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If you want to go on the beach vacation of a lifetime in Ocean City, Maryland, the right hotel is key in making sure your vacation is perfect. But while this might seem overwhelming, we’re here to help.
Why You Should Visit Ocean City, MD
Ocean City, MD, is one of America’s best destinations for a vacation by the beach. The main draw is obviously the beach, a long, sandy stretch of shore that is one of the best on the East Coast.
The beach has a five-star water rating, making it one of the cleanest in the country. Ocean City, MD, is more than the beach. The town has a whole world of beachside activities, including the famous historic boardwalk dating back to 1902.
Ocean City is a popular destination for families thanks in large part to this boardwalk which is home to an arcade, rides such as a Ferris wheel, and famous food such as Thrasher’s French fries.
For travelers looking to get off the beaten path, the north end of Ocean City offers a much quieter atmosphere as well as plenty of opportunities to engage in water sports.
Active travelers can enjoy kayaking, boating, horseback riding, and other activities. Further inland, visit the sports arena of Northside Park or Ocean City’s Center for the Arts for a more artistic adventure.
Ocean City, MD, is a great destination for a relaxing vacation for the whole family or with your group of friends. Where you stay can set the tone for your vacation, which is why it’s important to do your research and find out the best places to stay in town.
The 15 Best Hotels in Ocean City, MD
These are some of the best hotels that Ocean City, Maryland, has to offer, hand-picked by our resident travel experts. We’ll showcase options for all traveler types, budgets, and more. Let us be your guide!
1. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Ocean City
- Location: Northside Park
- Average Price: $150 a night in high season
The Ocean City outpost of Radisson’s Country Inn & Suites chain is a great option for a higher-end hotel that is centrally located and has plenty of amenities.
Guests can enjoy spacious rooms and suites that have air-conditioning, TVs, and basic kitchen appliances. Amenities at the hotel include an indoor pool and free, shaded parking, perfect for road-tripping guests. The hotel is very close to the beach.
2. DoubleTree by Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront
- Location: North Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $550 a night in high season
Most of the accommodations in Ocean City are designed for middle-class, unpretentious families, which is what makes the luxury at the DoubleTree by Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront stand out.
Guests can enjoy gorgeous rooms with massive HDTVs, balconies, and spacious seating areas.
The hotel has many shared amenities, including two outdoor pools, a restaurant, bar, café, and an indoor pool in an airy atrium. The location is also premium, with guests easily able to go to the beach and amusement park.
3. Courtyard by Marriott Ocean City Oceanfront
- Location: Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $427 in high season
The Courtyard by Marriott Ocean City is located directly on the oceanfront, giving guests beautiful views and easy access to the beach. If you don’t feel like walking to the beach, you can swim in the hotel’s indoor swimming pool or relax in the common areas.
Rooms are gorgeous, with simple ocean-themed décor and comfortable beds. Previous guests praised the staff, including the bartenders who make delicious drinks on-site.
4. Castle in the Sand
- Location: North Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $305 a night in high season
Castle in the Sand is one of Ocean City’s most high-end resorts. Guests can enjoy ocean views from most of the rooms, which feature panoramic windows.
The hotel includes many shared amenities and organized activities, such as evenings by the pool, beach equipment rental, and DVDs to choose from in the room.
If you get hungry, Castle in the Sand has several on-site eateries, including a tiki bar with delicious seafood.
5. Cambria Hotel Ocean City — Bayfront
- Location: Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $358 a night in high season
The Cambria Hotel in Ocean City is a towering hotel right on the boardwalk. The gorgeous modern exterior hides a simple, elegant hotel with an ocean-themed interior design.
You can enjoy amenities such as a gleaming indoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and a bar where you can mingle with fellow hotel guests.
Previous reviewers were particularly fond of the location, saying that there are many things to do just a short distance away, including the Jolly Roger amusement park and Ocean City beach.
6. Grand Hotel Ocean City Oceanfront
- Location: Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $241 a night in high season
The Grand Hotel Ocean City Oceanfront has a lot to offer travelers who stay here. Common amenities include a game room with billiards, shuffleboard, and chess, a pool, and even a salon so you can look your best for the beach.
When you’re done relaxing in your gorgeous room, head out to the boardwalk that is located right outside the hotel for activities such as swimming and kayaking.
7. Hyatt Place Ocean City Oceanfront
- Location: Ocean City Center
- Average Price: $194 a night in high season
The always classy Hyatt Place has an outpost on the oceanfront of Ocean City. In the summer, swim in the outdoor pool, while the indoor pool and fitness center are open all year round.
Previous visitors also loved the provided breakfast as well as the excellent service. Hyatt Place’s receptionists on duty are very helpful when deciding what to do during your stay.
8. Hampton Inn & Suites Ocean City
- Location: North Ocean City
- Average Price: $319 a night in high season
If you’re looking for a bit more space when traveling to Ocean City with your family, stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites. The rooms and suites include basic kitchen equipment, such as tea and coffee machines, plus plenty of space to relax.
Guests can enjoy free breakfast as well as work out in the fitness center. Plus, reviewers praise the staff for friendliness and attention to detail.
9. Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Ocean City Oceanfront
- Location: Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $331 a night in high season
The Howard Johnson Plaza is a throwback to the heyday of American roadside motels, decorated with classic midcentury décor.
However, the hotel is not a time capsule and features everything that you would expect from a modern hotel while on vacation, such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a pool, and a hot tub.
The hotel is close to the boardwalk for exploring and even offers bicycle rentals to make it easier to explore.
10. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Ocean City
- Location: Ocean City Boardwalk
- Average Price: $299 a night in high season
The Fairfield Inn & Suites is a clean, comfortable stay in Ocean City with just enough amenities that you feel pampered at your home away from home.
Swim on the pool deck when going to the ocean a few feet away feels like a chore, and take in views of the bay. Start your day by dining at the breakfast buffet and asking the friendly receptionists for their area recommendations.
Finally, make the most of your stay in Ocean City thanks to the excellent location, which guests say is centrally located and makes it easy to explore.
11. The Spinnaker
- Location: Ocean City Center
- Average Price: $221 a night in high season
The Spinnaker doesn’t have that many frills, but it is a very comfortable place to stay during your visit to Ocean City. All units feature two beds and a sofa bed, making them perfect for larger groups.
Enjoy amenities such as a heated pool and on-site restaurant to make it easy to get the food you need. Guests are big fans of the location, which is close to the beach but in a quieter part of town away from the bustle of the boardwalk.
12. Best Western Plus Ocean City
- Location: North Ocean City
- Average Price: $155 a night in high season
This outpost of the stalwart Best Western chain is a great place to stay in comfort in Ocean City. Enjoy basic amenities such as a sun terrace, a seasonal pool, and free Wi-Fi.
If you get hungry, the snack vending machines provide an affordable fix at all times of the day. Guests praise the location, which is close to attractions as well as the highway, making it easy to visit for road trippers.
13. Lankford Hotel and Lodge
- Location: Ocean City Center
- Average Price: $162 a night in high season
The Lankford Hotel and Lodge is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a retro-style beach vacation. The simple hotel is located in a historic building just off the Ocean City boardwalk, which previous guests praised for its unique character.
The rooms are modern and clean, with air conditioning, TV, and Wi-Fi. Plus, if you forget to buy souvenirs for everyone on your list until the last minute, the hotel has its own shop.
14. Beach Walk Hotel
- Location: Ocean City Center
- Average Price: $121 a night in high season
The Beach Walk Hotel is a great choice for a relatively affordable stay that is still close to the beach. The rooms are simple but clean and comfortable, with a vintage style for the interior design.
Staff go above and beyond to make sure you enjoy your beach vacation, even allowing guests to rent beach umbrellas. Relax after the beach in rocking chairs on the patio and watch the town go by.
15. Gateway Hotel & Suites, Ascend Hotel Collection
- Location: Ocean City Center
- Average Price: $200 a night in high season
The Gateway Hotel & Suites is close enough to the boardwalk that you’ll be close to all the fun but far enough away that you’ll have enough of your own space. The guest rooms have plenty of amenities, including a balcony for every room.
Enjoy the outdoor pool in the summer and the fitness center all year round. Plus, if you’re coming on the heels of a long trip, you can do your laundry in the hotel.
Making the Most of Your Ocean City, MD, Hotel Stay
OCEAN CITY, MD – JUNE 04: People at Ocean City Boardwalk on June 04, 2010 in Ocean City , MD USA. People walking ,and having fun at the famous Ocean City Beach boardwalk with many attractions/Lissandra Melo/Shutterstock
If you are visiting Ocean City, you want to make it a beach vacation to remember. Make that happen by following these tips:
Getting to the Hotel
Ocean City is great because most of the hotels and attractions are concentrated in one small central area. Shuttle buses and boardwalk trams run through the city and make it easy to get around.
Most people drive to Ocean City, Maryland, but the parking and traffic situation can get tough in the summer. Unless your hotel offers free parking, you can leave your car in a park-and-ride lot and take a shuttle into town.
Crime and Safety
Ocean City is mostly a safe city. However, it does have a problem with thefts and pickpocketing, like most tourist destinations around the world. Keep an eye on your valuables, and don’t leave any lying around.
When you park your car, take valuables with you, as car burglaries are common. Take advantage of hotel safes for international travel documents and other items when a theft would ruin your vacation.
Traveler Tips
Here are some tips other travelers have shared when coming to Ocean City:
- Ocean City is easy to get around, as there is just one main road, Coastal Highway, with frequent buses in the summer. Take advantage of this public transportation when sightseeing, bar hopping, and more.
- In the summer, Ocean City is a very popular beach destination, which means that it gets very crowded. It is particularly a popular party destination among recent high school graduates and college students, so be prepared.
- In the summer, accommodation prices also get a lot higher, so factor that into your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ocean City, Maryland/United States- June 30th 2019: Boardwalk/Yeilyn Channell/Shutterstock
Here are some other things previous travelers to Ocean City, Maryland, wanted to know:
What is the best area of Ocean City, MD?
The best area of Ocean City is the Downtown area and the Boardwalk. All the attractions are concentrated around here, as are most of the hotels.
Why is Ocean City, Maryland, so popular?
Ocean City is so popular because of its iconic historic boardwalk and the long stretch of pristine beach that runs along it.
People come here for everything associated with a traditional beach vacation, from saltwater taffy to waves. Ocean City is also becoming popular among the professional angler crowd for its marlins.
Is there a quiet part of Ocean City, Maryland?
North Ocean City, right along the Delaware border, is definitely the quieter part of town. This area is further away from the bars and amusement park rides of the boardwalk.
But it’s still close to the beach. Most of the accommodations here are condos and vacation homes, not hotels, which is why the area is nicknamed “Condo Row.”
What is the main strip in Ocean City, Maryland?
The main strip is the Boardwalk, which runs all throughout the town and has everything you’d want to see in town.
What is the best month to go to Ocean City, Maryland?
Ocean City, MD, comes alive from late May to early September when the weather is perfect for going to the beach.
So What Is the Best Hotel in Ocean City, MD?
Most Ocean City hotels are mid-range hotels from big chains such as Hilton, Radisson, and Marriott, although there are a few smaller quirky inns.
These hotels usually have decent amenities, but all have much higher prices in the high season than in the spring, so keep that in mind when booking your trip. So what are you waiting for — book you stay today!