After more than a year of hunkering down in our homes and avoiding gatherings, a beach vacation is exactly what most of us need right now. Luckily, DC is within easy reach of sandy dunes-from remote, quiet spots to popular summer hangouts with busy boardwalks and arcade games. So no matter what type of getaway you’re looking for this summer, we’ve rounded up the best beaches in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia that make for a great day or weekend trip, and there’s something for everyone.

The 786-acre park has long been a summer day trip destination for DMV residents seeking to beat the heat without crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The summer entrance fee is $4 per person during the week and $5 on holidays and weekends. The calm waters of the Chesapeake Bay make it a good swimming spot while the pavilions make it ideal for picnicking. Landlubbers can hike the trails through the pine forest and marshes where they can spot birds and other wildlife. 

On the way there, make a stop in the state’s scenic historic capital to grab a bite for your picnic or stop for lunch on the way there. Get fresh and jumbo lump crabs from the longstanding Cantler’s Riverside Inn. Seafood lovers can also head to the ever-popular restaurant Carrol’s Creek Cafe, which is currently taking reservations inside and on its waterfront deck. Popular with politicos, the old-school Chick & Ruth’s Delly offers hearty breakfasts, six-pound milkshakes, and thick corned beef sandwiches that can be enjoyed on the sidewalk, indoors, or wrapped up to go. If all of that’s not enough, you can fill up on baked goods at one of the outstanding bakeries in the area. Order fresh-baked breads from Bakers & Co. or a decadent dessert combo that combines pudding, cupcakes, and ice cream at Smallcakes. 

Visitors to Virginia Beach might find that the seaside town looks a little different than they remember this year, thanks to new hotels, breweries, and a creative arts district. The first stop for many visitors to Virginia Beach is the 38-block boardwalk, where you can snap a selfie by King Neptune as the sun sets, ride your bike, or enjoy a waterfront dinner. 

Beyond the boardwalk, Virginia Beach offers an arts area, known as the ViBe Creative District, where visitors can take a one-mile walking tour past colorful murals and visit the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art after booking a free reservation online. Stop at Vibrant Shore Brewing Company, which offers an indoor tasting room, rooftop, and patio. Complete your brewery tour by visiting one of the other breweries along the Virginia Beach Craft Beer Trail. Some offer cornhole, bocce and eats from area food trucks.

Diners hunting for restaurants with outdoor seating can head to Hearth, which serves wood-fired pizza and craft-beer and seafood shack Chix on the Beach, which serves 15 types of crushes.  

For an outdoor adventure, spend some time at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which offers nearly 5,000 acres of wetlands and thousands of migratory water birds, and First Landing State Park, with miles of walking and biking paths and hammocks by the water. 

Stay at the 350-room Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, which debuted last year with two restaurants and a pool. It’s an extension of the swanky Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club, a storied property that once hosted presidents and celebrities, that reopened three years ago and has since implemented new sanitation guidelines. 

Delaware beaches are back in full swing this summer with events like the July 4 fireworks and Rehoboth Beach Bandstand concerts on the lineup. If you want to ride through the Haunted Mansion at Funland, book a two-hour slot on the game-and-arcade destination’s website. The governor recently lifted capacity restrictions for shops and stores, giving you a better shot of snagging a table at one of the popular restaurants in town.

Dine in Henlopen City Oyster House in Rehoboth, which serves an array of bivalves and fresh fish dishes, or the area’s famous brewery restaurant, Dogfish Head Pub, or its locally sourced seafood restaurant Chesapeake & Maine, which serve the company’s beers, cocktails, and spirits. Head to Confucius Chinese Cuisine for excellent Hunan-style dishes and Bangkok Thai Cuisine for noodles and red curry in Lewes.

Take in the full beach eats experience with a stop at the area’s most celebrated pizza joint, Grotto Pizza, or get a giant bucket of vinegar-topped fried spuds at Thrasher’s French Fries (please don’t ask them for ketchup). Dolle’s salt water taffy or a custard cone from Kohr Bros should satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Also known for its tax-free shopping, Rehoboth’s Tanger Outlets Rehoboth Beach has reopened with new stores selling candy and sunglasses. Check the website for the latest information. 

Stay overnight at one of the area’s fancy hotels, including The Bellmoor Inn & Spa, which offers two pools and beach access to guests, or the Victorian-style Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, with a waterfront restaurant and a heated soaking pool.

The National Park Service oversees this 37-mile island in Virginia and Maryland, where wild ponies that roam the beaches and salt marshes are the main attractions. The nearly 100-year-old annual pony swim on neighboring Chincoteague Island was canceled once again this year due to COVID-19, but visitors can still gaze at the beauties along with shorebirds and other animals.

Guests can hike, bike, swim, and kayak on Assateague’s beaches and trails. Though exhibits and the information desk in the visitors center are still closed, the park store has resumed its daily operations. Lifeguards will be on duty daily from June 19 to Sept. 6. Start your day early as Assateague State Park will turn away visitors once it’s filled to capacity.

To experience the area’s true beauty, secure an NPS campground site, offered only on the Maryland side. But if you’re not one for roughing it, try the Refuge Inn, which feels woodsy and rustic, with modern amenities like a pool, Wi-Fi, and free breakfast, which can be delivered to your door. Other attractions include the 142-foot Assateague Lighthouse and the Assateague Explorer, which offers boat and kayak tours to view horses, dolphins, and birds. 

If you’re into space missions, stay in Assateague during a rocket launch at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, just 15 miles from the beach. The next launch is scheduled for June 15. Though the visitors center isn’t open, the NASA website lists possible viewing areas where you can view the rocket launch as it heads to the International Space Station or into lunar orbit. 

Head to West Ocean City, just six miles down the road, for plenty of dining options. Watch the sunset and listen to live music with an Orange Crush in hand outside at the waterfront Harborside, which also offers carryout. Or have dinner just across the water at Shark on the Harbor, which offers a selection of local craft brews and fresh catches available for carryout, as well as indoor and outdoor dining.

Located within a 90-minute drive south of DC, Colonial Beach boasts Virginia’s second-largest beach front along Virginia’s Northern Neck peninsula. Visitors can enjoy swimming and fishing at the beaches or break out the boat and kayak. Explore the area’s many historical attractions by golf cart, which can be rented and legally driven around the town. 

Start your day with a cappuccino and cinnamon roll at the woman-owned Colonial Buzz Espresso Bar, which features a take-out window and outdoor seating. Grab lunch at Denson’s Grocery, a mom-and-pop deli known for its oysters, ice cream, and sandwiches that offers curbside carryout Thursdays through Saturdays. Then spend the day sampling one of Virginia’s largest wineries, Ingleside Vineyards, which is open daily with indoor and outdoor seating and hosts acoustic musicians Sunday afternoons. Grab a cocktail and listen to live music at the two waterfront eateries, Dockside Restaurant and Tiki Bar and High Tides on the Potomac & the Black Pearl Tiki Bar.

Located 60 miles Northeast of DC, Gunpowder Falls State Park features 120 miles of trails for hiking and biking, kayaking, fishing, and a marina. Divided into six areas, the Hammerman Area offers the perfect city escape with a low-key, well-maintained beach. Maryland residents pay $5 per person and non-residents pay $7, during weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day and $3 during the week ($5 for non-residents). 

Bathrooms and picnic tables are available and the Riverside Grill concession has reopened with a limited menu. If you don’t bring your own cooler, head to one of the cafes and restaurants just outside the park. Pick up pancakes, breakfast burritos, and sandwiches to go from Kelly’s Kitchen & Bakery in Middle River. Across the street, you’ll find Hunan chicken and other Chinese specialties available to go from Asian Wok. About 20 minutes away in Kingsville, Gunpowder Lodge serves fried green tomatoes topped with lump crab, soft shell crabs, and burgers that you can savor under an umbrella at one of the outdoor picnic tables or to go.