The best place to paddle board in Ocean City, Maryland is the bay side, not the ocean. For a first paddle, rent a board on Assawoman Bay at 67th Street or launch from Northside Park at the north end of town. For the most scenic paddle, drive 20 minutes south to Assateague Island and explore the marshes of the bay side, where wild horses graze along the shore.
Ocean City works for paddling because the town sits on a narrow barrier island with shallow, sheltered bays behind it. Assawoman Bay to the north, Isle of Wight Bay in the middle and Sinepuxent Bay to the south are mostly calm, warm in summer and lined with marsh. The ocean side is a different story: town rules keep paddle boards off the guarded beaches during the day all summer.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Assawoman Bay at 67th Street, where 67th Street Paddle Cove rents boards and includes a free lesson.
- Free launch with parking: Northside Park (125th Street), on Assawoman Bay.
- Quiet and natural: Isle of Wight Park, a small Worcester County nature park on Isle of Wight Bay, just off Route 90.
- Most scenic: Assateague Island’s bay side, from the end of Bayside Drive, with rentals from Assateague Outfitters.
- The ocean: only before 10 am or after 5:30 pm from May through September, or after Labor Day on days when surfing rules are relaxed.
The best places to paddle board in Ocean City
Assawoman Bay at Northside Park
Directions
Best for: a free launch, sunset paddles. Flat water, but exposed to wind.
Northside Park is the Town of Ocean City’s largest park, on the bay side of town around 125th Street. It looks west across Assawoman Bay, which makes it one of the best places in town to paddle at sunset.
Where to launch: There’s a soft launch (a sandy or grassy edge, not a ramp) on Assawoman Bay. Parking is free in the community center lot and on nearby streets, but the launch is at least 0.2 miles from the closest parking, so a board cart helps.
What to avoid: Assawoman Bay is wide and shallow, so a west or north wind builds chop quickly. Stay near the shoreline and paddle into the wind first so the trip back is easier.
Good to know: The park also has a long fishing and crabbing pier. Keep clear of fishing lines and crab traps when you paddle past.
Assawoman Bay at 67th Street
DirectionsBest for: first-timers, families, guided tours. Flat water.
The bay end of 67th Street is home to 67th Street Paddle Cove, on the Sunset Island side of Coastal Highway. Renting here is the easiest way to try paddle boarding in Ocean City, because the shop handles the board, paddle and life jacket and sends you straight out onto the bay.
Where to launch: From the rental dock at the end of 67th Street. If you’re bringing your own board, launch at Northside Park instead.
Rentals and lessons: 67th Street Paddle Cove (120 67th Street) rents paddle boards and kayaks, with a free lesson included with every rental. It runs eco tours, sunset tours and glow tours, and is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm in season, weather permitting.
Good to know: Boats use the channels in the bay. Stay in the shallows near shore and keep an eye out for powerboats and jet skis.
Isle of Wight Bay at Isle of Wight Park
DirectionsBest for: a quiet paddle along marsh and small beaches. Flat water.
Isle of Wight Park is a 12-acre Worcester County nature park on St. Martin’s Neck Road, just south of Route 90 on the mainland side of the bay. The county describes it as a passive nature park with a canoe and kayak launch, two piers and picnic tables. It’s far quieter than anywhere in town.
Where to launch: From the soft launch by the piers. A few parking spaces sit right next to the launch, with about a dozen more a short walk down the road. Coming from Route 90 toward Ocean City, turn right onto St. Martin’s Neck Road before the bridge.
Where to paddle: Head west to find a shaded sandy beach under the Route 90 bridge, or north to explore the marsh creeks.
Good to know: There are no rentals here, so bring your own board. Watch for boat traffic under the Route 90 bridge.
Assateague Island (Bayside Drive)
Directions
Best for: scenery and wildlife. Flat, shallow, tidal water.
Assateague Island National Seashore starts just south of the Ocean City Inlet, about 20 minutes’ drive from town. The bay side is a maze of shallow water, small coves and salt marsh, and it’s where you have the best chance of seeing the island’s wild horses from your board.
Where to launch: At the end of Bayside Drive, inside the national seashore. It’s a soft launch with plenty of car parking but little room for trailers, and it gets crowded on summer weekends. National park entrance fees apply.
Rentals and lessons: Assateague Outfitters runs a seasonal rental stand at 12003 Bayside Drive with kayaks and paddle boards, plus a guided wildlife paddle through the marshes. Book on its website or call the kayak stand on 410-656-9453.
Good to know: Wild horses are wild animals. The park asks visitors to stay well away from them, and that includes landing your board next to a grazing horse. The bay is very shallow in places, so you may need to step off and walk your board at low tide.
When to go
The bays are best from late spring to early fall. NOAA’s long-term averages for the Ocean City Inlet put the water at about 60°F in May, 68°F in June, 73–75°F from July to September, and 66°F in October. In winter it drops to the low 40s.
- Summer (June–August): warmest water, all the rental shops open, and the busiest bays. Paddle early, before the boat traffic and afternoon wind.
- September: often the best month. The water is still in the 70s, the crowds have gone, and the ocean opens to paddle boards on some days.
- Spring and late fall: cold water. Wear a wetsuit and stay close to shore. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
- Time of day: mornings are usually calmest. Afternoon sea breezes put chop on the open bays.
Planning a longer paddle along the marshes? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long it will take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Ocean City
A paddle board is a vessel under Maryland and federal rules when you use it outside a swim or surf area. According to Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources:
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. Children under 13 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle that can be heard from a distance; DNR suggests attaching one to your life jacket.
- After dark: carry a white light, such as a headlamp or flashlight, ready to show to other boats.
Ocean City’s own rules on top of that:
- No paddle boards off the beaches during guarded hours. Town code bans paddle boards in the water next to any Ocean City beach from May 1 to September 30, between 10 am and 5:30 pm. From the Monday after Labor Day, paddle boards can use the ocean on days when the Beach Patrol has relaxed the surfing rules.
- Stay off the surf beaches. Only surfers on surfboards may be in the water at the designated surfing beaches, which move along the beach each day.
- Keep away from the Ocean City Inlet. It’s the only opening between the bays and the ocean, with strong tidal currents and steady boat traffic.
- Wear a leash. It keeps the board with you if you fall in a wind or a boat wake.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Ocean City?
Assawoman Bay at 67th Street. Rent from 67th Street Paddle Cove, which includes a free lesson, and stay in the shallows near shore.
Can you paddle board in the ocean in Ocean City?
Only outside guarded hours in summer. From May 1 to September 30, paddle boards aren’t allowed in the water next to the beaches between 10 am and 5:30 pm. After Labor Day, the Beach Patrol opens the ocean to paddle boards on some days. Read how to paddle board in the ocean before you try it.
Can you see the wild horses from a paddle board?
Often, yes. Launch from the end of Bayside Drive on Assateague Island and paddle along the marsh. Keep your distance, and don’t land next to the horses.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Ocean City?
No. The town launches are free. You’ll pay the national park entrance fee to launch on Assateague.
How warm is the water in Ocean City?
NOAA’s averages for the Ocean City Inlet are about 73–75°F from July to September and around 60°F in May.
More paddling near Ocean City
Not sure which board to rent or buy? Our Board Fitter suggests a size for your weight and the water you’ll paddle. For the best time of day and weather to head out, see the best conditions for paddle boarding. Heading south? See our guide to where to paddle board in Virginia Beach.
