Highland Beach is located near Annapolis on the Chesapeake Bay's western border. It is more than an hour away from St. Michaels, but it offers a history lesson in addition to waterfront beaches. Highland Beach was the first African-American municipality in Maryland. The 100 or so residents have chosen not to allow any commercial establishments to be developed. Terrapin Beach Park is located in Stevensville approximately one hour away. This park offers a public beach, as well as other outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping and hunting.
Numerous beaches are found south of St. Michaels along both shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Oxford Beach is approximately 20 miles south of St. Michaels and is the closest public beach. Cedar Grove Beach is just south of Oxford, also under an hour from St. Michaels. Mt. Vernon Beach allows access to a public beach along the southeastern shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Deal Island is located just south of Mt. Vernon and is nearly two hours away from St. Michaels. On the other coast of Chesapeake Bay and south of St. Michaels, Flag Ponds Nature Park Beach offers miles of coastline, hiking trails and a fishing pier.
Mayo and Beverly Beach are located along the western coast of the Chesapeake Bay. These beaches are available to those with a permit only, and they are approximately 60 miles from St. Michaels. The town of Chesapeake offers a wide variety of public and secluded beaches about two hours from St. Michaels. Brownie's Beach, also known as Bayfront Park, provides visitors and residents with beach access to swimming from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The beaches along the Atlantic Ocean are approximately two hours from St. Michaels. Ocean City is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Maryland. These 10 miles of public and free beaches also include a number of other attractions, including a three-mile boardwalk rated one of the best boardwalks in America by the Travel Channel. In the neighboring state of Delaware, Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach are within a two-hour drive of St. Michaels, and offer long stretches of public beaches.
