🏆 Things to Do · Ocean City, MD
Things to Do in Ocean City
54 real, currently-operating attractions across every category — the 3-mile Boardwalk, Jolly Roger and Trimper’s amusement parks, and Assateague Island’s wild ponies.
🎈 Boardwalk & Amusement Parks
✅ Verified Open
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🎢 Amusement Parks
🕹️ Arcades
🏛️ Museums
🏄 Water Sports
⛴️ Boat Tours
⛳ Mini Golf & Fun
🏌️ Golf
🌲 Nature & Parks
🚗 Day Trips
Ocean City’s Boardwalk is the heart of the town — a 3-mile stretch of rides, arcades, and food stands running from the Inlet to 27th St, anchored by two century-old amusement operators, Trimper’s Rides and the Jolly Roger parks. Beyond the Boardwalk, deep-sea fishing charters and bay cruises depart from the Inlet and West Ocean City marinas, and just south of town, Assateague Island’s wild ponies and undeveloped national seashore beach make for one of the best easy day trips on the East Coast.
4 Things to Do
Ocean City Boardwalk
The famous 3-mile wooden boardwalk (since 1902) lined with rides, arcades, shops, and food stands running from the Inlet to 27th St.
Northside Park
58-acre bayside park at 125th St with a fishing/crabbing pier, playgrounds, sports fields, and a lighted holiday light show in winter.
Ocean Bowl Skate Park
One of the oldest continuously operating public skateparks in the U.S. (est. 1976), located in Northside Park.
Ocean City Public Beach & Beach Patrol
10 miles of free public Atlantic beach patrolled seasonally by the Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguards.
9 Things to Do
Jolly Roger at the Pier
Oceanfront amusement pier at the Boardwalk’s south end, home to the Freestyle 360 thrill ride.
Jolly Roger at 30th Street
Jolly Roger’s larger inland park with coasters, kiddie rides, and the Drop and Twist tower ride.
SpeedWorld Go-Karts
Jolly Roger’s multi-track go-kart racing complex, including the Route 66 track.
Splash Mountain Water Park
Jolly Roger’s water park with slides including the launch slide “Stealth.”
Jolly Roger Mini Golf
Themed miniature golf courses at the 30th St Jolly Roger complex.
Trimper’s Rides
Family-owned amusement park operating since 1902, home to a historic 1902 Herschell-Spillman carousel.
Trimper’s Haunted House
Boardwalk dark-ride haunted house, a Trimper’s attraction operating since 1964.
Baja Amusements
Go-karts, mini golf, and batting cages complex in West Ocean City.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Boardwalk oddities museum showcasing bizarre artifacts and exhibits, part of the global Ripley’s chain.
2 Things to Do
Fun City Arcade
Boardwalk arcade with classic and modern games and redemption prizes.
Sportland Arcade
Long-running Boardwalk arcade and amusement games venue.
1 Things to Do
Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum
Maritime and local history museum housed in the 1891 U.S. Life-Saving Service station at the Inlet.
13 Things to Do
Ocean City Fishing Center
Marina and charter-booking hub for offshore and inshore fishing trips.
The Ocean Princess
Deep-sea headboat fishing trips departing daily from Talbot St Pier.
Bahia Marina
Marina offering sportfishing charters, headboats, and boat rentals at 2nd St.
Chasin’ Tides Charters
Private inshore and offshore fishing charter operation.
A-Dare Inshore Fishing Charter
Private inshore light-tackle fishing charter.
Get Sum Charters
Private offshore/inshore sportfishing charter service.
Restless Lady Fishing Charters
Private charter boat for inshore and nearshore fishing trips.
Fin Chaser Sportfishing
Offshore sportfishing charter operation.
Happy Hooker Bay Fishing
Bay-fishing charter trips for families and beginners.
Paradise Watersports
Jet ski and pontoon boat rentals plus bay “safari” boat tours in West OC.
Assateague Outfitters
Kayak and paddleboard rentals and tours based at Assateague.
48th Street Watersports
Jet ski rentals, boat rentals, and bay eco-tours at 48th St.
4 Things to Do
Sea Rocket Speed Boat & Dolphin Cruise
High-speed boat rides and dolphin-watching cruises departing from the Boardwalk’s Talbot St Pier.
OC Bay Hopper
Water taxi and narrated sightseeing/Assateague cruises around the bay.
Assateague Explorer
Nature cruise to view wild ponies and wildlife along Assateague Island by boat.
5 Things to Do
Lost Treasure Golf
Jungle/pirate-themed 18-hole mini golf course on Coastal Hwy.
Old Pro Golf
Chain of multiple themed indoor/outdoor mini golf courses across Ocean City.
Captive Escape Rooms
Escape room experiences at the Ocean City location.
4 Things to Do
Eagle’s Landing Golf Course
Public 18-hole course near Berlin, ranked among Maryland’s top courses.
Bayside Resort Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole course in the Fenwick Island/Selbyville area.
Rum Pointe Seaside Golf Links
Pete & P.B. Dye-designed golf course near Berlin.
Glen Riddle Golf Club — Man O’ War
Nationally ranked 18-hole golf course in Berlin, MD.
2 Things to Do
Assateague Island National Seashore
National Park Service seashore famous for wild horses, beaches, and camping just south of Ocean City.
Assateague State Park
Maryland state park sharing the barrier island, with a swimming beach and campground.
10 Things to Do
Berlin, Maryland
Charming Victorian-era historic town 10 minutes from Ocean City with shops, restaurants, and a walkable historic district.
Salisbury Zoo
Free-admission zoo in a riverside park, about 30 minutes from Ocean City.
Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University
Downtown Salisbury museum focused on Eastern Shore heritage and decoy carving, successor to the former Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art.
Check Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University →
Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum
19th-century iron-furnace village with living-history interpreters, near Snow Hill, MD.
Julia A. Purnell Museum
Small-town history and folk-art museum in Snow Hill, MD.
Pocomoke River State Park (Shad Landing)
Maryland state park with cypress-lined river canoeing and kayaking near Snow Hill.
Chincoteague Island, VA
Quaint fishing village and gateway to the wild-pony wildlife refuge, about an hour south of Ocean City.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuge and primary habitat of the Chincoteague wild ponies, with beaches and wildlife drives.
Assateague Lighthouse
Historic 1867 lighthouse within the Chincoteague refuge, open seasonally for climbing tours.
Delmarva Discovery Museum
Regional natural-history and river-wildlife museum in Pocomoke City, about 45 minutes from Ocean City.
Planning Tips for This Area
- The Boardwalk is free and always open. Budget an evening for a walk, and a separate visit for the amusement rides at Trimper’s or Jolly Roger.
- Assateague Island is worth a full day. Bring cash for the park entrance fee, and go early in summer to beat both the heat and the crowds.
- Deep-sea and bay fishing charters book up fast in summer. Reserve a spot at least a few days ahead during peak season.
- Some day-trip attractions (Furnace Town, Chincoteague Lighthouse) are seasonal. Check hours before making the drive outside summer months.
What’s the single must-do thing in Ocean City?
A walk down the Boardwalk for Thrasher’s Fries and a ride on Trimper’s historic 1902 carousel — it’s free to walk, and it sets up everything else nearby.
Is a day trip to Assateague Island worth it?
Yes — the wild ponies, undeveloped national seashore beach, and hiking trails are about 20 minutes south of town and make for one of the best easy day trips from Ocean City.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each attraction directly against its own official site and current operating status rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is still open. Read more on our methodology page.
Know Something We Missed?
If you know a great Ocean City activity or attraction we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to Ocean City?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and where to eat, organized the same way, by category.
