The Best Beaches Near DC for a Quick Summer Getaway

No summer is complete without at least one beach trip. And great news: Reaching the sand and shore is easy from DC, whether you want to stroll along boardwalks, bar hop, hike, or catch some rays. Some are in state parks, while others are in waterside towns offering live entertainment, museums, and shopping when you’ve wrapped up your time on the shore. Here are eight beaches within one to three hours of DC located across Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey.

One of the biggest beaches in the area, Ocean City has been a long-time destination for families looking for sun and surf, 20-somethings looking to party all night, and laid-back folks who need nothing more than a dock with a sunset. The summer destination has welcomed several new and refreshed hotels and restaurants. SeaLoft Oceanfront Hotel (formerly the Atlantic Oceanfront Inn) opened May 23 after completing a $4.7 million renovation, debuting retro dining tables and mini-fridges, vinyl floors, and an OC mural/selfie spot. Another beachfront property, Commander Hotel & Suites, will wrap up a $2 million facelift on June 15, with new guestroom bathrooms and pull-out sofas, pool lounge chairs, and furniture in the lobby.

This follows the renovation of Ashore Resort & Beach Club, completed last spring, which includes five eating and drinking establishments, some with live music and entertainment. Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, located 15 minutes north in nearby Bethany Beach, also completed a multimillion-dollar renovation last year. It has updated suites and an Italian restaurant Via Sophia, which also has locations in DC and Maine.

The city offers 10 miles of sandy beach, a boardwalk with seaside shops, ice cream galore, and a more than 130-year-old amusement park. When it’s time to hang up the towel for the day, watch the sunset and listen to live music with an Orange Crush in hand outside at one of many waterfront restaurants, including Fager’s Island, Harborside, and Shark on the Harbor, which offers a selection of local craft brews and fresh catches. Famous party hotspot Seacrets Jamaica USA will soon debut bayside West End 51 Restaurant & Bar.

Wine lovers can head to an unassuming strip mall for the well-executed dishes at Liquid Assets bistro and wine shop or grab some tapas at waterfront Spain Wine Bar, which recently refreshed its patio. Beer fans can head to the Other One Brewing Co., which opened last year and serves wheat beer, IPAs, and a coffee porter.
Distance from DC: 3 hours

The 786-acre Sandy Point State Park has long been a favorite day-trip destination for DMV residents seeking to beat the heat without crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The park charges $4 per person during the week and $5 on holidays and weekends. The calm waters of the Chesapeake Bay make it a good swimming spot, while the pavilions make it ideal for picnicking. Landlubbers can hike the trails through the pine forest, and marshes abound with bird sightings and other wildlife. Enjoy it this summer before it closes mid-September until summer 2025 for a major restoration project to add improved trails, shaded picnic areas, and more trees.

On the way there, make a stop in the state’s scenic historic capital to grab a bite for your picnic or stop for lunch on the way there. Get fresh and jumbo lump crab from the longstanding Cantler’s Riverside Inn. Seafood lovers can also head to the perennial favorite Carrol’s Creek Cafe, while all-day breakfasts, six-pound milkshakes, and thick corned beef sandwiches await guests of the old-school politico haunt Chick & Ruth’s Delly. At Bakers & Co, fill up on baguettes, focaccia, and more.
Distance from DC: 50 minutes

At this 37-mile island in Virginia and Maryland overseen by The National Park Service, you’ll want to start your day on the sand early as Assateague officials turn away visitors once it's filled to capacity. After securing entry to Assateague Island National Seashore, prepare for a magical escape. While swimming, kayaking, hiking, and biking on local beaches and trails, you’ll witness wild ponies that roam the beaches and salt marshes.

To experience the area’s true beauty, secure an NPS campground site offered only on the Maryland side. Other attractions include the 142-foot Assateague Lighthouse and the Assateague Explorer, which offers boat and kayak tours to view horses, dolphins, and birds.

If you’re into space missions, stay in Assateague during a rocket launch at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, just 15 miles from the beach. Check the launch schedule before heading to the visitor's center to view it. You can also get view launches from the beach.
Distance from DC: 3 hours

Located 60 miles Northeast of DC, Gunpowder Falls State Park features 120 miles of trails for hiking and biking, kayaking, fishing, and a marina. Divided into six areas, the Hammerman Area offers the perfect city escape with a low-key, well-maintained beach. Maryland residents pay $5 per person and non-residents $7, during weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day and $3 during the week ($5 for non-residents). It’s $2 cheaper on weekdays.

If you decide not to lug your cooler, head to one of the nearby waterfront restaurants where outdoor tables spread out over the sand. Bowley’s On The Bay, Sunset Cove, and Crazy Tuna Bar & Grille are some of your best bets for seafood, beer, and, in some cases, live music.
Distance from DC: 1 hour and 15 minutes

The first stop for many visitors to Virginia Beach is the 38-block boardwalk, where you can snap a selfie by King Neptune as the sun sets, ride your bike, or enjoy a waterfront dinner. New breweries, a creative arts district, and summer festivals have broadened the appeal beyond surf and sand.

The VB Street Art Festival runs from May 30 to June 2, while the adventure sports competition Jackalope Fest returns from May 31 to June 2. Kids in tow? Take them to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s new building showcasing jellyfish and the North American River Otter. New Brewery Aslin Beer Co. recently opened with a beer garden, tropical bar, and movie nights, while Voodoo Brewing Co. is modeled after a European-style beer hall. Sample IPAs at the family-owned Vibrant Shore Brewing Company, which hosts live music and art exhibits. Complete your beer tour by visiting other breweries along the Virginia Beach Craft Beer Trail. Some offer cornhole, bocce, and eats from area food trucks.

Arts lovers can take a one-mile walking tour past colorful murals in the ViBe Creative District and visit the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, which is free for Virginia residents and $16.50 for out-of-state residents.

For an outdoor adventure, visit the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which offers nearly 5,000 acres of wetlands and thousands of migratory water birds. First Landing State Park features miles of walking and biking paths and hammocks by the water.

Diners hunting for restaurants with outdoor seating can head to Hearth, which serves wood-fired pizza and craft beer, and the seafood shack Chix on the Beach, which serves 20 types of crushes.

Stay at the 350-room Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, which has three restaurants and a pool, or at its sister property, the swanky Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club, which once hosted presidents and celebrities.
Distance from DC: 3 hours

Wildwood offers the quintessential summer beach experience with a two-mile boardwalk with an amusement park, arcade games, mini golf, and endless funnel cakes. Though steeped in nostalgia, it isn’t resistant to change. The boardwalk recently received a facelift after a multiyear project, and a 1915 Nickelodeon theater, Old Movies by the Sea has been updated. The 40-seat movie hall screens films, hosts comedy shows, and features a tapas menu. Billing itself as the largest resort in Cape May County, the recently opened Madison Resort Wildwood Crest features 200 rooms, two pools, and several restaurants just a couple of miles from the boardwalk.

Located a 20-minute drive from the boardwalk, the free Cape May County Park & Zoo contains lions, red pandas, cheetahs, and more. If you’re up for aqua adventures, East Coast Water Sports offers jet ski rentals, parasailing, and stand-up paddleboarding in Cape May and Wildwood.
Distance from DC: 3.5 hours

Summer in the DMV isn’t complete if you haven’t devoured a slice of Grotto Pizza, a giant bucket of vinegar-topped fried spuds at Thrasher’s French Fries, a frozen custard from Kohr Bros, or Dolle’s Candyland salt water taffy in Rehoboth Beach. The iconic Dolle’s sign has moved from its boardwalk location to the Rehoboth Beach Museum, while the candy store has moved 50 feet down the street. Fit in these popular beach eats between dips in the Atlantic Ocean, strolls along the boardwalk, and carnival games at Funland.

For more upscale fare, the town offers no shortage of epicurean delights in an area dubbed “the Culinary Coast.” Arrive early to grab a seat at Henlopen City Oyster House, one of the area’s most popular restaurants in Rehoboth. Drift Seafood & Raw Bar has been a hit for its locally sourced produce, meat, and fish. Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats is always a good bet for locally-produced brews and live music. Head to Confucius Chinese Cuisine for excellent Hunan-style dishes or the Cultured Pearl Restaurant & Sushi Bar, whose rooftop patio overlooks Rehoboth Avenue. Also known for its tax-free shopping, Rehoboth’s Tanger Outlets Rehoboth Beach features discounted brand names.

Stay overnight at one of the area’s fancy hotels, including The Bellmoor Inn & Spa, which offers guests two pools and beach access, or the Victorian-style Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, with a waterfront restaurant and a heated soaking pool. Coast Rehoboth Beach, Tapestry Collection by Hilton debuted last summer next to the convention center with an indoor pool and Mediterranean restaurant Sirocco Food & Drink. Cambria Hotel Rehoboth Beach will feature indoor and outdoor pools when it opens on June 1 near the outlets.
Distance from DC: 3 hours

While Rehoboth’s boardwalk games, souvenir shops, and funnel cakes provide the classic beach experience, Lewes offers a quiet getaway. The quaint, walkable downtown attracts history buffs drawn to its centuries-old buildings and antiques stores selling glassware, jewelry, art, and more. The Zwaanendael Museum, which tells the history of the Dutch settlement in Lewes during the 17th century, makes a worthwhile stop.

Cross the bridge from the historic downtown to over the picturesque canal to get to Lewes beach. Instead of hulking waves, concession stands, and a boardwalk, you’ll find calm waters and fewer umbrellas parked on the sand next to the Delaware Bay. Don’t forget to feed the parking meter, which operates from May through September. You’ll see the Cape May-Lewes Ferry from the beach in the distance. If you’re up for a boating adventure, take the 85-minute cruise to Cape May, New Jersey, to admire the Victorian homes, or journey on the Delaware Bay to see dolphins and waterfowl on Cape Water Tours.

Grab a beer and lounge in the backyard of Crooked Hammock Brewery, where you’ll find a playground, cornhole, and the namesake hammock.
Distance from DC: 3 hours

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