Baltimore County park on the Back and Middle Rivers featuring a swimming beach, fishing pier, boat ramps, and picnic areas. Offers beautiful water views with pavilion rentals available for events. Entry fee required with seasonal operation.
Beach Directory
Gunpowder Falls State Park (Hammerman Area)
Popular swimming beach on the Gunpowder River with 1,500 feet of shoreline and designated swimming area. Features picnic facilities, playgrounds, canoe/kayak rentals, and hiking trails. Entry fee required with seasonal lifeguards.
Point Lookout State Park
Historic park at the southern tip of Maryland’s western shore where the Potomac River meets Chesapeake Bay. Features a beach area, fishing pier, boat launch, campground, and Civil War museum. Entry fee required with spectacular water views.
Hart-Miller Island
Remote island in Chesapeake Bay accessible only by boat featuring a 3,000-foot sandy beach on the western shore. Offers primitive camping, hiking trails, and natural beach experience. No facilities except portable toilets during summer months.
Betterton Beach
Five-acre waterfront park on the Chesapeake Bay with 700 feet of shoreline and one of the Bay’s few nettle-free beaches. Features a fishing jetty, gazebo, picnic facilities, and bath house. Free admission with ample parking.
Matapeake Beach
Quiet Chesapeake Bay beach on Kent Island with panoramic views of the Bay Bridge. Features a separate dog-friendly beach area, fishing pier, and historic clubhouse. Less crowded alternative to Sandy Point with small entry fee.
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Named for the impressive 24-million-year-old fossil-bearing cliffs. Features a small beach accessible via a 1.8-mile hike, popular for fossil hunting and swimming. Limited facilities at beach area with main amenities at the park entrance.
Chesapeake Beach
Historic resort town on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay known for its water park, fishing charters, and marina. Limited public beach access with primary beach access through the Chesapeake Beach Water Park (seasonal operation with admission fee).
Sandy Point State Park
Popular Chesapeake Bay beach near Annapolis featuring spectacular views of the Bay Bridge. Offers sandy beaches, swimming areas, marina, boat rentals, fishing, and picnic facilities. Entry fee required with limited capacity during peak season.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Protected barrier island famous for its wild horses, undeveloped beaches, and diverse ecosystems. Features camping options, hiking trails, and pristine beaches. Split between Maryland and Virginia portions with different regulations and facilities.