That gives this charming destination a unique vibe for the area, blending the authentic atmosphere of working quays, busy with fishers unloading their fresh catch, with the laid-back and welcoming feel of a recreational boating hub. Though located in a serene and bucolic location surrounded by open meadows and leafy woodland with a distinctly remote feel, Rock Hall actually sits just 20 miles from Baltimore when travelling directly via boat, making this a great spot for boaters from the big city looking for more peaceful, less crowded waters. Along with a selection of full-service marinas and a thriving nautical industry this marina town can also point to fish-rich angling on the bay, plenty of charter options and the chance to pick up the breeze and sail all day long.
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There are some 163,969 registered vessels in the Old Line State, with around 2,800 moored in Kent County at the last count. And you are likely to find the bulk of these boats moored right here in Rock Hall. Boating facilities in town tend to be split evenly between destinations in Rock Hall Harbor, a pier-protected space with an active, traditional feel, and The Haven, a natural inlet known for its gently lapping waters and acres of space. In the harbor there’s the family-owned North Point Marina, a full-service facility with 130 slips, a fuel-dock and an on-site motel, as well as Rock Hall Bulkhead, a working linear dock space open to boating visitors and the Rock Hall Landing Marina, a 75-slip deep-water marina for boats up to 120-feet in length. Just across the water on the southern shore of the harbor you will also find the Haven Harbor South, a destination in its own right with 150-slips and club amenities like a swimming pool and local favorite The Admiral’s Cup, a lively seafood restaurant and tiki bar.
In The Haven there’s even more space to drop anchor. Check out the Haven Harbor Marina, an impressive full-service yachting center with 200 slips, engine dealerships and its own private beach. Osprey Point, an 80-slip facility, sits not far away, while Swan Creek Marina impresses with its working yard atmosphere, plentiful dry storage options, floating jetties, 22 helix moorings and 113 slips. Directly facing Chesapeake Bay there’s also the Gratitude Marina, where you will find 80 slips, 75-feet of linear docking space and 160 dry storage lots.
To the south of the city there’s also the Long Cove Marina, an 112-slip facility for boats up to 50-feet long that faces the languid Chester River, a superb place to catch striped bass, white perch and snakehead. From here you can also glide past Eastern Neck Island, a national wildlife reserve home to bald eagles, migrating tundra swans and zebra swallowtail butterflies. To dive right into the social core of this city’s yachting scene make sure to visit the Rock Hall Yacht Club just a few paces away, a convivial institution with roots going all the way back to 1937 with a sedate club-house, a pier, a sailing school and a calendar of regular regattas. Head north, meanwhile, to pay a visit to the Tolchester Marina, where 260-slips and full-service amenities sit in a protected artificial cove not far from the enchanting and historic Pooles Island Lighthouse.