13 Best Beaches near Washington, D.C – Near Ocean Beach Spots

Best Beaches near Washington, D.C: Washington, D.C. which is also known as Washington or D.C is the capital city and federal district of the United States. Washington DC is situated on the east bank of the Potomac River which forms its southwestern and southern border with the U.S. state of Virginia, and it shares a land border with the U.S. state of Maryland on its remaining sides.

As much as Washington, D.C., is home to important government buildings, including the U.S. Capitol, where the Senate and the House of Representatives meet, the White House, the Supreme Court Building, and famous museums among other buildings there are awesome Beaches near Washington D.C, where you can relax and have the best moment of your life.

Best Beaches near Washington D.C

Washington, D.C is diverse in many ways, you can have fun on the ocean and lake beaches nearby. If you are searching for the best beaches near me or the best beaches near Washington, D.C, then, you have come to the right place. Find a list of the best beaches near Washington, D.C.

Sandy Point State Park — Maryland

Sandy Point State Park is situated along the northwestern shore of the majestic Chesapeake Bay. It offers plenty of day fun in the sun with your family during summertime. The 786-acre offers the best getaway for the whole family.

The park’s beaches and picnic areas are well maintained offering travelers with breathtaking scenic water views, which overlook one of Maryland’s true treasures, the Chesapeake Bay.

This park was opened on June 25, 1952, and ever since it has provided the best getaway for guests across the country.

Sandy Point State Park is about 49 minutes drive from Washington, D.C. This makes it the nearest beach spot.

As much as the beach does not have that tropical, white sand beach paradise, it is well known as one of the best places to have a beach swim. The waters at this spot are usually perfect for swimming and cool.

There are lots of activities that this park has to offer. There are marina stores and boat rentals. Apart from swimming, you can also do hiking, fishing, boating, or crabbing in the park.

Address:

Sandy Point State Park
1100 East College Parkway
Annapolis MD 21409

Find: Best Indoor Water Parks in the US

Cape May — New Jersey

Cape May is a city situated at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey. This is where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Cape May Beach is about 3 hours and 44 minutes drive from Washington DC. It is one of the oldest vacation resort destinations and the best ocean beaches that offer the best fun for the entire family.

Cape May is the southernmost point in New Jersey and is a perfect destination all year-round for families, artists, photographers, couples, and nature enthusiasts.

There are lots of activities that you can do while at Cape May beach. You can spend your morning at the beach and later head to the city for dinner.

The amenities at Cape May make it worth visiting. It features one of the best beaches near D.C and especially the best beach for swimming.

One thing that you are assured of is safety; there are always lifeguards on duty watching the beach.

Some of the activities that you can engage yourself in include surfing, kayaking, and swimming.

Bethany Beach — Delaware

Bethany Beach Delaware is about 2 hours and 50 minutes drive from Washington Dc. It is a small coastal town in Delaware offering one of the best vacation beaches to relax and unwind for the entire family.

Bethany Beach is located near the Rehoboth River, Indian River, and the Atlantic Ocean. If you are searching for a serene, place near the sea, then you should visit Bethany Beach.

The white sandy shorefront will make you want to do more walks on the beach leisurely as the breeze cools your body.

The beach also features boardwalks where you can have more fun, or visit the nearby shops for fishing.

The beauty of this beach is that it’s dog friendly. Your dog will love to walk on the white sandy beaches. So don’t leave your furry friend behind on your next visit.

Chesapeake Beach — Virginia

Chesapeake Beach which is also known as Chic’s Beach is situated about 3 hours and 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. Chesapeake Beach is one of the dog-friendly beaches near DC.

Chic’s Beach is one of the highly recommended that you can visit in Virginia Beach. The beach features two miles of sandy shorefront that overlooks Chesapeake Bay.

The major attractions at Chesapeake Beach include the Chesapeake Beach Railway Station, the Chesapeake Beach Rail Trail, marinas, piers, a water park, and charter boat fishing. You can also engage in kiteboarding, paddle boarding, and swimming.

Virginia Beach — Virginia

Virginia Beach is a city situated on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Virginia Beach is situated on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It is about a 3 hr 30 min drive from Washington, D.C.

Virginia Beach is one of the cool beaches and offers one of the best getaways near DC. At Virginia Beach, there are miles of beaches and many resorts, hotels, and restaurants along the oceanfront that will make your holiday a memorable one.

A Virginia Beach Vacation is all you need to get away from the hustle and city noise. It offers a perfect getaway for a day trip from the city.

This vibrant coastal city of Virginia Beach offers a rich history and is home to the local culinary scene, variety of arts, and entertainment. It also features family-friendly attractions that keep the guests entertained as well as the locals throughout the year. There are so many activities that can be carried out at this beach. It is full of action and fun. You can surf the waves, sunbathe on the sandy shores, and even swim in the waters. You can also enjoy shopping, watching street performers, or enjoying live music.

Address:

1700 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Assateague Island National Seashore — Maryland

Assateague Island National Seashore is situated eight miles south of Ocean City, Maryland. It is a 37-mile-long treasure in the national and state park systems.

The beach offers a perfect vacation getaway and is situated about 3 hours from Washington, D.C. This beach is highly recommended for someone searching for the best beach vacations from Washington, D.C.

There are tons of activities to do at the Assateague Island National Seashore apart from fishing, swimming, and crabbing.

The Assateague Island National Seashore has so many wild horses; you can take some time and get some beautiful pictures of the horses or ride on one of them along the beach.

You can also do hiking, bike around the island, or go kayaking.

Point Lookout State Park — Maryland

Point Lookout State Park is a beautiful public recreation area and historic preserve occupying Point Lookout, on the southernmost tip of a peninsula created by the meeting of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

Point Lookout is situated about one hour and forty minutes from the capital city of the United States.

As much as there are no beaches in Washington, D.C., Point Lookout offers one of the nearest beaches that you can explore during the weekend or when you are on vacation.

Point Lookout is such a beautiful place that you will love taking a stroll along the beach. If you are a person who loves history, you can also go check out the museum inside the park.

Activities that you can engage yourself in include swimming, having a walk on the beach, playing on the beach, boating, and fishing.

Rehoboth Beach — Delaware

Rehoboth Beach is a city on the Atlantic Ocean along the Delaware Beaches in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States.

Rehoboth Beach is situated about two hours and thirty minutes away from Washington, D.C. The city lies within the Salisbury metropolitan area.

Rehoboth Beach is a popular vacation destination, a good number of people have summer homes here.

Rehoboth Beach is one of the good beaches found on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. There are lots of activities to do while at Rehoboth Beach from the iconic boardwalk Rehoboth Beach to the beautiful ocean view. It is a must-visit destination. You can plan to have a weekend getaway at the coastal city of Rehoboth Beach.

Rehoboth Beach is always inviting, and you would want to play with the sand all day or take a walk along the beach.

Ocean City — Maryland

If you are searching for beaches within 3 hours of Washington DC, then you should try out Ocean City Beach. Ocean City offers an ideal destination for everyone. It is perfect for couples, families, and friends.

Ocean City is situated about 2 hours and 50 minutes away from Washington, D.C. The beach offers you an amazing destination to experience a lot of water activities.

Ocean City has 10 miles long sandy oceanfront where you will enjoy lots of activities such as surfing, swimming, kayaking, and even canoeing.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge — Virginia

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is situated on the Virginia side of Assateague Island. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest making it an ideal vacation getaway.

Chincoteague Island is situated about 3 hours away from Washington, D.C, making it a perfect weekend getaway for a family, friends, or a couple.

The island offers an ideal habitat for migratory birds. It is also home to wading birds, waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds among other species.

Swimming might not be the main activity at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, but there are other exciting activities that you can engage in. You can go clamming, fishing, crabbing, or Shell hunting. You can also engage yourself in boating, kayaking paddle boarding, or horseback riding.

Dewey Beach — Delaware

Dewey Beach is a coastal town located in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The beach is about two hours and thirty minutes drive from Washington, D.C.

Dewey Beach offers you an amazing getaway from the capital city. It offers an ideal destination for day trips to the beach. Here you will experience sunshine during the day and enjoy the amazing vibes by the night.

The beach is filled with lots of activities during summer. It is blessed with ocean beaches on one side, a broad bay on the other side, and restaurants and fun-filled spots that will make your getaway memorable.

If you are a person who loves nightlife, then I am sure you will enjoy a trip to Dewey Beach.

Colonial Beach — Virginia

If you are searching for quick beach getaways from DC, then Colonial Beach is the best place to drive to. This Beach getaway near DC is situated about 90 minutes drive south of Washington DC. The beach is known to be the second-largest beachfront along Virginia’s Northern Neck peninsula.

There are lots of activities that one can enjoy while at Colonial Beach. You can engage yourself in swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking. You can also decide to explore the area’s historical attractions.

When it comes to the safest beach for the kids near Washington DC, Colonial Beach is the ideal destination to tour with kids. It has a wide stretch of sand where kids can play as well as enjoy surfing in the area.

Gunpowder Falls State Park — Maryland

Gunpowder Falls State Park is situated about 60 miles northeast of DC. It is about one hour and ten minutes from Washington, D.C.

Gunpowder Falls State Park is one of the best beaches near Washington, D.C. that you can visit with your family.

At Gunpowder Falls State Park, there are lots of activities that you can engage yourself in. You can go swimming, walk along the beach, play on the playground with kids, and you can also do fishing and canoeing. Within the central area, you can engage in biking, hiking, and horseback riding.

FAQs

What is the closest ocean beach to Washington, DC?

Sandy Point State Park is the closest beach to the Washington, DC area.

How Far Is Rehoboth Beach from Washington DC

Rehoboth Beach is situated about two hours and thirty minutes away from Washington, D.C.

How Far Is Ocean City Maryland from Washington DC

Ocean City is situated about 2 hours and 50 minutes away from Washington, D.C.