Ocean City Maryland packs more into 10 miles of barrier island than most beach towns manage in an entire coastline. This guide covers the 12 best things to do in Ocean City Maryland — not the tourist brochure version, but the activities locals actually recommend and return for every summer. You will find the specific details, costs, and timing you need to plan a trip that actually delivers.
- 1. Walk the Ocean City Boardwalk at Golden Hour
- 2. Eat Thrasher’s French Fries
- 3. Surf at 4th Street Beach
- 4. Kayak the Isle of Wight Bay
- 5. Watch the Sunrise at the Inlet
- 6. Mini Golf at Pirate’s Cove
- 7. Bike the Boardwalk Before 10 AM
- 8. Deep-Sea Fishing Charter
- 9. Visit Assateague Island
- 10. Sunset Happy Hour at a Bayside Restaurant
- 11. Trimper’s Rides
- 12. Crab Feast at a Local Restaurant
- Plan Your Ocean City Maryland Trip Now
Ocean City is one of the most visited beach destinations on the East Coast. It draws over eight million visitors a year. With this guide you will know exactly where to spend your time and money.
1. Walk the Ocean City Boardwalk at Golden Hour
The Ocean City Boardwalk stretches three miles along the Atlantic shore and has been the heart of the resort since 1902. At golden hour the boardwalk transforms. The shops glow warm amber, the rides light up, and the crowd thins just enough to actually enjoy walking it.
Start at the Inlet at the south end and walk north toward 27th Street. The first mile has the densest concentration of food and rides. The second mile quiets down with more family-friendly shops. The third mile is local and relaxed. Give yourself two hours minimum.
Best time: 6-8 PM in summer.
Cost: Free.
2. Eat Thrasher’s French Fries
Thrasher’s French Fries has been serving fries on the Ocean City boardwalk since 1929. They are served in a paper bucket, seasoned with salt and apple cider vinegar, and absolutely nothing else. No ketchup. The line is always long and it is always worth it.
The original location at 1 North Atlantic Avenue opens in late March and closes in October. The fries are twice-fried for maximum crunch. Order the large bucket and find a spot on the boardwalk railing to eat them while you people-watch. This is the most Ocean City Maryland thing you can do.
Best time: Midday or early evening when the oil is fresh.
Cost: Small $6, Large $9. Cash only.
3. Surf at 4th Street Beach
Ocean City has consistent Atlantic surf from April through October. The area around 4th Street is the traditional surf zone where boards are permitted. The waves break best on northeast swells after offshore storms — check Surfline for conditions before you go.
Rentals start at $25 per day from Eastern Surf at 5th Street. Group lessons run $45 for 90 minutes and include the board. The water temperature reaches the low 70s by July. Beginners do best at low tide when the waves close out more gently.
Best time: Early morning before the beach fills up. Northeast swell after offshore storms.
Cost: Rentals from $25. Lessons from $45.
4. Kayak the Isle of Wight Bay
The bay side of Ocean City is a different world from the ocean. The Isle of Wight Bay has calm flat water, egrets, herons, and views back across the island toward the ocean skyline. A two-hour kayak on the bay at sunset is one of the most underrated things to do in Ocean City Maryland.
Paddle Trax at 66th Street rents single kayaks for $25 per hour and doubles for $35. No experience needed for the bay — it is completely flat and sheltered. Sunset tours leave at 6 PM on Fridays from June through August.
Best time: Sunset for golden water and bird activity.
Cost: From $25/hour. Sunset tours from $45 per person.
5. Watch the Sunrise at the Inlet
The Ocean City Inlet at the southernmost tip of the island faces east directly into the Atlantic. The sunrise here is one of the best free experiences in all of Ocean City Maryland. The sky turns deep rose and gold over the flat water and you usually have the entire inlet to yourself.
Walk to the end of the inlet jetty rocks for the widest unobstructed view. Bring coffee from Greene Turtle on 21st Street the night before and reheat it in your hotel room. The full sunrise takes about 45 minutes and no alarm earlier than 5:30 AM is needed in summer.
Best time: Sunrise. No crowds before 7 AM.
Cost: Free.
6. Mini Golf at Pirate’s Cove
Ocean City has over 30 mini golf courses. Pirate’s Cove at 2nd Street is the most famous with a dramatic pirate ship structure, cave tunnels, and waterfalls woven through the 18 holes. It has been on the boardwalk since 1967.
Plan for 45-60 minutes. The course gets crowded after 6 PM on weekends. Go at 10 AM on weekdays to walk right on with no wait. Jungle Golf at 25th Street is a great second choice if Pirate’s Cove has a long line. Both are equally well maintained.
Best time: Weekday mornings to avoid waits.
Cost: $12-14 per round. Cash and card accepted.
7. Bike the Boardwalk Before 10 AM
From May 15 through September 15, bikes are permitted on the Ocean City Boardwalk only between 5 AM and 10 AM. This is how locals experience the boardwalk — fast, breezy, and with no pedestrian traffic. The three-mile boardwalk takes about 20 minutes on a casual bike.
Bike rentals open at 5:30 AM from Moped City at Wicomico Street. Rent a single-speed cruiser for $10 per hour. Ride north toward the quiet residential end first, then back south to the Inlet as the morning light comes up over the ocean. This is easily one of the best things to do in Ocean City Maryland before breakfast.
Best time: 6-9 AM.
Cost: From $10/hour.
8. Deep-Sea Fishing Charter
Ocean City is one of the top sportfishing destinations on the East Coast. The canyon waters 50-70 miles offshore hold marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. Half-day inshore trips targeting flounder, striped bass, and bluefish leave from the Inlet Marina daily at 7 AM.
Book through Angler at the Inlet Marina at 500 South Atlantic Avenue. Half-day inshore trips cost $75-90 per person and are great for families. Full-day offshore canyon trips run $250-350 per person. All equipment is provided. Your catch is cleaned and bagged to take back to your hotel.
Best time: May to October. Mahi-mahi season peaks June to August.
Cost: From $75 inshore, from $250 offshore.
9. Visit Assateague Island
Assateague Island is 10 miles south of Ocean City and it is a completely different world. The barrier island is a national seashore with wild ponies roaming the beach. The ponies were made famous by the novel Misty of Chincoteague and they approach visitors without hesitation.
Drive south on Coastal Highway to Route 611 and cross the bridge into the national seashore. Day use entry is $25 per vehicle. The Maryland side has excellent surf fishing and the ponies congregate near the parking areas. Do not feed the ponies — fines start at $250.
Best time: Early morning or evening for pony activity.
Cost: $25 per vehicle. assateagueisland.com.
10. Sunset Happy Hour at a Bayside Restaurant
The bay side of Ocean City faces west and delivers spectacular sunsets over the water every clear evening. Seacrets Jamaica USA at 49th Street has a sprawling outdoor deck right on the bay with a Jamaican theme, steel drum bands, and a wide cocktail menu. Tables outside fill up fast.
Arrive by 6 PM to secure a waterfront spot. The Shark on the Harbor at 64th Street is a quieter alternative with excellent seafood. Both restaurants face west for direct sunset views. A frozen mango daiquiri and a crab cake at sunset over the bay is the Ocean City Maryland experience at its best.
Best time: 6-8:30 PM for sunset views.
Cost: Cocktails from $12. Dinner entrees $18-35.
11. Trimper’s Rides
Trimper’s Rides at 1st Street on the south boardwalk has been running since 1893. It is the oldest amusement park in Maryland. The carousel inside is on the National Register of Historic Places and dates to 1902. The rides are a genuine piece of Ocean City history.
The indoor carousel costs $3 per ride. The outdoor rides run on a ticket system — $20 buys enough tickets for a child to ride for about an hour. The park is open daily in summer and weekends in spring and fall. This is not a modern theme park — it is the real, slightly creaky, wonderfully nostalgic original.
Best time: Evening for the full boardwalk atmosphere.
Cost: Carousel $3. Ride tickets from $20 per bundle.
12. Crab Feast at a Local Restaurant
No Ocean City Maryland trip is complete without a proper blue crab feast. Maryland blue crabs are steamed with Old Bay seasoning and served on brown paper at a picnic table. It is messy, social, and unforgettable.
Waterman’s Surfside Grille at 15th Street is locals’ first choice for crabs. Order steamed crabs by the dozen — a medium dozen runs $55-75 depending on the season. They provide mallets, knives, and paper bibs. Pair with corn on the cob, coleslaw, and Natty Boh on draft. This is the best $70 you will spend in Ocean City.
Best time: June to October for peak crab season.
Cost: Crabs from $55 per dozen. All in from $35 per person.
Plan Your Ocean City Maryland Trip Now
These 12 things to do in Ocean City Maryland cover every type of visit — from family beach days to active adventures to sunset dining. Ocean City rewards the visitors who look beyond the boardwalk. Pin this guide for your summer 2026 trip planning and share it with your travel group so everyone knows what is actually worth doing.
