10 Best Beaches Near Baltimore

Baltimore Beach is one of the few beaches within the city limits, but it’s not actually a real beach at all. Rather, it is a hotspot for competitive sports such as volleyball and netball. Situated right on the Inner Harbour, Baltimore Beach plays host to the East Coast's largest beach volleyball leagues while the Baltimore skyline towers in the backdrop.

You don’t have to be hamstrung to playing volleyball, as many folks visit Baltimore Beach just to lie on the sand and enjoy a bite from a local food truck. The beach is open to everyone and offers a great location to work on your tan without having to drive outside the city.

North Point State Park offers a tranquil beach setting and an abundance of outdoor activities. Just 30 minutes from downtown Baltimore, the 1,300-acre park was once the site of an early 20^th-century amusement park, but is now Baltimore's closest natural refuge.

The beach area is only accessible from the Trolley Pavilion parking, which fills quickly in the summer. There are no parasol or beach chair rentals, so make sure to bring your own along with a good book. The tranquil Chesapeake Bay sprawls in front of you, and the shallow waters are ideal for a casual dip. If you enjoy more than just swimming, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, and biking are among the park’s popular activities.

Hammerman Beach is on the kayak-friendly Gunpowder River, around a 30-minute drive northeast of Baltimore. The beach is a half-mile long, with many concessions stands, rentable picnic shelters, and a dense forest providing beachgoers refuge from the summer heat.

Bring your own small boat, or rent a kayak or SUP from the local supplier to enjoy a half-day navigating up the river. For a real treat, come early to catch a jaw-dropping sunrise over where the mouth of the river meets the Chesapeake Bay. Make sure to call ahead for directions – there are numerous areas of the park, so it’s easy to get lost.

Sandy Point Beach comes with dynamite views of Chesapeake Bay, making it one of the best picnic spots in Maryland. Situated just minutes from Annapolis, the 2-mile sand-only beach has attracted locals since the 1950s.

Swimming in its calm waters is a popular option, and the public bathhouses with showers and beach supplies make it ideal for a family fun-filled day out. Try your hand at crabbing or rent a boat from the marina to get a closer look at Sand Point Lighthouse and looming Chesapeake Bay Bridge. There is a minimal, per-vehicle fee to enter the beach area, but it’s worth every penny.

Kent Island is a popular beach getaway that sits in the middle of Chesapeake Bay, between the mainland and the Delmarva Peninsula. A mere hour-long drive from Baltimore drops you into a world of New England-influenced seafood restaurants, nature trails, and pristine beaches.

Matapeake Beach is the treasure of the island, welcoming sun-seekers with kayaking, fishing, a farmer’s market, and great hiking opportunities. Pet owners need not worry as their furry friends are welcome at the nearby dog beach. Head north to Terrapin Beach if you would rather escape the crowds and enjoy a secluded day out. Don’t leave Kent Island without grabbing a plate of fresh crab at Stevensville Crab Shack.

Betterton Beach is a prime destination for a relaxing weekend away, with 5 acres of landscaped beach and quaint Victorian homes dotting the landscape. Picnic areas and large trees offer shade while you soak up the views that dub this beach the ‘Jewel of the Chesapeake’. Although not typically know as a swimming beach, visitors often spend the afternoon laying on the edge of the water.

The quaint town of Betterton – a 2-hour drive from Baltimore – is home to only 2 restaurants and lacks any convenience stores, so come prepared. The lack of infrastructure eliminates big summer crowds, making it a huge draw for laidback sun-seekers.

With a name like Chesapeake Beach, this resort town must be an all-star destination, and it sure doesn’t disappoint. The main attraction is Bayfront Park (or Brownies Beach) – a secluded beach on the south side of town that is surrounded by cliffs and covered in shells and sea glass. Out-of-towners have to pay a small fee to enter, but rumour has it that shark teeth have even been found here, so it’s well worth the ticket price.

If you want to spend a night, many Chesapeake Beach hotels offer excellent rooms with unmatched views. Or dive into the local history by visiting the Chesapeake Beach Rail Trail – a former train that used to shuttle tourists back in the early 1900s.

Calvert Cliffs State Park is home to a grand, 0.25-mile beach that’s excellent for swimming, hiking, and uncovering fossils. Located some 80 miles south of Baltimore, the park marks the end of the dramatic eroding cliffs from which it was named. Why most people come to the beach park is for what the erosion has uncovered. A slew of prehistoric fossil remains of megalodon sharks, whales, and seabirds the size of aeroplanes.

Access to the park is restricted to day-use only, requiring a minimal $5 per night fee – make sure to bring cash. If you want to stay overnight, Calvert Cliffs Campground is just north of the park.

A weekend trip to Ocean City – locally referred to as going "downy ocean, hon" – is a long-time summer tradition for Baltimoreans. The 10-mile stretch of pristine white sand is accompanied by a towering collection of multi-storey condos and an iconic boardwalk lined with old school arcades and vintage carousels.

Beachgoers can hardly run out of things to do here, as the beauty of OC is being able to do whatever you want. Play volleyball on the beach, go to an outdoor movie, watch a stunning fireworks display, or take a stab at surfing.  Food and music festivals fill the summertime calendars, while a healthy serving of steamed crabs is the go-to dinner option any time of the year. Don't let the 2.5-hour drive from Baltimore deter you – a weekend in Ocean City is part of The Great American Bucket List.

Assateague Island National Seashore is consistently voted one of the top state parks in the USA. The fairly undeveloped island is almost 3 hours east of Baltimore, and accommodation is almost exclusively the 140 campsites dotted along the miles of beach trails. 

Beach camping, surfing, kayaking, and fishing are the most common activities, with 4-wheeling particularly popular with adventure seekers. The swimming is great on the island. If you get lucky, you might catch yourself a couple of fresh crabs for dinner. But no matter the activity, you will no doubt stumble across the most recognizable feature of the island – the stunning wild roaming ponies.