Visitor info
Quick answers to the most common questions about visiting Ocean City, Maryland.
Yes — Ocean City’s beach and Boardwalk are free and open to the public.
The Beach Patrol guards the beach daily from mid-May through late September, roughly 10am–5:30pm.
About three miles, from the Inlet to 27th Street.
Q: When are the stores and shops on the Ocean City Boardwalk open?
A: There’s no set time for all stores to open or close on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Each business has its own unique hours of operation.
Q: How can I find out the hours for a specific store or restaurant?
A: The best way to find out the hours for your favorite stores and restaurants is to:
Q: Are the stores open year-round?
A: Many stores and restaurants are open seasonally, with their hours varying depending on the time of year.
Q: When do most stores open for the season?
A: Typically, most stores and restaurants begin to open around Memorial Day weekend, often starting with weekend-only hours.
Q: When can I expect most stores to be open daily?
A: As the summer season progresses, you’ll find that most businesses are open daily during the week and on weekends.
Q: Are stores open after Labor Day?
A: Yes, many stores and restaurants remain open on weekends after Labor Day.
Q: Are there any special events that might extend store hours in the fall?
A: Yes, events like Oceans Calling and Sunfest often encourage businesses to remain open, at least on weekends, well into October.
Remember: It’s always best to confirm the hours of operation for a specific store or restaurant before heading to the Ocean City Boardwalk.
There is no universal time for a store to be open or closed. Each business runs its own hours. So check the website or Facebook page of your favorite business to see their hours. Typically, the shops restaurants and stores open around Memorial Day, at least on the weekends. As Spring moves into Summer, the businesses are almost all open during the week as well as the weekends. Most businesses remain open on the weekends after Labor Day and will start closing as we get into October. Now, with Oceans Calling, Sunfest and other big events in October, you will find the businesses will keep their stores and restaurants open at least on the weekends well into October.Oceans Calling returns in late September. Check the official festival site for the exact dates and lineup.
On the beach and Boardwalk in downtown Ocean City, around the Inlet.
FULL BAG POLICY:
Typically the first full week of August in Ocean City, Maryland.
The weigh-ins are free and open to the public. They take place at Harbour Island at 14th Street and the Bay in Ocean City each day of the tournament, typically from 4:00 PM to 9:15 PM.
You can also watch the weigh-ins on the live screen at Marlin Fest in the inlet parking lot.
Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. It can get hot and sunny on the docks. Also, bring your camera or phone to capture the action. You can bring water – but you may also be able to buy water from entrepreneurial vendors. As usual, bring money if you want to buy an iconic White Marlin Open t-shirt or other cool stuff from vendors.
The wild ponies of Assateague Island can be seen throughout the island. They are frequently on the ocean side of the Verrrazano bridge to the island. We find the drive to the National park offers ample sightings. Some popular viewing areas include:
Ponies often graze near the campsites and trails, so it is possible to see them while driving, hiking or camping. Please remember to keep a safe distance from the ponies and never feed them
You can also take a guided tour to enhance your viewing of the ponies and learn more about their history and behavior. Several companies offer tours of the island, including a Coastal Bays tour on the OC Bay Hopper.
Rates vary by company and boat size, but here’s a general range based on current local listings:
Bayside Boat & Jet Ski Rentals (5307 Coastal Hwy):
Odyssea Watersports (106 52nd St):
Always confirm current pricing directly with the rental company, as rates can vary by season.
It depends on when you were born. If you were born after July 1, 1972, you are required to have a valid boater’s certificate to operate the vessel. Rental companies like Bayside can issue a free temporary certificate on-site after you review the required safety materials from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Always check with your rental company in advance. baysideboatrentals
A few key things to keep in mind:
Public Transportation
Public Transportation is available on both the Ocean City’s Beach Bus that travels north and southbound along Coastal Highway and the West Ocean City Shuttle to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride. All Ocean City municipal buses are accessible.
Parking If you are driving from outside of Ocean City, parking options are available at the West Ocean City Park and Ride and at both the Ocean City Convention Center Parking Lot and the 100th Street Municipal Parking Lot. There will be Public Transportation available to and from the festival from these locations. Accessible parking is available at all municipal parking lots for patrons who have Placards. Be advised there are no parking options for the festival from N. Division Street south to the inlet. Addresses for the lots listed above are as follows: West Ocean City Park and Ride 12848 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842 Ocean City Convention Center Parking Lot 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 100th Street Municipal Parking Lot 10267 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 Accessible pick-up/drop-off The Accessible drop off and pick up point is available at 1 N. Division St (east of Baltimore Ave.). Accessible Festival Entrance There are two entrances at the festival. One located at the intersection of the Boardwalk and Talbor Street and the other located at the intersection of Boardwalk and S Division Street (next to Dumser’s Dairyland). There are specially designated lanes at each Festival entrance for patrons with disabilities. Look for the accessible signs above the entrance lanes or ask a staff member to direct you to the lanes. Accessibility Services Center The Access Center will be located at the main Guest Services & Information tent located just inside the festival entrance located off of the main Boardwalk and South Division Street. Our Access Center services include, but are not limited to:
The Festival provides many American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted music performances for patrons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Please email access@countrycallingfestival.comto request a specific performance be interpreted.
We ask that you make a request no later than September 4th, 2024 to allow adequate time to prepare. We will make every effort to accommodate, but cannot guarantee, requests not timely submitted.
A schedule of interpreted performances will be posted here.Patrons are allowed to bring their medically necessary materials and medications into the Festival, provided that all medicine has a prescription label with the patron’s name. Our personnel at the entry gates will verify the contents of any medically necessary materials. Out of concern for the festival staff who handle the trash, please dispose of your medical waste and syringes in the proper disposal, which is located at the medical tent. Please see the official Festival map for the location of the medical tent. Please do not dispose of these items in other trash bins at the Festival.
Service Animals
Pets are not allowed within the Festival grounds. However, miniature horses and dogs, which have been trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability, are welcome. If accompanied by a service animal, you will be provided a Patron Notice of Responsibility for a Service Animal or you can request the form in advance from access@countrycallingfestival.com. Please enter through the accessible lane at either entrance.
Have Questions About Our ADA Access & Accommodations?
For any questions, please email: access@countrycallingfestival.com
(provided by Country Calling)
