The Best Beaches, Beer, and Crabs Are Found In Kent County, MD

As the temperatures rise and you are planning your next getaway…dreaming of sun on your skin and sand between your toes…to a quiet spot not too far away to play in the water with your kids or an intimate frolic without the crowds. Where do you go? Try a place that’s only an hour’s drive from Baltimore or Annapolis. Instead of the Atlantic Ocean, you can dip your toes in the cool, fresh water of the Chesapeake Bay at one of the beaches in Kent County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Pack your bags for plenty of family fun and adventure!

Rock Hall Beach

Rock Hall, originally called "Rock Hall Crossroads", which was home to a ferry that ran between the Eastern Shore and Annapolis in colonial times; also known for its marinas and fine seafood restaurants, is home to one of two public beaches in Kent County. 

Rock Hall Beach is situated on Rock Hall Harbor, which has direct access to the Chesapeake Bay. The small swimming beach has calm waters making it the perfect place for little ones, novice swimmers and sunbathers. 

Rock Hall Beach is family and pet friendly. You can relax in the small gazebo, which provides shade from the sun, and enjoy panoramic views of the Bay. The beach also offers picnic tables, barbecue stands, and pavilions, as well as some of the best sunsets imaginable.

Betterton Beach

Betterton, a lovely little town just 12 miles from Chestertown, is perched on a bluff overlooking the mouth of the Sassafras River at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay. You will be awed by the views of the beach as you enter from atop the bluff.

Betterton Beach offers fresh water and provides nettle-free swimming. (It’s one of the few nettle-free beaches in Maryland). The water is cool and clean, the bottom is sandy and firm, and it gently slopes to neck-deep, so you can enjoy a real swim or SUP (stand-up paddling) experience.

The beach has plenty of room to stake out a picnic blanket and an umbrella. With over 300 feet of beach frontage and 700 feet of shoreline access, Betterton Beach is a beach-lovers paradise. The newly renovated bathhouse has showers for changing, and there is also a shady picnic pavilion atop the bluff with panoramic views of the beach and surrounding waters. Beach access and parking are free.

Tolchester Beach

A hundred years ago, visitors came by steamboat to celebrate summer to the tune of calliope music on a merry-go-round and a roller coaster. Today, Tolchester Marina attracts hundreds of sleek gas-powered ski boats and cabin cruisers to celebrate summer to the tune of live pop music emanating from the palm-tree shaded Shanty Beach Bar.

On any sunny weekend day, a festive fleet of small boats anchors off Tolchester Beach within listening distance of the live music. Visitors have free access to the beach and slip-holders have access to the private pool.

The Shanty Beach Bar is a great place to relax, listen to good tunes and dance the night away while sipping on several varieties of ice-cold beer. And what goes better with beer than crabs?

Resident Swimmers

Humans are not the only ones that enjoy swimming at Kent County beaches. You may catch a glimpse of the resident Callinectes sapidus or “beautiful, savory swimmers” gliding by just under the surface, locally known as the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab. Blue crabs are plentiful in Kent County. After a day in the sun, stop by Waterman’s Crabhouse in Rock Hall for a crab feast! All-you-can-eat, freshly steamed blue crabs are available on their deck overlooking the Bay.

What is the perfect summer vacation…beaches, beer and crabs! You can have it all in Kent County, Maryland. For more information or to plan your trip visit: kentcounty.com/visitors