Regional Guide · 64 beaches

Chesapeake Bay Beaches

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States — 200 miles long, fed by 150 rivers and streams, and lined with more than 11,000 miles of shoreline. Our coverage spans the upper Maryland shore south through the Middle Peninsula and Hampton Roads in Virginia, crossing 30+ counties. Bay water is brackish (saltier than rivers, less salty than ocean), warms earlier in the season than the Atlantic, and supports a legendary blue crab and oyster fishery. The Bay is protected enough that swimming conditions are calm on most days — a world apart from the open ocean.

Current Conditions

Average water temperature: 64°F

Across 64 monitored stations on the Chesapeake Bay.

When to Go

May through September for swimming. Water hits comfortable (72°F+) temperatures by early June in most years. Peak jellyfish season is July-August in the mid and lower Bay.

Watch Out For

Post-rainfall bacteria advisories are real — avoid swimming within 48 hours of heavy rain. Sea nettles (jellyfish) get thick in the mid-to-lower Bay in midsummer; upper Bay beaches near Cecil, Kent, and Harford counties have fewer nettles due to freshwater inflow.

Maryland · 53

All Maryland beaches →

Calvert Cliffs State Park

Calvert County, MD

Great day for fossil hunting.

63°F water 60°F air 9 to 14 mph wind

Brownies Beach (Bayfront Park)

Calvert County, MD

Great day for fossil hunting.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Cove Point Beach

Calvert County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water

Flag Ponds Nature Park

Calvert County, MD

Great day for fossil hunting.

63°F water 60°F air 14 mph wind

Dares Beach Park

Calvert County, MD

Great day for fossil hunting.

63°F water 59°F air 17 mph wind

Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park

Harford County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 61°F air 14 mph wind

North East Community Park

Cecil County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 13 mph wind

Public Landing Beach

Worcester County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 60°F air 10 to 15 mph wind

Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)

Cecil County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 14 mph wind

Miami Beach Park

Baltimore County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 60°F air 15 mph wind

Betterton Beach

Kent County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Perryville Community Park

Cecil County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)

Baltimore County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Cox's Point Park

Baltimore County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Cove Road Beach

Wicomico County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 60°F air 16 mph wind

Martinak State Park

Caroline County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 10 to 15 mph wind

Elms Beach Park

St. Mary's County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 61°F air 14 mph wind

Beverly Triton Nature Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 16 mph wind

Janes Island State Park

Somerset County, MD

Decent day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 18 mph wind

Mariner Point Park

Harford County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 60°F air 12 to 15 mph wind

Roaring Point Waterfront Park

Wicomico County, MD

Decent day for a beach walk.

63°F water 60°F air 17 mph wind

Tyaskin Wharf

Wicomico County, MD

Decent day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 12 to 16 mph wind

North Beach

Calvert County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Mayo Beach Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 17 mph wind

Downs Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 17 mph wind

Havre de Grace Promenade & Tydings Park

Harford County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Quiet Waters Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Fort Smallwood Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 18 mph wind

Tolchester Beach

Kent County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Oxford Beach

Talbot County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 mph wind

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)

Dorchester County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 60°F air 13 to 16 mph wind

Bellevue Landing

Talbot County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 mph wind

Rolph's Wharf

Queen Anne's County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 10 to 15 mph wind

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area

Somerset County, MD

Decent day for a beach walk.

63°F water 60°F air 20 mph wind

Franklin Point State Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 17 mph wind

Matapeake Beach & Dog Park

Queen Anne's County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Rock Hall Beach

Kent County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Hart-Miller Island State Park

Baltimore County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 18 mph wind

Hammerman Beach (Gunpowder Falls)

Baltimore County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 15 to 18 mph wind

Terrapin Nature Area & Beach

Queen Anne's County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Kent County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Claiborne Landing

Talbot County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Ferry Point Park

Queen Anne's County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Ferry Park (Rock Hall)

Kent County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 to 20 mph wind

Flying Point Park

Harford County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 60°F air 10 to 15 mph wind

Breezy Point Beach

Calvert County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Elk Neck State Park

Cecil County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 59°F air 15 mph wind

Solomons Island Riverwalk & Boat Ramp

Calvert County, MD

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 60°F air 15 mph wind

St. Michaels Waterfront Beach

Talbot County, MD

Great day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 15 mph wind

Rocky Point Beach & Park

Baltimore County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 58°F air 16 mph wind

Sandy Point State Park

Anne Arundel County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 13 to 17 mph wind

North Point State Park

Baltimore County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 59°F air 20 mph wind

Point Lookout State Park

St Mary's County, MD

Decent day for photography.

63°F water 60°F air 18 mph wind

Virginia · 11

All Virginia beaches →

Belle Isle State Park

Lancaster County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 62°F air 6 to 12 mph wind

Smith Point Beach

Northumberland County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

63°F water 61°F air 9 to 14 mph wind

Anderson Park

Newport News County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 63°F air 12 mph wind

Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area

Northampton County, VA

Decent day for a beach walk.

70°F water 60°F air 17 mph wind

Hilton Pier Park

Newport News County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 62°F air 12 mph wind

Buckroe Beach

Hampton County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 61°F air 13 mph wind

Ocean View Beach

Norfolk County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 61°F air 12 mph wind

First Landing State Park

Virginia Beach County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 60°F air 12 to 15 mph wind

Chic's Beach

Virginia Beach County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 60°F air 15 mph wind

Kiptopeke State Park

Northampton County, VA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F water 60°F air 16 mph wind

Cape Charles Beach

Northampton County, VA

Decent day for a beach walk.

70°F water 60°F air 14 to 17 mph wind