budget summer beaches
Lots of families are looking for cheaper options this summer. Let’s break down some cheaper options in the DC area.
If you want to snag a stay in any of these spots, we recommend booking house rentals on Expedia,VRBO, andBooking.com. If you prefer an apart-hotel, try Trip.com.
Don’t forget: In honor of Mother’s Day / my birthday, we are offering a 25% off any product in our shop with code “TRAVELMOM”.
beachy ideas…
Maryland
In Maryland, if you’re looking for an oceanfront beach town, you’re really talking about Ocean City, MD. If you’re open to the beaches on the bay, you will have some cheaper and less crowded ideas.
Here’s some cutesy bay-beach towns we love:
St. Michael’s: Quintessential Eastern Shore, One of the most famous and Quintessential Chesapeake Bay Towns, this charming Eastern Shore spot offers historic streets, top-tier seafood, and sailing. You can easily bike to nearby Bellevue Beach or ride the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry. Also going to be the priciest option.
Cambridge: Another Eastern Shore favorite and the birthplace of Harriet Tubman. This historic town has incredible food options, quiet beaches, home to Blackwater Wildlife Refuge with lots of family-friendly options.
Betterton & Chestertown, MD: Sandy shores and high cliffs, perfect for swimming without the crowds
Chesapeake Beach: cute town on the “Western Shore” (meaning, you don’t have to cross the Bay Bridge), featuring a board walk, pier and sandy swimming.
If you want more of a day-trip, try these options!
Assatague: Wild horses, protected seashore. You can camp here!
Solomon’s Island: historic fishing town located where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. It features a scenic, walkable riverfront boardwalk, excellent seafood dining, a boat-launch ramp, and the family-favorite Calvert Marine Museum, and a historic lighthouse.
Sandy Point State Park: A bustling, 786-acre park located right at the foot of the majestic Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis. It offers a massive, lifeguarded sand beach, spectacular views of passing cargo ships, a large playground, and extensive marina facilities for crabbing and boating.
Calvert Cliffs State Park (our favorite!): Your favorite 24-million-year-old treasure chest, famous for its quarter-mile stretch of sandy beach backed by dramatic, eroding cliffs. The true magic here is hiking the stroller-friendly 1.8-mile Red Trail through marshlands to reach the beach, where kids and adults can spend hours sifting through the sand for prehistoric shark teeth and fossils.
Breezy Point Beach & Campground: A privately operated, highly secure family park in Calvert County that limits daily crowds for a peaceful experience. It features a sweeping half-mile sandy beach, a 200-foot fishing and crabbing pier, a netted swimming area to block jellyfish, a playground, and beachfront campsites for tents and RVs.
Delaware
Delaware beaches have gotten very popular with the DC crowd in the past 5-10 years. Delaware and New Jersey can both be tricky with required beach tags to even sit on the beach.
Some of the most popular beach towns include:
Bethany: Part of the "quiet resorts," Bethany features a smaller boardwalk and provides a relaxed, family-oriented, and peaceful atmosphere, a family favorite!
Lewes: the cutest little town, great shops, calm water, often overlooked.
Rehoboth Beach: Delaware's largest beach resort, famous for its mile-long family-friendly boardwalk, amusement parks, and lively downtown dining scene and known for their thriving gay scene.
These ones tend to be a bit cheaper / have more options:
Fenwick Island: Serene, quiet, laid back, beach and not much else
Dewey Beach: Just south of Rehoboth, a good option to get the amenities and excitement of Rehoboth without the cost
Slaughter Beach: more remote, lots of horseshoe crabs, beautiful!
New Jersey
New Jersey is totally loaded with beaches so I could talk about this all day. Instead, I’m going to share some of the most cost effective ones!
Wildwood: offers five miles of completely free ocean beaches with no badges required. It features a massive 38-block boardwalk packed with amusement piers, water parks, and a famous tram car.
Ocean City: Proudly billed as "America's Greatest Family Resort," this "dry" town bans alcohol sales, creating a wholesome, safe environment for kids. While it requires seasonal beach badges, it offers an incredible, sprawling boardwalk filled with affordable snack stands, free family event nights, and amusement zones.
Ventnor City: Located just south of Atlantic City, Ventnor gives you quieter beaches with easier access to restaurants and entertainment at lower price points than many premium Shore towns.
Brigantine: A quieter family beach town near Atlantic City that often has better vacation rental value while still feeling peaceful and residential.
Virginia
The big headliner here is obviously Virginia Beach. Here’s our recs:
Within Virginia Beach, we recommend the Sandbridge area: Located at the southern end of Virginia Beach, this is a secluded, 5-mile sanctuary of pristine sand dunes and massive rental homes. It sits right next to the False Cape State Park and offers a quiet, residential beach escape completely away from boardwalk crowds.
If you want to look elsewhere, Cape Charles: A historic, colorful town on the Eastern Shore featuring shallow, wave-free bay waters that are perfect for toddlers and young children. It offers completely free beach access, a walkable historic downtown, and a golf-cart-friendly community vibe.
Chincoteague: The peaceful gateway to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island National Seashore. It is famous for its wild ponies, pristine untouched beaches, and low-cost entry where families pay a flat fee per car rather than per person.
North Carolina
So many options in North Carolina. For our full OBX guide, read here.
For some other options, check the Brunswick Island Beaches outside of Wilmington. These are more local, low-key and beautiful. Our favs are:
Holden Beach: Often described as one of the best family beaches in North Carolina, Holden Beach is known for gentle waves, beautiful marsh views, and a slower pace that encourages connection and rest.
Oak Island: With wide sandy beaches, a laid-back atmosphere, and fewer crowds than some of the bigger coastal destinations, it’s ideal for slow mornings, bike rides, shell hunting, and easy beach days with kids.
A final thought…
We are so lucky in the DC area to have so many beachy options.