Ocean City, MD Road Trips

Ocean City is a beach resort town located on a barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean, on the east coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. The city is located in Maryland, with the adjacent beach town of Fenwick Island just over the border in Delaware. The city is about 10 miles long, running from the Ocean City Inlet to the south to the Delaware border to the north, and a few blocks wide. The downtown area is in the southern part of the city and contains the boardwalk, amusements, arcades, restaurants, shops, and older homes and motels. The central and northern parts of the city are situated along a strip on Coastal Highway and are home to hotels, high-rise condos, restaurants, bars, shops, the convention center, and newer housing developments. The city has a year-round population of 6,800 (2020), but attracts between 320,000 and 345,000 vacationers on summer weekends and sees about 8 million visitors annually. Many visitors to Ocean City come from other parts of Maryland and the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, with other visitors coming from Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The peak time for tourists to come to Ocean City is between Memorial Day weekend in late May and Labor Day weekend in early September. In June, the city is a popular destination for Senior Week, where recently-graduated high school seniors come to Ocean City to spend a week with their friends. Ocean City enjoys, for the most part, a mild humid subtropical climate.

Upon entering Ocean City via the Route 50 Bridge, visitors are greeted with towering hotels, the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk, kite-flyers on the beach and lots of fishing boats and other recreational boaters. Ocean City's 10 mile long ocean beach is definitely the main attraction in Ocean City. Located in the south end of Ocean City, the historic boardwalk features various beachfront attractions, including shops, restaurants, lodging, as well as entertainment and amusement options. 1 Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, 401 S Atlantic Ave, ☏ +1 410-289-5600, [email protected]. Summer: 10AM-5PM daily, March, Oct-Nov: F-Su 10AM-5PM. You won't miss this building, as it's on the boardwalk and has a giant moving shark embedded in the outer walls. It's not a cheap sideshow tourist trap, as you might expect, but rather a really big and engaging museum devoted to the strange. Adult: $11, child $8. (updated Jan 2023) 2 Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. Displays exhibits on storms, sea life and life-saving in Ocean City. Other exhibits include beach vacation artifacts, shipwreck finds, mermaids, over 200 samples of sand from around the world, and doll houses depicting local hotels and businesses. Several tanks house local marine animals. (updated Jul 2019)

Beachgoers can swim, fly kites, play sports, surf or just relax on the beautiful beaches. The beach is fully lifeguarded and patrolled daily from late April to October. Golf, minigolf, deep sea fishing and more. 1 Baja Amusements. , 2 Jolly Roger Amusement Park. , 3 Jolly Roger at the Pier. , 4 Trimper's Rides, S. First St. & The Boardwalk, ☏ +1 410-289-8617, [email protected]. Amusement park located at the south end of town where the boardwalk begins. Has been in business for well over 100 years. Dive Ocean City. Half-day or full-day custom SCUBA diving trips in a six pack SCUBA diving charter boat that runs recreational dive trips to some of the best local wrecks and artificial reefs. Glen Riddle Golf Club. Glen Riddle has 2 courses open to the public as well as a Ruths Chris Steak House.The War Admiral course, is routed through mature forest. The course is sheltered from the wind.The Man O'War Course occupies the westerly portion of GlenRiddle and is not. Eagle's Landing Golf Course. A seaside golf course.Overlooks Sinepuxent Bay and Assateague Island National Seashore" Splash Mountain Waterpark, 2901 North Philadelphia Ave, ☏ +1 410-289-3477. A waterpark centrally located with over 17 different attractions. Ocean City Parasail, Talbot Street Pier, ☏ +1 410-723-1464. Check out Ocean City's skyline flying at 800 feet in the sky. Bay-side or Ocean=side rides 5 Ocean Downs Casino, 10218 Racetrack Rd (Minutes from Ocean City on route 50 at Racetrack Road), ☏ +1 410-641-0600. Live horse racing, slots, dining, simulcast.

Dining options range from fast food, beachfront snack bars and all-you-can-eat seafood to dinner cruises and waterfront dining. 1 Bayside Skillet, 7701 Coastal Hwy, ☏ +1 410-524-7950, [email protected]. Very good breakfasts. Specializing in crepes and omletes. 2 Belly Busters, 4408 Coastal Hwy, ☏ +1 410-524-7116, [email protected]. Fantastic seafood, good cheap boardwalk fare. 3 The Bonfire Restaurant, 7009 Coastal Highway, ☏ +1 410-524-7171. Arguably the best buffet in ocean city. (updated May 2023) 4 Happy Jack Pancake House, 2504 Philadelphia Ave, ☏ +1 410-289-7377. A popular OC breakfast spot. Standard fare continental breakfast, lots of pancake options. Don't be intimidated by long lines! Once seated, service is exceptionally fast and the food is consistently good. Be sure to meet your hostess at the patio door! 5 General's Kitchen- The House of Chipped Beef, 7400 Coastal Highway, ☏ +1 410-723-0477. arguably the creamed chip beef in ocean city, great place for breakfast and won't break your wallet, small place so expect to wait in line during peak breakfast hours 6 Lombardi's Restaurant, 9303 Coastal Hwy. Delicious pizza. 7 Malia's Cafe, 1800 North Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 443-664-2420. 7:30AM-3PM. Great place for vegetarians right off the boardwalk. Powerhouse sandwiches and black bean wraps are tasty. They also do smoothies. 8 Mione's Pizza & Italian Restaurant 67th Street, 6701 Coastal Hwy, ☏ +1 443 664 6635, [email protected]. Daily 11 AM–9 PM. $10-$20 USD.

OC Frogs, at the end of the boardwalk at the inlet. A great place, a lot of locals go here. Seacrets, 49th street and bayside. Jamaican nightclub scene, good live music nightly, dress code enforced, $10 cover on weekends Fishtails, 22nd street and the bay. A nice little place, they even have swings, $5 cover on weekends. Macky's Bar & Grill, 54th street and the bay. A popular bar on the weekends. Fager's Island, 60th street and the bay. A popular bar on the weekends, dress code enforced, $10 cover on weekends.

Clarion Resort FontaineBleau, 10100 Coastal Hwy. (from West RT50E to RT90E to RT528N to 101 Street; from North I-95S to RT1S to RT113S to RT90E to RT528N to 101 Street), ☏ +1 410 524-3535. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Resort, beachfront location, Smoke-free, family-friendly, pub and restaurant on-site seasonal $180-240. Coconut Malorie Resort, 200 59th St, toll-free: +1-888-828-6745. The 85 suites have been redesigned. Awarded Best Hotel on the Eastern Shore by Metropolitan Magazine. Nestled in the natural wetlands overlooking Isle of Wight Bay. Comfort Inn Boardwalk, 507 Atlantic Ave. @ 5th St and Oceanfront (SR 50 E. to Baltimore Ave. Located on 5th St. at Boardwalk.), ☏ +1 410 289-5155. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Located on the beach, on the boardwalk, high-speed wireless internet, private balconies, airport is close seasonal $140-180. Comfort Inn Gold Coast, 11201 Coastal Hwy. (From south take US 50 onto Coastal Hwy continue north to 112th street take left. From US 113 take RT90 east make a right onto Coastal Hwy continue north to 112th street take left. From North follow RT1 aka Coastal Hwy continue south to 114th street take right into Gold Coast Mall hotel to left.), ☏ +1 410 524-3000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Located on the Chesapeake Bay side, two blocks from Ocean City Beach. Heated indoor pool and hot-tub. Friendly customer service seasonal $180-240. Comfort Suites, 12718 Ocean Gateway (Take I-95S toward Newark/Baltimore. Merge onto DE-1 South via 4A. From Bay Bridge - Rt 50 East. Hotel will be on right.), ☏ +1 410 213-7171.

There are three ways to get into Ocean City by car. U.S. Route 50 (Ocean Gateway) provides access to downtown Ocean City from the west, crossing the Sinepuxent Bay on the Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge. Maryland Route 90 (Ocean City Expressway) provides access to northern Ocean City from the west, crossing the Assawoman Bay on the Assawoman Bay Bridge. Delaware Route 1 (Coastal Highway) provides access to Ocean City from Delaware to the north. From the Baltimore area, follow Interstate 97 south to U.S. Route 50 east. Follow U.S. Route 50 east across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and continue along U.S. Route 50 east to reach downtown Ocean City or take the exit to Maryland Route 90 east for access to northern Ocean City. Ocean City is about 150 miles/3 hours from Baltimore. From the Washington D.C. area, follow U.S. Route 50 east across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and continue along U.S. Route 50 east to reach downtown Ocean City or take the exit to Maryland Route 90 east for access to northern Ocean City. Ocean City is about 150 miles/3 hours from Washington, D.C. From the Philadelphia area, follow Interstate 95 south into Delaware and take Exit 4A to Delaware Route 1 south. Follow Delaware Route 1 south to Milford and take the exit to U.S. Route 113 south. Follow U.S. Route 113 south into Maryland and take the exit to Maryland Route 90 east for access to northern Ocean City or the exit to U.S. Route 50 east for access to downtown Ocean City. Ocean City is about 150 miles/3 hours from Philadelphia.

Coastal Highway Beach Bus, ☏ +1 410 723-2174. Spring-Fall: 24 hours daily, Winter: Su-Th 6:20AM-11:35PM, F Sa 24 hours. The Coastal Highway Beach Bus serves the entire length of the city, running from the South Division Street Transit Center near the Inlet to the 144th Street Transit Center near the Delaware border. The bus follows Philadelphia Avenue southbound and Baltimore Avenue northbound between South Division Street and 15th Street and Coastal Highway between 15th Street and 145th Street. Buses are frequent and quick during the day but can be slow at night due to crowding. $3 for a day pass; $1.50 for a day pass for senior citizens, disabled persons, Medicare card holders, and non-resident Senior Bus Pass holders; free for children under 42 inches in height, ADA Certified Disabled card holders, and resident Senior Bus Pass holders. (updated Mar 2017) West Ocean City Park and Ride shuttle, ☏ +1 410 723-2174. Summer: 6AM-2AM daily; also operates during Springfest, OC Cruisin', Bikefest, and Sunfest. Shuttle bus that operates between the West Ocean City Park and Ride and the South Division Street Transit Center, with a stop at the Tanger Outlets. $3 for a day pass; $1.50 for a day pass for senior citizens, disabled persons, Medicare card holders, and non-resident Senior Bus Pass holders; Free for children under 42 inches in height, ADA Certified Disabled card holders, and resident Senior Bus Pass holders. (updated Mar 2017) Boardwalk Tram, ☏ +1 410-289-5311.