Ocean City and Maryland’s Eastern Shore have appeared on the big screen more often than many visitors realize. From 1980s dramas to romantic comedies, filmmakers have used the region’s beaches, boardwalks, historic towns, and waterfront scenery as memorable backdrops.
If you enjoy set jetting, an Ocean City vacation rental makes a convenient starting point. You can visit filming locations right in town before taking a few scenic drives across the Eastern Shore.
Revisit Ocean City Through Violets Are Blue
Released in 1986, Violets Are Blue stars Sissy Spacek and Kevin Kline as former high school sweethearts who reconnect years later. Ocean City plays an important role in the movie, with filming taking place downtown and elsewhere around the resort community.
The movie gives viewers a glimpse at Ocean City decades ago, making it especially interesting for travelers curious about the history of Ocean City. Watching the film before your trip can turn a simple walk around town into a fun search for familiar scenery.
See Ocean City in Ping Pong Summer
For an even bigger dose of Ocean City nostalgia, watch Ping Pong Summer. Set in 1985 but filmed in 2012, the movie follows a teenage boy spending summer vacation in Ocean City.
Filming locations included the beach, Boardwalk, Trimper Rides, Old Pro Golf, Hooper’s Crab House, and several other recognizable businesses and attractions. Many of these places remain part of the Ocean City experience today.
Fans researching movies filmed in Ocean City, MD, should put this one at the top of their watch list. Staying in Ocean City, MD condo rentals also makes it easy to explore the Boardwalk and compare present-day Ocean City with the movie’s retro version.
Explore Wedding Crashers Locations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Ready for a road trip? Wedding Crashers, starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, filmed scenes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, including around St. Michaels. The waterfront Inn at Perry Cabin served as one of the movie’s notable filming locations.
St. Michaels is farther from Ocean City than Berlin, so plan this as a full-day excursion rather than a quick outing. For movie fans, it can be one of the more unique day trips from Ocean City and a chance to see another side of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Discover Berlin’s Small-Town Movie Appeal
You do not have to travel far to find another famous filming destination. Berlin is only a short drive from Ocean City and has appeared in two major movies.
Downtown Berlin became the fictional town of Hale, Maryland, for Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The town later transformed into fictional Treegap for Disney’s Tuck Everlasting. Historic buildings, horses, carriages, and other details gave downtown a turn-of-the-century look during production.
Exploring Main Street is one of the easiest movie-inspired things to do in Ocean City and the surrounding area. You can also browse local shops, visit galleries, and enjoy a meal while exploring Berlin.
Other Things to Do in Ocean City, MD
Plenty can fill your itinerary between filming-location adventures. Spend time on the beach, walk the Ocean City Boardwalk, visit Trimper Rides, play miniature golf, or get out on the water.
Families can also explore nearby Assateague Island National Seashore, known for its beaches, coastal landscapes, and wild horses. With so many attractions nearby, Ocean City rentals work well for travelers who want both classic beach experiences and easy access to the surrounding region.
Plan Your Visit
Book an Ocean City vacation rental and set out to discover movie filming locations near Ocean City, from beaches to charming towns.
Final Thoughts
Set jetting offers a different way to experience Maryland’s coast. You can revisit Ocean City through Violets Are Blue and Ping Pong Summer, explore Berlin’s connections to Runaway Bride and Tuck Everlasting, or travel farther up the Eastern Shore to see a Wedding Crashers location.
If you are deciding where to stay in Ocean City, choosing a vacation rental gives you a comfortable home base for building your own movie-inspired itinerary.
Book Your Ocean City Vacation Rental with Long & Foster
At Long & Foster, we make it easy to find a vacation home that fits your trip to the Maryland coast. Our Ocean City condo rentals offer options for couples, families, and groups looking for the convenience and space of a private vacation property.
Browse our vacation rentals and choose a home base for beach days, Boardwalk adventures, movie-location road trips, and everything else you want to experience in and around Ocean City.
