and national-seashore fees; the bay beaches typically charge state-park entry by the car.
51 beaches mapped · Summer 2026 · updated June 19, 2026
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Top beaches & swimming spots
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Boardwalk
Maryland’s classic ten-mile strand backed by the boardwalk, amusements, and beach patrol — the sand is free, but summer parking means metered streets and paid lots that fill by late morning.
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Assateague Island
Maryland’s only oceanfront state park — two miles of dune-backed beach with a campground and bathhouses, sharing the island (and the wild horses) with the national seashore, with a paid lot that caps out on summer weekends.
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Skidmore
Calm, warm bay swimming right beside the Bay Bridge near Annapolis — a family favorite with a guarded swim beach and boat ramps, whose lot routinely fills and closes the gate on hot weekends.
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Calvert County
A tidy, walkable Calvert County bay town with a half-mile boardwalk, pier, and a gentle swim beach — a small day-use or parking fee applies in season, so bring a few dollars.
Public beachTicketedView on the live map →
Hidden gems & dog beaches
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Assateague Island
Wild, undeveloped barrier-island sand where the famous Assateague horses roam the dunes and parking lots — pay the national-seashore fee at the gate and never feed or approach the horses.
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Point Lookout
Where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake at Maryland’s southern tip — quiet bay and river beaches, a Civil War history, and fishing, well off the crowded ocean side with a paid state-park lot that rarely sells out.
Hidden gemTicketedView on the live map →
More beaches
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District 7
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Baltimore
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Sunderland
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Sunderland
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Selbyville
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Baltimore
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Linkwood
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Centreville
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District 1, Solomons Island
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Baltimore
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District 1, Solomons Island
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Centreville
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Baltimore
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District 3
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District 3, Sinepuxent
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Baltimore
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Baltimore
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Valley Lee
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District 8, Lawsons
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Baltimore
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District 3, Sinepuxent
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District 1, Solomons Island
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Baltimore
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Ocean City
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Prince Frederick
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Baltimore
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Mount Vernon
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Stevensville
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Baltimore
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Baltimore
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Valley Lee
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Saint George Island
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Saint Inigoes Shores
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District 17, Westside
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District 1, Solomons Island
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Baltimore
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Baltimore
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District 3, Brinkleys
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Stevensville
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Baltimore
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Baltimore
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Saint Inigoes Shores
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Baltimore
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Edesville
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Baltimore
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Maryland beaches: FAQ
- Where can I see the wild horses near Ocean City?
- On Assateague Island, just south of Ocean City — the herd roams both the national seashore and the adjacent state park, often right along the dunes and parking lots. Keep your distance and never feed them; both areas charge an entry fee at the gate.
- Which Maryland beach is best for families?
- Sandy Point near Annapolis and Assateague State Park both have calm water, lifeguards, and full facilities. Sandy Point’s sheltered bay swimming is ideal for little kids — though its lot fills and closes on hot weekends, so arrive early.
- Do I have to drive to the ocean for a Maryland beach?
- No — the Chesapeake Bay beaches are closer to Baltimore and DC and have calm, warm water. Sandy Point (Annapolis), North Beach (Calvert County), and Point Lookout are all bay options without the Ocean City drive.
More United States
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- Beaches in Cape Cod & the Islands →
- Beaches in Connecticut →
- Beaches in Delaware →
- Beaches in Florida (Atlantic Coast) →
- Beaches in Georgia →
- Beaches in Hawaii →
- Beaches in Illinois →
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- Beaches in Louisiana →
- Beaches in Maine →
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