Craving a trip to the shore without hours and hours of driving? Head to North Beach, Maryland!
Just minutes from the Beltway, North Beach is a charming Chesapeake Bay hamlet complete with a boardwalk, fishing pier, beach, and all sorts of restaurants and shops. It's just far enough to feel like you're getting away, but you don't have to conquer the Bay Bridge traffic to get there.
Food from Hook & Vine
Let's get one very important thing out of the way: you have to pay to use the beach and fishing pier. During the height of the season, from May 1 to September 30, it can get really expensive, at $25 per adult (ages 12 to 54), $10 per child (ages 3 to 11), and $9 per senior (ages 55 and up). Calvert County residents pay a reduced beach entry fee, just $9 per adult and $6 for children and seniors. Admission fees are suspended from October through April, and the money they collect during the peak season months goes towards the upkeep of the facilities, and beach and boardwalk maintenance.
Once you get over the sticker shock of the beach admission fee, the town itself is definitely worth the trip. Get there early to find free street parking or scope out the private paid lots. You can easily spend a few hours here, just walking up and down the bayfront sidewalk deck and enjoying the view. Stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants, or pack your own picnic to enjoy on a park bench.
If you do decide to pay for beach access, keep in mind that it's a relatively small beach and it gets crowded quickly. Set out early to get a prime spot on the sand—beach access opens at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Tents are prohibited, but you can bring pop-up canopies for babies, beach blankets, and chairs. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at your own risk. View the town's full list of beach regulations.
Beautiful sunrise photo taken in North Beach, Maryland before the rain clouds rolled in.
— Maryland DNR (@MarylandDNR) August 19, 2020
đŸ“¸: Alison McCourt pic.twitter.com/9tSFMdsvJy
There are still plenty of things to do if swimming in the Chesapeake Bay isn't your thing. Create your own walking tour of the town, stopping to take photos and visit the local shops. You can pause for an ice cream break, find beachy souvenirs, and even get your fortune told. If you come at sunrise, the view would be simply spectacular. Last but certainly not least, there is a wide, paved bike lane to enjoy some waterfront pedaling.
North Beach should definitely be on your list of places to explore if beach food and the sound of gentle waves are some of your favorite things. There's something for everyone at this little bayfront Maryland town.
**Photos by Sarina Petrocelly
Have you ever taken a day trip to explore North Beach? What are some of your favorite things to do there and where do you like to eat? Let us know in the comments.
