Bay Beaches Worth The Trip? (Potomac, Chesapeake Beach: campers, live, beach)

[pcity]

I might be able to make a trip out to one of the bay beaches in the coming weeks, and was wondering if they'd be worth the hour drive (coming from Alexandria). Tried searching and there were a few posts that touched on this subject, but I wanted a little more info, so here goes:

What does everyone think of the Chesapeake Bay beaches from the bridge on down? I'm thinking Sandy Point, North Beach, Chesapeake Beach, and Breezy Point in particular, although if there are any better bay beaches I missed, feel free to point them out to me.

I'm not expecting white sand and crystal clear water here, but I do want to lie out for a while and take a few quick dips. Is there a decent amount of sand or is it just rocks? Is the water swimmable or totally disgusting?

Also, is there any particular bay beach this forum would recommend? Or am I better off just waiting for the next chance I get to go to the ocean beaches?

[debbiekr]

I have not been to Sandy Point in many years, but the last time I was there I thought it was a little dirty. It does look crowded every time I go over the bridge though. Hopefully someone who has been there recently will respond. Really, the best beaches are the community beaches. I'm originally from Kent Island and spent everyday of the summer at our community beach. How far away will you be from Colonial Beach in VA? That was a very nice beach.

[pcity]

Colonial Beach seems like a nice enough place, but I'm a little wary of swimming in the Potomac after reading today's Post blog about beach cleanliness:

Travel Log

which is based off of this report:

NRDC: Testing the Waters 2008

Fairview Beach, a little upriver from Colonial Beach, was considered the dirtiest beach in all of the region.

I looked at the associated website and, at least by this metric, all of the Chesapeake Bay beaches I was considering are pretty clean (98-100% compliance rates). I still would like to hear from people who have gone to them though.

[Joykins]

North Beach -- if you want to lie out and swim this beach is fine. The sand is nicer (finer) than at Sandy Point, but IIRC Sandy point has a bigger beach.

The most interesting thing to me about the bay beaches in Calvert Co. is the fossil hunting. You might be able to pick up shark teeth at North Beach.

Flag Ponds Nature Park (broken link) is great if you are interested in the natural environment of the bay area, and also has good fossil hunting--you can certainly lie out and swim there, too.

[tagylyn]

Originally Posted by Joykins

North Beach -- if you want to lie out and swim this beach is fine. The sand is nicer (finer) than at Sandy Point, but IIRC Sandy point has a bigger beach.

The most interesting thing to me about the bay beaches in Calvert Co. is the fossil hunting. You might be able to pick up shark teeth at North Beach.

Flag Ponds Nature Park (broken link) is great if you are interested in the natural environment of the bay area, and also has good fossil hunting--you can certainly lie out and swim there, too.

My Mom lives in North Beach and I think you have to be a resident to go to the beach. I am not sure, may want to check on it.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by tagylyn

My Mom lives in North Beach and I think you have to be a resident to go to the beach. I am not sure, may want to check on it.

Looks like residents get in free, but anyone can get a beach pass for 7 bucks:

Town of North Beach, MD - Beach, Pier and Boardwalk Information

7 bucks seems like a lot for a bay beach, but put in perspective, it's still a lot less than I'd pay in gas to get to Dewey or Rehoboth and back, and the time savings has to be worth something too.

[pamptrecy]

We went to Breezy Point the middle of September last year. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was there. We are RV campers and it was the closest place we could find to camp near Calvert Cliffs. We were going for the fossil hunting.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by tagylyn

My Mom lives in North Beach and I think you have to be a resident to go to the beach. I am not sure, may want to check on it.

No, you just have to pay. We go there a fair amount and we don't live there.

[Joykins]

In Chesapeake Beach there is this little blink-and-you-miss it beach. That is the only one there. Breezy Point and North Beach are bigger and much easier to find.

[Marylandsailor]

Sandy point beach has a great view and the beach is nice. The sand is not very "fine". Larger sand grains. I would NOT swim in the Chesapeake bay. Too much of a chance for the water to get in my eyes or nose or to ingest a small amount. Wading in to cool off is OK but I would rinse off soon after. I just don't trust what's in the water as in "bacteria".