Beach Swim Guide

To swim or not to swim? Use the swim guide from Memorial Day to Labor Day to check whether the water at your favorite Anne Arundel County beach meets acceptable bacteria-level standards for swimmers as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Maryland Department of the Environment and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. Due to bacteria, viruses and other harmful microorganisms that are contained in natural bodies of water, there is some risk from swimming in them.

Sherwood Forest Pier
Preemptive Rainfall Advisory 
After rainfall of 1/2 inch or more, all Anne Arundel County beaches are under a no swimming/no direct water contact advisory for at least 48 hours due to predicted elevated bacteria levels from rainwater runoff and increased health risks. Do not swim in cloudy, murky water. During the summer swim season, the Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program will resume its routine sampling following the 48-hour period.
Warning! 
The Department of Health warns against swimming to any individual who has an ear infection, a perforated eardrum, open cuts, scratches or skin lesions, or a compromised immune system. Do not swim in water areas where there is a fish kill or where there are any dead animals.

Recreational Water Quality is tested from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Subscribe to our Water Quality Alerts!

Beach Swim Guide

  • Chesapeake Bay

  • Arundel on the Bay
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Bay Ridge at Bay Drive
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Bay Ridge at Lake Ogleton
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Bay Ridge at River Drive
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Beverly Triton Nature Park
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Cape St. Claire at Persimmon Point
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Cedarhurst on the Bay
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Fairhaven
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Franklin Manor
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Herrington Harbor South
    High bacteria count. Being resampled.
  • Highland Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Oyster Harbor
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sandy Point (East Beach)
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sandy Point (Middle Beach)
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sandy Point (South Beach)
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Saunders Point
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • Magothy River

  • Bayberry
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Camp Whipporwhill
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Cape Arthur
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Cape St. Claire at Lake Claire
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Hunters Harbor
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Magothy Manor
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Moorings on the Magothy
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Mountain Point at Gibson Island
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Shore Acres
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sylvan View
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Tar Cove at Sillery Bay
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Twin Harbors
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Upper Magothy Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • Patapsco River

  • Atlantic Marina Resort
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Bayside Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Ft. Smallwood Park
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Stoney Community Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Venice on the Bay
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • Rhode River

  • Camp Wabanna
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Ponder Cove
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • YMCA Camp Letts
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • Severn River

  • Annapolis Sailing
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Arden on the Severn at Oakview
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Arden on the Severn at Pullen
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Arden on the Severn at Shore End
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Arden on the Severn at Valentine Creek
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Carrollton Manor on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Colchester on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Epping Forest
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Herald Harbor
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Hollywood on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Linstead on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Olde Severna Park
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Palisades on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Pines on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Round Bay at Round Bay Road
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Round Bay Main Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sherwood Forest Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sherwood Forest Pier
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • South River Park Citizen Assoc (Beach)
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • South River Park Citizen Assoc (Pier 7)
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • West Severna Park
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Whitneys Landing
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Winchester on the Severn
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • South River

  • Cape St. John
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Chestnut Hills
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Edgewater Beach Sunny Section
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Glebe Heights
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Glen Isle
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Hillsmere Shores
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Loch Haven Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Londontown at Arundel
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Londontown at Delmar
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Londontown at Highland
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Londontown at Midland
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Londontown at Silver Run
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Mayo Beach Park
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Selby on the Bay
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • South River Heights
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Turkey Point at Selby Bay
    High bacteria count. Being resampled.

  • Stoney Creek

  • Elizabeths Landing
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Sunset Beach
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • Weems Creek

  • Admiral Heights
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.

  • West River

  • Avalon Shores
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • West River Methodist Camp
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.
  • Westelee
    Acceptable to swim unless a Preemptive Advisory is in effect.