Planning for a road trip to Ocean City,MD from Gaithersburg, MC

[aganguly01]

Hi All,
I am new to road trip.Planning for a short road trip from Gaithersburg, MD to Ocean City MD.Might cover Bethany Beach, rehoboth beach, assateague island.

Any inputs regarding the road map and decent accommodation would be of great help.I will be driving along with my wife and my daughter who is 3 and half.
Thanks in advance,
Arnab

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Although it's a short RroadTrip, it is (I'm sure you know) one that is fraught with difficulties, especially if you plan to go and/or return on a weekend. Your first job will be to thread the needle between Washington and Baltimore without getting too caught up in either's traffic. To that end, I'd suggest that you use MD-200 east, I-95 north, MD-32 east, I-97 south, and finally US-50 east. Unfortunately, there's no real alternative to using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. If you head first for Lewes/Cape Henlopen/Rehobeth, then MD-404/MD-16/DE-16/DE-1 should work for you. For Bethany Beach or Fenwick Island try MD-404/US-113/(DE-26 or DE-20). For Ocean City, just stay on US-50. Although it's only a three hour drive (plus traffic delays) I'd plan on a lunch stop, preferably of the picnic variety, since you'll have a young child along.

A beach cottage rental is probably your best bet, particularly if you're going to be spending a week or more. My own experience with that area (I grew up in Wilmington and spent summers in Fenwick Island and Bethany) is that the southern Delaware beaches, known collectively as "The Quiet Resorts", would be a much better fit for your family than the high-rise honkey-tonk atmosphere of Ocean City. Just do a search on the various towns and the phrase 'vacation rental' and you should get several options. Also, almost any of those towns would put all the sites you've mentioned within day trip distance. I think your daughter would be particularly intrigued by the wild ponies at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. If you do go there, there is also a small NASA launch facility with a little museum at Wallops Island on the road leading into Chincoteague. Other than that, just plan on relaxing on the beach, playing in the sand, collecting shells, and making memories for your daughter.

AZBuck

[aganguly01]

Thanks for your response and time.