Sandy Point State Park Beach
Annapolis, MD
Sandy Point sits right at the western foot of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, a full mile of sandy shoreline with a straight-on view of Sandy Point Shoal Light House out in the water. It's the closest real beach to both Baltimore and DC, so it pulls a crowd fast once summer weekends heat up, but a mile of sand still leaves room to spread out.
Unbeatable for convenience if you live near Baltimore or Annapolis, but that same convenience means it's often packed by late morning on any warm weekend.
How we score beachesGet there before 10am on a summer weekend. The main lot fills by mid morning and rangers hold cars at the gate until someone leaves.
A large lot inside the park off US 50, with a day-use fee of $4 per person on weekdays and $5 on weekends and holidays.
Paved paths lead from the lot to the beach, flat the whole way, with restrooms and a bathhouse near the sand.
Leashed dogs are banned from the beach and swimming area from May 1 through September 30, but are allowed off leash on the beach the rest of the year.
Water temperatures peak in the mid 70s by August, with lifeguards on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day. Spring and fall bring cooler water and a fraction of the crowd, without losing the Bay Bridge view.
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