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The shops mostly open between 8am and 10am. Only a few are open at 8am, but pretty much all of them are open by 10am. Most of them stay open until around 11pm or midnight.

Have fun in OC!

I believe there is good access anywhere in OC.

Some pools are open on the 25th, but most open on the 26th for Memorial Day Weekend.

It is generally about 3 hours and 150 miles to Ocean City.  This is assuming no traffic and no stops.  It is a beautiful drive though and there are five main areas to stop for food, drinks, and gas.  This include just over the Bay Bridge, Queenstown, Easton, Cambridge and Salisbury.

Best suggestion I have is to just drive to Ocean City. There is plenty of parking at the inlet parking lot or on side streets.  And if you're looking to just go to the boardwalk, you can park anywhere around 27th St. and ride the Boardwalk Tram to the southern end where the rides and games are. The tram runs from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. and later on weekends. It's a small fee each way, but well worth it.

Access to the beach is provided at certain locations along the beach and is designated by a blue sign on street entrances along Coastal Highway.
The following is a list of Beach Access locations and where beach wheel chairs are available (noted *)

Inlet Beach/Lot *                  40th St.*                120th St.*
Somerset St.                          48th St.*                130th St.*
Talbot St.                              59th St.*                139th St.*
N. Division St.                       70th St.*                145th St.*
12th St                                   81st St*                 7th St.
5th St.                                  89th St.*                 27th St.
35th St.                                 94th St.*                 30th St.
37th St.                                  107th St*

Beach wheelchairs are provided on the beach at certain locations by the Town of Ocean City from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Wheelchairs must be used within one block of where the chair is assigned and kept.
Available on a first come/first served basis from the attending Beach Patrol and must be returned by 5 p.m.

They are also available through the Ocean City Police Dept. on 65th St./Coastal Highway and the Ocean City Visitor Center in the Convention Center on 40th St. for one or multi days by advance reservation. Beach wheelchairs are not to be taken into the water and are to be used only on the beach.

Around 3 1/2 miles or 43 blocks to the end of the boardwalk at 27th St. If you want to go the southern end where the rides and games are, it's another 2 miles or so. There is a public bus that runs 24 hrs a day every 10 or 15 minutes. The cost is $1.00 per ride, or you can buy a ride all day pass for $3.00.  Cheaper than paying to park.

Dogs are not permitted on the beach or Boardwalk in OC between April 30 to October 1.  There is a Dog Park on 94th St that is available for a small fee.  Dogs must be licensed and up-to-date on vaccinations.  Here is all of the info:

 http://oceancitymd.gov/Recreation_and_Parks/dogplayground.html

The best and safest parking is the municipal lot on 100th St, behind the Public Library.  The cost is $10 per day or $50 per week.  There is a kiosk that accepts credit/debit cards.  After payment, print a recipt and place in the bag provided and attach to the trailer hitch.  We use this lot for our boat trailer often.  Trailers cannot be parked in any other public lot or on the street.  They WILL be towed.

Although there is not a track, Northside Park is a beautiful facility that provides a paved path throughout that is suitable for running.  Parking is free and the aura is breathtaking peaceful.  Have a wonderful run.