Quick Summary:

  • The beautiful shores of the 200-mile-long Chesapeake Bay offer over 11,000 miles of shoreline, with many sites remaining undeveloped and serving as hidden gem getaways away from the crowds and tourists of other East Coast sites.
  • These beaches and beachfront cities are conveniently located near the nation’s capital and offer family-friendly attractions, public special event programming, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor summer fun.
  • Here are the best beaches to visit near DC.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Assateague Island National Seashore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romantic Islands
Assateague Island National Seashore | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of joscelynm - Fotolia.com

2. Breezy Point Beach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Breezy Point Beach | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of misu - Fotolia.com

3. Chesapeake Beach

Category: Beaches
Chesapeake Beach | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of Navalaney - Fotolia.com

4. Kiptopeke State Park

Category: Activities
Kiptopeke State Park | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of lemanieh - Fotolia.com

5. Leesylvania State Park

Category: Activities
Leesylvania State Park | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of jonbilous - Fotolia.com

6. Matapeake Park and Beach

Category: Activities
Matapeake Park and Beach | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of kornetka - Fotolia.com

7. North Beach

Category: Beaches
North Beach | Beaches Near Washington, DC
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8. Ocean View Beach Park

Category: Activities
Ocean View Beach Park | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of Sandra - Fotolia.com

9. Sandy Point State Park

Category: Activities
Sandy Point State Park | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of doncon402 - Fotolia.com

10. Virginia Beach

Category: Beaches
Virginia Beach | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Courtesy of Ritu Jethani - Fotolia.com

11. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Category: Beaches
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© jonbilous/stock.adobe.com

12. Cape May, New Jersey

Cape May, New Jersey | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© jonbilous/stock.adobe.com

13. Colonial Beach, Virginia

Category: Beaches
Colonial Beach, Virginia | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Bill Chizek/stock.adobe.com

14. Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City, Maryland | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Christopher Boswell/stock.adobe.com

15. Dewey Beach, Delaware

Category: Beaches
Dewey Beach, Delaware | Beaches Near Washington, DC
© Nicole/stock.adobe.com

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