Ocean City is renowned for its Old-Timey wooden boardwalk, crab houses, salt-water taffy, and its accolade as the White Marlin Capital of the World.
A Guide to Ocean City
Travel Information, Visitor's Guide
The Beach
Enjoy 10 miles of the beautiful Ocean City strand, perfect for relaxing on a blanket or chair or building a sandcastle with the kiddos! Unlike many other beaches, Ocean City is free to the public!
The Ocean City Beach provides the perfect oceanside basecamp for summer beach activities, such as surfing, boogie boarding, body surfing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and fishing.
The Boardwalk
A classic, wooden boardwalk that takes you back to your childhood, the Ocean City Boardwalk is 3 miles of pure joy. Rides, games, restaurants, shops, and more make the Ocean City Boardwalk a true delight for every stripe of vacationer.
Named America's best boardwalk by The Travel Channel, top 10 in the U.S. by National Geographic, and the best boardwalk for good by USA Today. named it one of the nation's best boardwalks for food.
When to Visit Ocean City, MD
Generally, the warmer months, June, July, and August, is high season in Ocean City. Hot summer temperatures attract people from all over the region and country to the cooler ocean breezes, refreshing salt water, and endless array of attractions centered around the Ocean City Boardwalk. However, over the past decade, tourism in the off-season has picked up the pace. This off-season or "shoulder-season" generally ranges in the spring from St. Patrick's Day until Memorial Day Weekend and in the fall from Labor Day Weekend until late October. As the temperatures start to dip in November and December, fewer visitors frequent the area, but many establishments will remain open, including vacation rentals—often available at discounted rates.
How to Get to Ocean City
Driving from points North:
Approximate times and distances: From New York City: 250 miles/5 hours | From Trenton: 200 miles/4 hours | From Philadelphia: 150 miles/3 hours
- Follow I-95 south into northern Delaware.
- Take Exit 4A, marked "Christiana Mall," onto Delaware Route 1, south toward Dover.
- South of Dover, U.S. 113 will split from Delaware 1. Follow U.S. 113 south.
- Take U.S. 113 south into Maryland, then turn east on either Maryland Route 90 or U.S. 50 to Ocean City.
Driving from points South:
Approximate times and distances: From Washington: 150 miles/3 hours | From Richmond: 250 miles/5 hours
- Get on the Capital Beltway (from Virginia, I-95/495 north)
- From the Capital Beltway, take Exit 19A, U.S. 50 east toward Annapolis
- Follow U.S. 50 east across the Bay Bridge and straight into Ocean City
To avoid the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, consider this alternative route:
Approximate time and distance: 230 miles/4 hour
- Follow I-64 toward Norfolk.
- Take Exit 282 for US-13 N/Northampton Blvd, then turn right onto US-13N/Northampton Blvd.
- Turn right onto US-113 N and continue on U.S. 113 north across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel.
- Take the ramp onto Maryland Route 90 to Ocean City
Flying to Ocean City, Maryland:
For those who prefer air travel, Ocean City is within 3 hours to three airports. The closest, at 30 minutes' drive via Rt 50 and 90, is the Salisbury/Ocen City Regional Aiport, while The Baltimore/Washington International and Philadelphia International airports are about a 3 hours' drive.