98 beaches

Best Beaches for Beach Camping

Beach camping in Maryland is dominated by one place: Assateague Island. Both the state park and the National Seashore have campsites within walking distance of the Atlantic, and the state park has sites that are essentially beachfront. Reservations open six months in advance and vanish in minutes. Other beach-adjacent camping options exist at Elk Neck State Park (Chesapeake), Point Lookout (Chesapeake/Potomac), Breezy Point (Chesapeake), and the primitive-only Hart-Miller Island (boat access only).

What to look for

Book six months out for Assateague. For walk-up spots, weekdays and shoulder season (April-May, September-October) are your only real options.

Ranked by Today's Conditions

Belle Isle State Park

Lancaster County, VA

Ideal for swimming.

77°F water 87°F air 3 to 7 mph wind

Janes Island State Park

Somerset County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 84°F air 7 to 12 mph wind

Rocky Gap State Park

Allegany County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 3 to 7 mph wind

Martinak State Park

Caroline County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Westmoreland State Park

Westmoreland County, VA

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 87°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Shawnee State Park

Bedford County, PA

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 2 to 7 mph wind

Cowans Gap State Park

Fulton County, PA

Ideal for a beach walk.

83°F air 6 mph wind

Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Cumberland County, PA

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

First Landing State Park

Virginia Beach County, VA

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 83°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Warren Dunes State Park

Berrien County, MI

Ideal for a beach walk.

73°F air 5 mph wind

Rocky Neck State Park

New London County, CT

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F air 1 to 6 mph wind

Deep Creek Lake State Park

Garrett County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Herrington Manor State Park

Garrett County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F air 8 mph wind

New Germany State Park

Garrett County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Greenbrier State Park

Washington County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 3 to 10 mph wind

Cunningham Falls State Park (Hunting Creek Lake)

Frederick County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

83°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Trap Pond State Park

Sussex County, DE

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Killens Pond State Park

Kent County, DE

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Laurel Hill State Park

Somerset County, PA

Ideal for a beach walk.

79°F air 3 to 8 mph wind

Cacapon Resort State Park

Morgan County, WV

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 3 to 8 mph wind

Gifford Pinchot State Park

York County, PA

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 2 to 9 mph wind

False Cape State Park

Virginia Beach County, VA

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 3 to 13 mph wind

Grand Isle State Park

Jefferson County, LA

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Sea Rim State Park

Jefferson County, TX

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 10 mph wind

Matagorda Beach

Matagorda County, TX

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 15 mph wind

Salisbury Beach State Reservation

Essex County, MA

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F air 2 to 8 mph wind

Edisto Beach State Park

Colleton County, SC

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Carteret County, NC

Ideal for a beach walk.

81°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Mokuleia Beach Park

Honolulu County, HI

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 14 to 17 mph wind

Assateague State Park

Worcester County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

70°F water 81°F air 5 to 12 mph wind

Assateague Island National Seashore

Worcester County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

70°F water 79°F air 6 to 13 mph wind

Cape Henlopen State Park

Sussex County, DE

Ideal for a beach walk.

69°F water 81°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Delaware Seashore State Park

Sussex County, DE

Ideal for a beach walk.

69°F water 78°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill

Suffolk County, NY

Ideal for a beach walk.

72°F water 74°F air 3 to 13 mph wind

Smith Point County Park

Suffolk County, NY

Ideal for a beach walk.

72°F water 75°F air 3 to 10 mph wind

Polihale State Park

Kauai County, HI

Great day for a beach walk.

85°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

Salt Pond Beach Park

Kauai County, HI

Great day for a beach walk.

86°F air 14 to 17 mph wind

Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)

San Luis Obispo County, CA

Ideal for photography.

73°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Middlesex County, CT

Ideal for a beach walk.

66°F water 77°F air 1 to 6 mph wind

Pismo Beach

San Luis Obispo County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

San Clemente State Beach

Orange County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

69°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Doheny State Beach

Orange County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

69°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Orange County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

69°F air 0 to 15 mph wind

Leo Carrillo State Park

Los Angeles County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

68°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Holland State Park Beach

Ottawa County, MI

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F air 7 to 10 mph wind

Indiana Dunes National Park

Porter County, IN

Great day for a beach walk.

71°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

San Onofre State Beach

San Diego County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

66°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Refugio State Beach

Santa Barbara County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

70°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Mustang Island State Park

Nueces County, TX

Great day for a beach walk.

86°F air 16 to 20 mph wind

Padre Island National Seashore

Kleberg County, TX

Great day for a beach walk.

85°F air 14 to 20 mph wind

Breezy Point Beach

Calvert County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 84°F air 5 to 14 mph wind

Elk Neck State Park

Cecil County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 85°F air 6 to 12 mph wind

Point Lookout State Park

St Mary's County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 83°F air 7 to 16 mph wind

Hart-Miller Island State Park

Baltimore County, MD

Ideal for a beach walk.

75°F water 84°F air 6 to 17 mph wind

Kiptopeke State Park

Northampton County, VA

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 79°F air 6 to 15 mph wind

Anini Beach Park

Kauai County, HI

Great day for a beach walk.

81°F air 14 mph wind

Carpinteria State Beach

Santa Barbara County, CA

Ideal for photography.

71°F air 0 to 5 mph wind

Ludington State Park

Mason County, MI

Great day for photography.

68°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Silver Lake State Park

Oceana County, MI

Ideal for photography.

70°F air 7 to 12 mph wind

Grand Haven State Park

Ottawa County, MI

Great day for photography.

64°F air 13 mph wind

Bellows Field Beach Park

Honolulu County, HI

Great day for a beach walk.

79°F air 18 mph wind

Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)

Door County, WI

Great day for photography.

71°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach

Huntingdon County, PA

Great day for sunbathing.

85°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

Locust Lake State Park

Schuylkill County, PA

Great day for sunbathing.

79°F air 6 mph wind

Half Moon Bay State Beach

San Mateo County, CA

Ideal for photography.

63°F air 3 to 9 mph wind

Harris Beach State Park

Curry County, OR

Ideal for photography.

56°F air 3 to 10 mph wind

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park

Lane County, OR

Ideal for photography.

62°F air 0 to 5 mph wind

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

Lincoln County, OR

Great day for photography.

58°F air 5 mph wind

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Gulf County, FL

Great day for sunbathing.

86°F water 85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Prince Gallitzin State Park

Cambria County, PA

Great day for sunbathing.

79°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Yellow Creek State Park

Indiana County, PA

Great day for sunbathing.

80°F air 6 to 9 mph wind

St. George Island

Franklin County, FL

Great day for sunbathing.

86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Maumee Bay State Park

Lucas County, OH

Great day for sunbathing.

82°F air 14 mph wind

Cape Canaveral Beach

Brevard County, FL

Great day for sunbathing.

80°F water 86°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Bahia Honda State Park

Monroe County, FL

Decent day for sunbathing.

89°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Camden County, GA

Decent day for sunbathing.

89°F air 6 to 13 mph wind

Nehalem Bay State Park

Tillamook County, OR

Ideal for photography.

56°F air 0 to 6 mph wind

Cape Lookout State Park

Tillamook County, OR

Ideal for photography.

58°F air 0 to 7 mph wind

Cape Disappointment State Park

Pacific County, WA

Great day for photography.

63°F air 1 to 8 mph wind

Parker Dam State Park

Clearfield County, PA

Mixed conditions today.

78°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Atlantic Beach

Duval County, FL

Decent day for sunbathing.

84°F water 91°F air 7 to 14 mph wind

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Brevard County, FL

Decent day for sunbathing.

80°F water 94°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Grayton Beach State Park

Walton County, FL

Mixed conditions today.

86°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Leelanau County, MI

Mixed conditions today.

61°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Hamlin Beach State Park

Monroe County, NY

Decent day for photography.

74°F air 5 to 8 mph wind

Henderson Beach State Park

Okaloosa County, FL

Skip the beach today.

85°F water 84°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Walton County, FL

Skip the beach today.

85°F water 87°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Tawas Point State Park

Iosco County, MI

Skip the beach today.

67°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Shi Shi Beach

Clallam County, WA

Skip the beach today.

57°F air 5 mph wind

Hobuck Beach

Clallam County, WA

Skip the beach today.

59°F air 3 to 7 mph wind

Petoskey State Park

Emmet County, MI

Skip the beach today.

64°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Wilderness State Park

Emmet County, MI

Skip the beach today.

63°F air 10 to 15 mph wind

Pacific Beach State Park

Grays Harbor County, WA

Skip the beach today.

60°F air 6 mph wind

Kalaloch Beach

Jefferson County, WA

Skip the beach today.

55°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

Twin Harbors State Park

Grays Harbor County, WA

Skip the beach today.

60°F air 5 to 8 mph wind

Selkirk Shores State Park

Oswego County, NY

Skip the beach today.

74°F air 3 to 7 mph wind

Lakeport State Park

St. Clair County, MI

Skip the beach today.

74°F air 9 mph wind

Port Crescent State Park

Huron County, MI

Skip the beach today.

70°F air 9 mph wind