Ocean City Boardwalk
A roughly three-mile wooden promenade running from the inlet northward, lined with fries, taffy, arcades, rides and ocean views. The signature stroll of any Ocean City trip, best at sunrise and after dark.
Maryland
Ocean City
Ocean City, Maryland is the Mid-Atlantic's great beach resort: ten miles of wide Atlantic sand, a three-mile wooden boardwalk of fries, taffy and a vintage carousel, and a back bay full of dolphin cruises, sunset boats and blue crabbing trips.
Just south, Assateague Island's wild ponies roam an empty national seashore, and the antique shops of Berlin and the wildlife refuge at Chincoteague make easy day trips. This guide covers the best sights, the cruises and food tours worth booking, and a set of oceanfront, bayside and north end hotels, so you can plan a trip that fits your budget and your style.
Don't miss
Ocean City Boardwalk
A roughly three-mile wooden promenade running from the inlet northward, lined with fries, taffy, arcades, rides and ocean views. The signature stroll of any Ocean City trip, best at sunrise and after dark.
Ocean City Beach
Ten miles of wide Atlantic sand with a lifeguard patrol, gentle surf and some of the most family-friendly beach days on the East Coast.
Sea Rocket Speed Boat and Dolphin Cruise
A fast, fun 45-minute speed boat ride out of the Ocean City harbor in search of bottlenose dolphins, with sea breeze, skyline views and plenty of splash.
Ocean City Sunset Cruises
Relaxed evening boat rides on the back bay, with the sun dropping behind the marshes and the skyline lighting up. The easy, romantic way to end a beach day.
Things to do in Ocean City
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeOcean City Beach
Ten miles of wide Atlantic sand with a lifeguard patrol, gentle surf and some of the most family-friendly beach days on the East Coast.
Half day to full dayDetails →
Assateague Island National Seashore
A wild barrier island south of Ocean City, famous for its herds of wild horses, empty beaches, salt marsh trails and some of the best stargazing on the coast.
Assateague Island Pony Cruise by Boat
A private boat charter from Ocean City along the Assateague shoreline to watch for wild ponies, birds and dolphins from the water, a good group option.
Sea Rocket Speed Boat and Dolphin Cruise
A fast, fun 45-minute speed boat ride out of the Ocean City harbor in search of bottlenose dolphins, with sea breeze, skyline views and plenty of splash.
Ocean City Sunset Cruises
Relaxed evening boat rides on the back bay, with the sun dropping behind the marshes and the skyline lighting up. The easy, romantic way to end a beach day.
Ocean City Parasailing Adventure
Fly high above the Atlantic and the Ocean City skyline in a gentle harness ride, with the beach, boardwalk and bay laid out like a map beneath you.
Ocean City Pizza, Ice Cream and Happy Hour Cruises
Themed Bay Hopper cruises that pair a relaxed tour of the back bay with pizza, ice cream or a happy hour drink, popular with families and friend groups.
Ocean City Blue Crabbing Trip
A hands-on bay outing where you pull traps, hand-line for blue crabs and learn how Maryland's signature seafood gets from the water to the table.
Maryland Coastal Bays Environmental Education Trip
A hands-on boat trip into the shallow coastal bays behind Ocean City, with nets, water samples and plenty of live creatures, led by educators who love the marsh.
Ocean City Boardwalk and Midtown Foodie Tours
Guided walking tastings through downtown and the boardwalk or the Midtown dining district, with stories, samples and a good sense of where the locals eat.
Ocean City Helicopter Tour
A short, unforgettable flight over the beach, the inlet, the bays and the island, with a pilot's-eye view of how a thin strip of sand became a resort.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites
Midtown
An all-suite oceanfront Hilton in Midtown, with balconies over the Atlantic, family-sized rooms and resort-style pools. A dependable full-service base.
Check rates →Grand Hotel Ocean City Oceanfront
Midtown
A tall oceanfront hotel with a spa, indoor pool and balconies, in a central position that keeps the boardwalk close without the boardwalk noise.
Check rates →Castle in the Sand
Midtown
A long-established, family-run oceanfront hotel in Midtown with a nostalgic character, a pool and rooms that look straight onto the Atlantic.
Check rates →Commander Hotel and Suites
Downtown Boardwalk
A boardwalk-side hotel at 14th Street, placing you steps from the sand, the rides and the nightly promenade without needing a car.
Check rates →Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort
North Ocean City
A large all-suite oceanfront resort in North Ocean City, with indoor and outdoor pools, kitchens and plenty of space for families and groups.
Check rates →DoubleTree by Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront
North Ocean City
A full-service oceanfront DoubleTree at the north end of town, with an indoor pool, a restaurant and the brand's signature welcome cookie.
Check rates →Fenwick Inn
North Ocean City
A calm, good-value option at the far north end of Ocean City, close to the Delaware line and the quieter beaches and dunes.
Check rates →The Edge at Fagers Island
Bayside Midtown
A bayfront boutique hotel on Fagers Island at 60th Street, with sunset views over the water and the famous bayside restaurant next door.
Check rates →Comfort Inn Gold Coast
North Ocean City
A budget-friendly Ocean City stay in the north end, with simple, practical rooms and an easy base for beach days and Assateague trips.
Check rates →Hampton Inn and Suites Ocean City Bayfront-Convention Center
Bayside Midtown
A modern bayside Hampton Inn near the convention center in Midtown, with free breakfast, a pool and an easy base for events and bay activities.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Ocean City BoardwalkStay
Princess Royale Oceanfront ResortNorth Ocean City
Do
Ocean City BeachStay
Fenwick InnNorth Ocean City
Do
Sea Rocket Speed Boat and Dolphin CruiseStay
DoubleTree by Hilton Ocean City OceanfrontNorth Ocean City
Ocean City guides
Ocean City, Maryland for First-Timers: How the Resort Fits Together and What to Do
A practical first-visit guide to Ocean City: the boardwalk, the beach, the bay, Assateague and the neighborhoods, with tips on what to book ahead and how to get around.
Ocean City in Three Days: A Balanced Itinerary of Beach, Boats and Wild Horses
A three-day Ocean City itinerary that mixes the boardwalk and beach with a bay cruise, Assateague's wild ponies, Berlin and a sunset on the water.
Where to Stay in Ocean City, Maryland: Boardwalk, Midtown, Bayside or North End
How to choose a base in Ocean City, Maryland: the boardwalk, Midtown, the bay side and the north end, with hotel picks for each style of trip.
Eating and Drinking in Ocean City, Maryland: Crabs, Fries and Sunset Bars
What to eat and drink in Ocean City, Maryland: boardwalk classics, crab houses, bayside sunset dining, food tours and tips for seasonal hours.
The Best Time to Visit Ocean City, Maryland: Seasons, Crowds, Water Temperatures and Events
When to visit Ocean City, Maryland: how the seasons, crowds, ocean temperatures and events differ from summer peak to quiet winter.
Day Trips from Ocean City, Maryland: Assateague, Berlin, Chincoteague and the Lower Shore
The best day trips from Ocean City, Maryland: Assateague's wild ponies, Berlin, Chincoteague, Delaware's Fenwick Island and the Lower Eastern Shore.
