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Staying on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland

On the Boards is where to stay for the ultimate beach-lover experience.

Ocean City, Maryland is a beach town located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It has been a popular tourist destination for decades and is known for its beaches, boardwalk, and amusement parks. If you are considering spending some time in Ocean City, staying on the Boardwalk is one of the best experiences you can have. Without a doubt, there is something for everyone; from restaurants and shopping to activities like carnival rides and mini-golf. There is even a fishing pier out over the Atlantic where you can get a wonderful view of the beach and the town or, yes, actually go fishing.

Ocean City Beach and Fishing Pier

Whether you are in the mood for a quiet meal or a wild night out, there is something for you. The boardwalk is located on the ocean and stretches from the OC inlet at the very south end of Ocean City for two and a quarter miles to the north. The boardwalk is the place to be in Ocean City.

Places to Book a room in Ocean City

Boardwalk Hotels Map
OCHotels OCMotels

There are many choices of places to stay on the Ocean City Boardwalk. There are also many places online to book your stay or make reservations for you vacation accommodations. There are links on these pages to Booking.com, the largest online booking service in the world (yes, we may earn a small advertising fee if you complete a booking/stay through one of these links, but it does not affect the price you pay). You can also look for places with small, but local, companies like the Boardwalk Hotel Group or Central Reservations, for example. It is also easy to make reservations directly with your hotel or hotel chain of choice, which works well for IHG and Hilton Honors “loyalty” members. There are also opportunities to find great rentals with AirBnB and VRBO. Check out the Ocean City Hotels Map to see the locations of many bookable properties.

How can you find a great hotel room in Ocean City, MD but don’t want to pay the (obviously) higher rates of staying right on the boardwalk? A great alternative is to choose a place to stay one block inland – and consider one of the lodging choices along Baltimore Avenue, which runs parallel to the boardwalk and is only one block away.

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Having Fun at the Beach in Ocean City, MD

What comes to mind when you think of a day at the beach?

Spending a day at the beach can be an enjoyable, relaxing experience for anyone looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Ocean City, Maryland is one of the premier seaside destinations in the United States, offering everything from traditional beach activities to exciting nightlife. With 10 miles of beautiful coastline, a vibrant boardwalk and plenty of attractions, Ocean City is sure to provide you with a memorable experience. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, OC is a modern beach resort located as the focal point of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The pristine beaches are popular with swimmers and sunbathers alike.

ocean city beach seen from the inlet jetty
The beach at Ocean City, Maryland as seen from the inlet jetty at the very south end of OC Boardwalk.

Watching the sun rise over the beach creates the start of a great day.

Waking up before sunrise and watching the sun rise over the beach is a beautiful experience that many people love. There is something special about sitting on the shore and feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays on your face as it rises over the horizon. Watching a sunrise at the beach provides a calming atmosphere, with plenty of sights to see and sounds to hear. The combination of beautiful colors in the sky, crashing waves, and singing birds creates an unforgettable moment that many people cherish.

Girl watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean
Watching the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean to mark the beginning of another wonderful day on the beach at Ocean City.

Playing in the sand on the beach

What comes to mind when you think of a day at the beach? Laying out in the sun, swimming in the ocean, and playing in the sand are just some of the many activities that make spending a day at the beach so enjoyable. Whether you’re building a sandcastle with friends or burying your toes in the soft granules, there is something special about playing in the sand on the beach.

sandcastle on the beach in Ocean City
Sandcastles and fun on the beach in Ocean City. Maryland.

Nothing beats a day spent at the beach! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day in the sun, an adventure on the waves, or simply some time to reconnect with nature, Ocean City, Maryland is the perfect spot for your next beach outing. With its miles of golden sand and crystal-blue waters, it’s no surprise that this bustling resort town has become one of the most popular destinations on the East Coast.

All of these are great reasons to stay in a hotel or condo/apartment as close to the beach as possible. There are plenty of hotel choices in Ocean City right on the boardwalk, on Baltimore Avenue one block away or in many other places in town that you can easily find on the Hotel Map.

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OC Vacations on Record Pace for 2023

Going by our hotel booking numbers we see visitor traffic exploding this year at the beach.

While OceanCityBoardwalkHotels.com is only a small, locally developed, website, certainly not one of the behemoths of the online hotel reservations world, our numbers do count for seeing trends as they develop. Our affiliation with Booking.com gives our readers immediate access to the largest and, in our opinion the best, worldwide online booking service. Our sales/booking/commission reports from them have surprised us greatly so far this year. (Yes, we do earn a small commission if you book through this site but it does not affect the price you pay.)

Crystal Beach Hotel Ocean City MD
Crystal Beach Hotel Ocean City, Maryland

This is written on the last day of March (only three months into 2023) and we are truly surprised at the huge uptick in hotel reservations we have seen so early in the year. Below is a summary version of what has been happening with the numbers of reservations we’ve experienced…

Crazy increases, right?

  1. So far, only three months into 2023, our bookings have just surpassed the TOTAL bookings for both 2020 and 2021 combined.
  2. Our bookings thus far into 2023 have already reached 71% of the total for 2022.
  3. —UPDATE for Mid-May— Bookings have surpassed the total for last year (2022), which is rather remarkable considering we are not really into “the season” for hotel reservations.
  4. —UPDATE for July— Today, July 16, there was a booking made that brought the 2023 number of bookings to EQUAL the total bookings for the last three years (2020, 2021 and 2023 combined).

Why might this be happening?

  1. No more COVID fears?
  2. People are booking early (earlier) to assure they get into places they like before they sell out (no availability)?
  3. We all know that rates have been increasing like crazy. Booking early may lock in a lower rate.

Whatever the reason, we are very happy to see the trending increase in OC vacations and reservations. We expect that Ocean City hoteliers, restauranteurs, retailers and entertainment venues are also quite happy to see this trend.

Grand Hotel Ocean City MD
Grand Hotel Ocean City Oceanfront

Be sure to visit the Ocean City Boardwalk Hotels page that lists most of the sought after hotels on The Boards. Also, check out the Hotel Deals page to save a few dollars if the timing is right and visit the Hotels Map page to locate the place(s) where you may want to stay.