Stuck on Route 50? Here Are My Favorite Ways to
Make the Trip to Ocean City More Fun
If you’ve ever driven from Baltimore to Ocean City on a summer Saturday, you probably know
exactly where this is going…
You fly over the Bay Bridge thinking, “Wow, we’re making great time!”
About 15 minutes later, you’re barely moving, everyone in the car is asking, “How much longer?”
and Google Maps has quietly added another 47 minutes to your trip.
Sound familiar?
Over the years, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s actually more fun to embrace the slower pace.
Instead of inching along in traffic getting more frustrated by the minute, why not hop off Route
50 for a bit and discover some of the hidden gems Maryland’s Eastern Shore has to offer?
Here are a few of my favorite places to stretch your legs, grab a bite to eat, or simply enjoy the
journey before you hit the beach.
🌊 Kent Narrows
Once you’re over the Bay Bridge, you’re already on vacation… or at least it should feel that way.
Kent Narrows is the perfect first stop if you want to grab a coffee, watch the boats go by, or take
a quick stroll along the waterfront. It’s peaceful, scenic, and a nice reminder that there’s more to
the Eastern Shore than just Ocean City.
🎨 Academy Art Museum (Easton)
I know what you’re thinking…
“An art museum on the way to the beach?”
Hear me out.
Admission is free, it’s air-conditioned (always a win in August), and it’s a surprisingly relaxing
place to spend 30 or 45 minutes before getting back on the road. Even if you’re not a huge art
fan, it’s worth checking out.
️️Downtown Easton
️If you’ve never wandered through downtown Easton, add it to your list.
It’s one of those towns where you can park once and spend an hour just exploring. There are
locally owned shops, great coffee, ice cream, restaurants, and plenty of beautiful historic
buildings.
Honestly, if I wasn’t trying to get to the beach, I could spend half a day here.
📚 Unicorn Bookshop
Every beach trip needs a good beach read.
Instead of grabbing a bestseller from a big-box store, stop by Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe. This
independent bookstore has been around for decades, and there’s just something fun about
finding your vacation book from a local shop.
Plus… bookstores are dangerous for me. I rarely leave with just one book.
🍺 RAR Brewing (Cambridge)
If your crew is ready for lunch, Cambridge makes a great stop.
RAR Brewing is housed inside a former grocery store, which is pretty cool all by itself. They
have excellent food, great craft beer, and it’s a fun place to relax before tackling the rest of
Route 50.
(If you’re the driver, save the beer for another visit!)
⚓ Downtown Cambridge
While you’re there, take a few extra minutes to walk along the waterfront.
Cambridge has a completely different vibe than Ocean City—slower, quieter, and full of history.
Sometimes that’s exactly what you need before diving into the excitement of the beach.
🐐 Wright’s Market
This might be my favorite stop for families.
Less than an hour from Ocean City, Wright’s Market has fresh produce, homemade baked
goods, sandwiches, ice cream… and yes, even a petting zoo.
If you’ve got kids who’ve been sitting in the back seat for three hours, letting them burn off a little
energy before the final stretch might just save your sanity.
(And let’s be honest… adults like the petting zoo too.)
The Drive Doesn’t Have to Be the Worst Part
I think we all get so focused on reaching Ocean City that we forget the Eastern Shore is packed
with great little towns and hidden gems.
Next time traffic starts backing up on Route 50, maybe don’t see it as a delay.
See it as an excuse to discover somewhere new.
Who knows? You might even find a stop that becomes part of your family’s beach tradition every
summer.