Anonymous wrote:You can camp on Chincoteague Island. Very fun spot!

I second the Chincoteague recommendations. A great spot for family vacations - low key and inexpensive compared to the more well known MD/DE beach areas.

Point Lookout State Park in Maryland is really nice. There is one beach that's very pretty and you can see bald eagles there regularly. The camping isn't directly on the beach so it isn't sandy.

The last week in August is the cheapest week. Rates can start at 55 a night that week.

Do not plan to go for a whole. Its too long for a 5 year old. Also, make sure wherever you stay has a pool.

If you aren't averse to sharing a bathroom, go to Holly Haven in Rehoboth. It's half a block to the Boardwalk and to Funland, the little amusement park. It's clean, Heide and her husband are lovely, and most of the guests are returning, She keeps lots of toys around for child visitors.
http://holly-haven.com/

If you prefer a private little inexpensive unit where you can cook, check out Walls Apartments. It's much farther to the beach, though. Maybe 4 long blocks. However, it's a very safe place.

Neither of these places are fancy or have TVs in the room, WIFI, etc. They do offer access to the beach and lots to do cheaply.

I'm most familiar with Ocean City, MD so my advice is geared towards that area. I think you are going to find OC to be less expensive than Bethany or Rehobeth, but I could be wrong. As PP said, if school is not an issue, I would look at the week after Labor Day or the week after Memorial Day (before school lets out but also before most arrive for Senior Week). You will find good deals on family-friendly hotels/camp sites when kids in Maryland are still in school and it will be SO much less crowded. The week after Labor Day is better because the water will be warmer.

If you look at places that are on Rte 50 just before the bridge into OC itself, you will be able to find nice places to stay for a lot less than OC proper. There are hotels and campgrounds (Frontier Town has nice camping facilities and I believe you can camp on the grounds of Assateague Island). That area is called West Ocean City. It's a very residential area so there are grocery stores and a Wal-Mart so you can buy whatever you need at normal prices. Also, there is a free shuttle that will take you into Ocean City if you want to go to the beach there. The beach at Assateague is also very nice so you may just want to hang around there.

I'd try to go to Bethany Beach, DE, which is very low key and family friendly. I don't tent camp but there are several campgrounds up and down the coast, bayside and ocean side. If you are military, ex, DOD worker, National Guard, etc. you can camp at the Bethany Beach National Guard training site campground for $22 a night, in season. It's right at the beach.

Other DE state parks run about $28-$35 a night.

I took my five year old last summer and it was cheap regarding activities. He was thrilled just hanging at the beach. There is a playground in the middle of town, too, as well as a shaded one up the road a bit. I will post a link to that if you are interested in Bethany. He loved getting ice cream up at Hockers, an odd combo of hardware, grocery, and convenience store.

It's a sleepy little town without amusement parks. Some arcades. Some mini golf.

http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/milcamps/55-delaware/71-bethany-beach-training-site

We are planning to camp at VA beach this year either the KOA or Trav L Park. I camped at Chincoteague before kids, and that was pretty fun. Last year, we went back with kids and stayed in a hotel which turned out to be a good idea because it rained so much, they had to close 50 due to flooding.

You can camp on Chincoteague Island. Very fun spot!

Friends have camped at Cape Henlopen park and enjoyed it.

If school isn't an issue you can get great deals the week after labor day. it is off season so a lot cheaper but still warm enough for the beach.

We use VRBO to find condos so we can prepare food at home and save money on eating out.

I'd like to take my son to the beach/bay this year.

We have never been and its on our bucket list.

I want it to be warm enough to swim but it doesn't need to be peak beach season though.

Is there somewhere we could go for fairly inexpensive?

I would like to spend about a week there.

We love camping so I was thinking maybe we could camp nearby to save some money and just plan to have money to stay in a hotel if weather gets bad.

Also how much can I plan to spend?

My son is 5 and we have never been on vacation anywhere ever.

I'm thinking ill have maybe 500 for everything total.