Lily in DC

Quiet Waters Dog Beach is located in Annapolis, MD roughly 34 miles from Washington DC city center* and is nested along South River off of the Chesapeake Bay. The beach itself is free to use, but it costs $6** to park your car in the Quiet Waters Park parking lot. While Quiet Waters Dog Beach is off leash, Quiet Waters Park is not unless you are in the dedicated dog park area, so keep that in mind when planning your visit!

Our Trip
We decided to make a day-trip to Annapolis on a Saturday in July and were so excited to get Lily in the water! We were on the tail end of several weeks of record-high temperatures in D.C., so we were not able to get her outside as often as we normally do. The drive in took about an hour with traffic and was mostly highway, but by the time we got into the park, the road was lined with trees, and the drive was beautiful. As soon as we parked and got Lily out of the car, she got tippy-tappy toes which is usually a tell-tale sign that she has been somewhere before and knows where she is. Turns out her Auntie Lauren had taken her to the beach several months before while we were out of town, and she was so excited to be back!

What To Expect at Quiet Waters
The path we took from the parking lot to the beach is probably just under 0.5 mile, mostly downhill there and uphill back. There is a restroom and a “shower” right off of the parking lot to hose off your dog (and your feet!) before you get back into your car.

The beach is small (maybe 40 yards in length and 2 yards in width on average if I were to guesstimate) but is a fully fenced in, off-leash beach dedicated to doggos of all shapes and sizes. It was really busy when we went which made Lily a bit nervous, but she did great with some of the more rambunctious doggos.

If you decide to go on the weekend, be aware that many people make a full day out of this. We saw a lot of people with beach chairs who looked like they had been settled with their pups for a few hours. Not surprising as I am sure this park is a favorite of people and dogs alike during warmer months, but it is something you should keep in mind if you have an anxious pup. Also, don’t expect crystal clear waters and a clean beach – it is a river, and the beach accumulates grass, so we recommend packing sandals or waterproof shoes!

Overall, the experience was good, and we would go back but would probably try to go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

*Point of reference: 16th St NW & Rhode Island Ave NW
**As of July 2024