Ocean City
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Ocean City

Ocean City

Maryland barrier-island resort of free Atlantic beach, boardwalk amusements, and serious fishing culture.

Ocean City is a barrier island resort town on Maryland's Atlantic coast, stretching about 10 miles from the inlet to the Delaware border. It is unashamedly a family beach destination — high-rise condos along the shore, a three-mile boardwalk with amusement rides, mini golf, and fried food stands.

The beach itself is wide and free, and the boardwalk scene is lively in summer. If the crowds get too much, head to the quieter northern end of the island or take a kayak out into the back bays. The fishing — offshore, bay, and surf — is taken seriously here.

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Eating Out

Ocean City's dining scene leans heavily toward boardwalk food — crab cakes, fries, funnel cake, and soft-serve ice cream. For something more substantial, head to the bay side of the island where a number of waterfront restaurants serve fresh seafood.

Guide

Getting Around

Ocean City is a long, narrow barrier island — 10 miles from the inlet to the Delaware border, never more than a few blocks wide. The free Boardwalk tram runs the length of the boardwalk in summer. Bus service (the BUS) runs the length of the island on Coastal Highway, 24 hours a day in peak season and at regular intervals otherwise — it's free and effective. Bikes can be rented along the boardwalk and the cycling is flat and easy. Within the boardwalk area, walking is the obvious choice.

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Getting There

Ocean City is reached by car via Route 50, which crosses the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from the Washington/Baltimore area — about a 3-hour drive. In summer the last few miles before the island back up severely; leaving before 8am or after 7pm makes a real difference. The nearest airport with significant service is Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), about 3 hours away. A regional bus service (OC Rider) connects to Salisbury, which has Amtrak service.

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Things to Do

Ocean City's main draws are its wide sandy beach, the classic American boardwalk, and the back bay, which offers kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing in calm water. The beach and boardwalk are free; the amusement parks and mini golf are not.

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When to Go

Ocean City is overwhelmingly a summer destination. July and August are peak season — the beach and boardwalk are packed, prices are highest, and traffic on the Route 50 bridge from the mainland backs up for miles. If you want the beach without the crowds, late May, June, and September offer warm water and far fewer people.

Spring and autumn attract anglers; the offshore fishing for tuna and mahi-mahi is best from May through October. Winter is very quiet — most restaurants and attractions close, and the town goes back to being a working-class Maryland beach town rather than a resort.