The boardwalk starts at the southern end of the city (which is bounded by the Ocean City Inlet) and extends north to 32nd Street. North of 32nd, Coastal Highway travels through the city and is strewn with shops, hotels and restaurants. Like 32nd, streets that intersect Coastal Highway are numbered and increase as you travel north. Along these streets are a multitude of mini-golf courses, restaurants and more affordable hotels.

Ocean City is also located nearby other car-accessible bodies of water, including the Assawoman Bay to the north and Sinepuxent Bay to the south. Assateague Island, which straddles both Maryland and Virginia, is also a quick drive from the southern part of Ocean City. The area is known for its herds of wild horses, rumored to have first arrived on the Maryland and Virginia shores after a Spanish ship sunk off its coast, centuries ago.

If you're looking for a quieter beach scene, drive a little farther north to Bethany Beach or Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. Both are less than an hour away.