I had absolutely no idea that Maryland was hiding a resort like this.
Five restaurants. A two-floor casino. A rooftop pool overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Jet skiing right from the marina. A summer concert series on the water. Stunning bay-view balconies. And it is only 75 minutes from Baltimore and 60 minutes from DC.
Let me say that again. All of that. In Maryland. No flight required.
Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort in Chesapeake Beach is the kind of place that makes you feel like you planned a big trip when you barely left the state. When we pulled up and I walked through those doors, my first thought was that I had somehow been transported to a Caribbean resort. The lobby is marble with high archways and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that frame views of the Chesapeake Bay. There is a fireplace, water features, and this sweeping sense of arrival that you simply do not expect from a drive down the road.
This place genuinely has something for everyone in your crew. Couples who want romance and water views and a casino date night. Families who need pools, water activities, and dining that works for all ages. Friend groups coming for a Rock the Dock concert on the bay. Solo travelers who just need a balcony and a good meal and some peace. Rod N Reel covers all of it without you ever having to get back in the car.
Rod ‘N’ Reel has been a Chesapeake Bay institution since 1946, when it opened as a restaurant and marina for fishermen and locals who loved the water. The resort just completed a major multi-phase renovation that has completely transformed it into a destination-worthy property, and the result is stunning. This is not a freshened-up old hotel. This is a genuinely reimagined resort experience with 75 years of history behind it.
Here is everything we did, everything we ate, and every reason you need to start planning your trip now.
Where We Stayed: Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort
📍 4160 Mears Ave, Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732
The rooms are sleek, modern, and built to make the most of the waterfront location. Our room had a spacious private balcony with a view of the Chesapeake Bay that we genuinely could not stop using. We sat out there in the morning drinking coffee watching the water, and came back in the afternoon for drinks while the kids played. If you are going to do a quick getaway and spend any time just being still, the balcony is where it happens.
The hotel now has over 100 rooms across the property, and here is a booking tip you need to know before you reserve: the North Tower is the newly renovated side and is where you want to be for the full updated resort experience. If your booking confirmation does not specify a tower or says North Tower, you are on the right side. If it says South Tower, that is the older side, so call and request the North Tower specifically.
One exception to that rule: if you are coming for a Rock the Dock concert, book the South Tower on purpose. The concerts are held on the south side of the property, so a South Tower balcony room puts you front and center for the show without paying for a concert ticket. You get a private balcony view of the entire performance right from your room. That is one of the best travel hacks I can share for this resort.
Rooms start at just $149 a night on weeknights, which makes this one of the most affordable waterfront resort experiences in the entire mid-Atlantic. For the best balance of value and experience, consider booking Saturday through Monday. You get the weekend energy, the concert if one is scheduled on Sunday, and the quieter Monday to decompress before heading home, all while securing a balcony room since those book up fast on weekends.
The rooms in the North Tower are sleek, modern, and built to make the most of the waterfront location. Our room had a spacious private balcony with a view of the Chesapeake Bay that we genuinely could not stop using. We sat out there in the morning drinking coffee watching the water, and came back in the afternoon for drinks while the kids played. If you are going to do a quick getaway and spend any time just being still, the balcony is where it happens.
The lobby alone sets the tone when you walk in, with the marble floors, the fireplace, the water features, and those gorgeous bay views through the glass. The renovations tied the history of the old Chesapeake Beach Railway into the building’s design, which gives the whole space a real sense of place and story rather than feeling like a generic hotel refresh.
One more thing worth knowing: parking is free and self-service. If you book a King Waterfront Suite you get a gas fireplace and a jacuzzi on top of the balcony views, which makes it a standout option for a couples trip or anniversary stay.
Lisa’s tip: Weeknight rates start at $149 so if you can swing a midweek trip, the value is incredible. For concert weekends, book South Tower with a balcony and save your concert ticket money for the casino and dinner instead.
The Dining: Five Options and You Never Have to Leave
One of the things that made this trip feel genuinely resort-like was how well the on-site dining covered every meal, every mood, and every member of the family. We ate every single meal at the resort and never once felt like we were settling or running out of options.
Here is a rundown of all five dining spots:
Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant is the signature fine dining anchor of the resort, established in 1946 and recently renovated in its original location overlooking Fishing Creek and the bay. The menu showcases freshly caught seafood, locally inspired dishes, and seasonal ingredients. This is where you go for a proper dinner with bay views and an elevated experience. The custom-built boat-shaped bar celebrates the resort’s maritime roots and makes even a drink at the bar feel like an occasion.
1936 Bar and Grill was our favorite for lunch. This is the spot that gave us the huge, beautiful shrimp and the best burgers of the trip. It stretches across two levels with ample indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Fishing Creek and the Chesapeake Bay, plus multiple screens for watching sports. The energy is casual and social and the food is genuinely good. We went back here more than once.
CBQ is a quick-serve Maryland-inspired BBQ restaurant, serving up smoked meats and sides with a local flavor. Great for a casual meal or a quick bite without fuss.
The Dock is the outdoor seasonal restaurant right on the water with that laid-back coastal atmosphere you come to the bay for. Fresh seafood, casual favorites, refreshing drinks, occasional live music, and beautiful Chesapeake Bay views. This is the spot where flip flops feel perfectly appropriate and the afternoon just stretches out in the best way. Open daily 12pm to 9pm, and the bar stays open an hour after Rock the Dock concerts end. Perfect for a post-concert nightcap right by the water.
Otto’s Brew Bar is where mornings begin at Rod N Reel. Freshly brewed coffee, house-made pastries, breakfast, and lunch favorites served alongside signature coffee cocktails. Think of it as the place to slow down and start your day right before heading to the pool or the bay. Open Sunday through Thursday 7am to 5pm, and Friday through Saturday 7am to 9pm with the bar opening at noon on weekends. You can even order online through Toast before you head down.
Five options. Every meal covered. No car needed. That is genuinely resort-level convenience and it made the whole stay feel effortless.
The Pools: Rooftop Views and Indoor Options
The rooftop pool was the absolute favorite for our kids and honestly for us too. Imagine swimming while looking out over the Chesapeake Bay. It is one of those experiences that sounds simple and lands completely differently when you are actually in it.
For days when the weather is not cooperating or you just want a change of scene, there is also a full indoor pool that keeps the fun going regardless of what is happening outside. Having both options is a real quality-of-life addition on a family trip because you are never dependent on perfect weather to have a great time.
Jet Skiing on the Chesapeake Bay
If you want to get out on the water and actually feel the bay rather than just look at it, the resort offers jet ski rentals right from the marina. Pricing runs $90 for 30 minutes or $150 for an hour per jet ski. We got out on the water and it was one of the highlights of the whole trip, flying across the Chesapeake Bay with the resort and the shoreline behind us.
The marina also offers fishing charters, kayak rentals, and pontoon boat rentals for those who want a different pace on the water.
Lisa’s tip: Book the jet skis in advance during peak season, especially on summer weekends. They go fast.
The Casino: Two Floors of Gaming Right On-Site
This is the primary reason a lot of people make the trip to Rod ‘N’ Reel, and understandably so. The resort has two full floors of gaming featuring video pull-tab machines and bingo with progressive jackpots. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
My mother-in-law is a casino person and she was absolutely in heaven here. She ended up winning $400 on this visit, which made her the most popular person at dinner that evening. On Friday nights they bring in a DJ for the casino area, which adds a whole different energy to the gaming floor and makes it feel more like a night out than just a gaming session.
Even if you are not a big casino person, it is worth walking through just to see the space. But fair warning: it is easy to lose track of time in there.
Rock the Dock: Summer Concert Series
📍 rnrresortmd.com | Tickets at rockthedock.com
This is the summer addition that takes Rod N Reel from great resort to genuinely exciting destination on specific weekends. Rock the Dock is a summer concert series held on select Sundays on the resort’s sandy outdoor area right on the water, featuring tribute bands spanning classic rock, Motown, country, and more.
The setting alone is worth it. Sandy ground under your feet, the Chesapeake Bay right there, live music in the open air. It is the kind of summer evening that becomes a core memory.
Here is the full 2025 Rock the Dock lineup from the images:
July and August: Eclipse (Journey Tribute) | July 4 Completely Unchained (Van Halen Tribute) | July 10 Outlaw State of Mind / Beautiful Crazy (Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs Tribute) | July 17 The Reagan Years (80s Tribute) | August 7 Johnny Seaton and Bad Behavior (Elvis Tribute) | August 21
September: Eclipse (Journey Tribute) | September 1 Hotel California (Eagles Tribute) | September 4 Tina Turner ft. The 4 Queens (Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Donna Summer Tribute) | September 18
Tickets go on sale at rockthedock.com. Follow @rnrresortmd on Instagram for announcements and updates.
Lisa’s tip: The Tina Turner and Donna Summer tribute on September 18 needs to be on your calendar immediately. That lineup is not one to miss.
A Little History: Why Chesapeake Beach Was Maryland’s Hidden Gem
Here is some context that made this trip feel even more special once we learned it.
Chesapeake Beach was once the premier beach destination from both Baltimore and Washington DC. In the early 1900s, Marylanders would board steamboats from Baltimore’s harbor and sail down to Chesapeake Beach for the day. DC residents came by train on the historic Chesapeake Beach Railway, which ran from the city all the way to the shore for 35 years. This was the go-to summer escape for the region long before Ocean City dominated the conversation.
You can see that history woven into the resort’s design, from the architectural nods to the old railway station in the lobby building to the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum literally next door to the resort. That museum is a great bonus stop if you are staying for a weekend, especially with kids who love trains. There is also a playground right across the street for extra family fun.
Today Chesapeake Beach is a 75-minute drive from Baltimore and a 60-minute drive from Washington DC, making Rod N Reel one of the most accessible resort experiences on the East Coast for Maryland and DMV residents.
Who Is This Trip For?
The honest answer is almost everyone, and that is not a common thing to say about any destination.
For couples: The balcony views, the fine dining at Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant, the casino, and the jet skis make this a genuinely romantic and fun getaway without the hassle of a long trip.
For families: The rooftop and indoor pools, the dining options at every price point, the jet skiing, the Rock the Dock concerts, the train museum next door, and the playground across the street give families enough to fill multiple days.
For girlfriends: A Rock the Dock concert weekend with the casino and the rooftop pool and the Tina Turner tribute band is basically a perfect girls trip that requires zero travel planning stress.
For a quick reset: Sometimes you just need to sit on a balcony over the Chesapeake Bay, have a good meal, and let the water do its thing. Rod ‘N’ Reel is perfect for exactly that.
This is one of Maryland’s most underrated destinations and I genuinely cannot believe it took me this long to discover it. If you are a Maryland local or visiting the DMV, add this to your list immediately.
Rod N Reel Resort FAQ
Where is Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort located? Rod N Reel Resort is at 4160 Mears Ave, Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732, right on the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, Maryland.
How much do rooms cost at Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort? Rooms start at $149 per night on weeknights, making this one of the most affordable waterfront resort experiences in the mid-Atlantic. Weekend rates vary. For the best experience, consider booking Saturday through Monday to catch a Sunday Rock the Dock concert and have a quieter Monday to wind down.
How many rooms does Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort have and which side should I book? The resort now has over 100 rooms. The North Tower is the newly renovated side and is the best choice for most stays. However, if you are coming for a Rock the Dock concert, book the South Tower with a balcony room instead. The concerts take place on the south side of the property, so a South Tower balcony gives you a front-row view of the entire show from your room without paying for a separate ticket.
How far is Rod ‘N’ Reel from Baltimore and DC? It is approximately 75 minutes from Baltimore and 60 minutes from Washington DC, making it one of the most accessible waterfront resort getaways in the region.
Does Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort have a casino? Yes. The resort has two full floors of gaming with video pull-tab machines and bingo with progressive jackpots, open 24 hours a day seven days a week. On Friday nights there is a DJ in the casino area.
How many restaurants does Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort have? The resort has five dining options: Rod N Reel Restaurant (fine dining seafood established 1946), 1936 Bar and Grill (casual two-level waterfront dining with sports screens), CBQ (quick-serve Maryland-inspired BBQ), The Dock (seasonal outdoor restaurant right on the water with bay views and occasional live music), and Otto’s Brew Bar (coffee, pastries, breakfast and lunch with coffee cocktails on weekends).
What water activities are available at Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort? The marina offers jet ski rentals ($90 for 30 minutes, $150 for one hour), fishing charters, kayak rentals, and pontoon boat rentals. The resort also has a rooftop pool and an indoor pool.
What is Rock the Dock at Rod ‘N’ Reel? Rock the Dock is a summer concert series held on select Sundays at the resort’s outdoor area on the water, featuring live tribute bands. Tickets are available at rockthedock.com and sell out fast.
Is Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort good for families with kids? Yes. Between the rooftop pool, the indoor pool, the jet skis, the Rock the Dock concerts, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum next door, and the playground across the street, there is plenty to keep kids engaged for a full weekend.
Is parking free at Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort? Yes, parking is free and self-service.
Have you been to Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort or Chesapeake Beach? Drop a comment below and let me know what I missed! And follow me at @itssummerssomewhere for more Maryland travel content, local gems, and honest reviews from a real family who actually goes to these places.
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