Hillsboro MarylandBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Hillsboro, Maryland.
1. Ocean City Beach
VIBRANT COASTAL PARADISE
Ocean City Beach stretches along 10 miles of pristine Atlantic shoreline, offering visitors a classic boardwalk experience complete with amusements, restaurants, and shops. The beach features clean sand, lifeguards during summer months, and various water activities including swimming, surfing, and paddleboarding. Visitors can enjoy spectacular sunrises over the ocean and evening entertainment along the famous Ocean City Boardwalk.
2. Assateague Island National Seashore
WILD HORSES MEET WAVES
Assateague Island National Seashore is a protected barrier island known for its wild horses that roam freely across windswept beaches and salt marshes. The undeveloped beach offers pristine swimming conditions, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and peaceful coastal camping experiences. Visitors can explore over 37 miles of beach, bay shoreline, maritime forests, and coastal bays through hiking trails and kayaking routes.
3. Sandy Point State Park
GATEWAY TO THE BAY
Sandy Point State Park features a popular beach situated at the western end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, offering spectacular views and recreational opportunities. The park's swimming beach has lifeguards during summer months and provides amenities including picnic areas, a marina, and boat rentals. Visitors enjoy fishing, crabbing, and wildlife observation in this scenic park that serves as an important migratory bird stopover.
4. North Beach
CHARMING BAYSIDE RETREAT
North Beach offers a half-mile-long boardwalk and public beach along the Chesapeake Bay with scenic water views and family-friendly amenities. The beach town features a fishing pier, regular events, and waterfront dining options that capture the essence of coastal Maryland living. Visitors appreciate the clean, well-maintained beach area and the quaint downtown with shops and restaurants just steps from the shoreline.
5. Chesapeake Beach
HISTORIC WATERFRONT DESTINATION
Chesapeake Beach combines historical charm with modern bayfront recreation at its public beach and waterfront park. The area features the popular Chesapeake Beach Water Park with slides and pools, as well as a railway trail offering scenic bay views. Visitors can enjoy charter fishing, waterfront dining, and the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum which celebrates the town's history as a resort destination.
6. Gunpowder Falls State Park, Hammerman Beach
SERENE RIVERSIDE ESCAPE
Hammerman Beach at Gunpowder Falls State Park offers a freshwater swimming experience along the Gunpowder River with a 1,500-foot sandy beach and designated swimming area. The park provides amenities including picnic pavilions, playgrounds, kayak rentals, and over 120 miles of trails throughout the broader state park. Visitors appreciate the calm waters that are ideal for families with small children and the natural setting that offers a peaceful alternative to ocean beaches.
7. Tuckahoe State Park
EASTERN SHORE LAKE RETREAT
Tuckahoe State Park features a serene 60-acre lake with a swimming beach area, surrounded by over 3,800 acres of scenic Eastern Shore landscape. The park offers water activities including fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, with boat rentals available during summer months. Visitors can also enjoy hiking and biking on 20 miles of trails, camping facilities, and the Adkins Arboretum located within the park boundaries.
8. Deep Creek Lake
MARYLAND'S MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUND
Deep Creek Lake is Maryland's largest freshwater lake, spanning 3,900 acres with 69 miles of shoreline offering swimming beaches, boating access, and waterfront recreation. The state park features a 1/2-mile swimming beach with lifeguards during summer months, boat rentals, and fishing opportunities for various freshwater species. Visitors enjoy the scenic mountain setting that provides four-season activities from summer water sports to winter skiing at the nearby Wisp Resort.
9. Betterton Beach
BAY'S HIDDEN GEM
Betterton Beach offers a 5-acre waterfront park with 300 feet of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay, known for its nettle-free swimming due to the freshwater influence from the Susquehanna River. The public beach provides amenities including a bathhouse with showers, a picnic pavilion, and a fishing jetty. Visitors appreciate the small-town charm, free admission, and spectacular views of the bay in this historic beach town that was once a popular steamboat destination.
10. Greenbrier State Park
MOUNTAIN LAKE OASIS
Greenbrier State Park centers around a 42-acre man-made lake with a 1,000-foot sandy beach nestled in the scenic Appalachian Mountains. The park offers swimming with lifeguards during summer months, boat rentals for fishing and paddling, and modern amenities including picnic shelters and playgrounds. Visitors can explore hiking trails including a segment of the Appalachian Trail that passes through the park, offering a combination of water recreation and mountain exploration.