Things to Do in Crisfield, Maryland
The best things to do in Crisfield, Maryland, are taking the boat to Smith Island, paddling the water trails at Janes Island State Park and eating crab at the National Hard Crab Derby on Labor Day weekend. Crisfield is a city of 2,475 people in Somerset County, on Tangier Sound, and it’s the southernmost city in Maryland.
The railroad arrived in 1866, and the old Somers Cove became Crisfield, named for the lawyer who brought it. Seafood shipped from here all over the country, and the town still calls itself the Seafood Capital of the World. Much of downtown sits on land built from discarded oyster shells, which is why locals say the city is built on them.
Smith Island by boat
Crisfield is the main gateway to Smith Island, out in the bay across Tangier Sound. Smith Island Cruises leaves Somers Cove Marina for a ride of about 50 minutes. You get about two and a half hours on the island. Try a slice of Smith Island cake, the Maryland state dessert, which Crisfield restaurants serve too.
★ Good to know Cruises run Wednesday through Sunday in season and need reservations; pick up tickets at the Capt. Tyler Motel, 701 W. Main St., and park free at the marina.
Janes Island State Park
This 3,160-acre park sits right next to town and was created in 1963. About 30 miles of marked water trails wind through the salt marsh to empty beaches on the bay side of the island. There’s a campground, cabins, fishing and crabbing.
★ Good to know The park rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboards when the weather allows, and the canoe and kayak launch is free.
J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum
The Crisfield Heritage Foundation’s museum sits in Somers Cove Marina, in the heart of the historic district. It covers more than 10,000 years of Chesapeake life, up through Crisfield’s years as a seafood capital. The gift shop sells local cookbooks and a big stock of regional books.
★ Good to know Hours change by season; check before you go, and ask here about the Ward Brothers Workshop.
Ward Brothers Workshop
Brothers Lem and Steve Ward were barbers who became the most famous decoy carvers on the Chesapeake. Their workshop and barbershop in the Down Neck part of town are preserved with the original bandsaw, tools and barber chair. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
★ Good to know It opens on select days from May through October, when local carvers give demonstrations, and by appointment through the Tawes Museum.
National Hard Crab Derby
Crisfield’s biggest event has run every Labor Day weekend since 1947. Expect crab races, crab picking and cooking contests, a boat docking contest, a Main Street parade, pageants and fireworks. Somers Cove Marina turns into the fairgrounds.
★ Good to know It’s the busiest weekend of the year in town, so book a room well ahead.
City Dock and the historic district
The city dock at the end of Main Street is where mail boats and passenger ferries leave for the islands. Downtown burned in the Great Fire of 1928, and much of what stands now is part of the Crisfield Historic District.
★ Good to know The dock pavilion hosts many public events, so check the city calendar.
Brick Kiln Beach
The city’s public beach reopened in 2013 after Hurricane Sandy damage. It has a play area, a gazebo and summer restrooms, and it’s a popular spot to go crabbing.
★ Good to know Restrooms are open only in the summer months.
Also in town
Other options include a seasonal cruise to Tangier Island, Virginia, from the city dock. There’s also the 300-acre Cedar Island Marsh Sanctuary (ask the Heritage Foundation for a free permit first), the bike lanes and rail trail along MD 413, and September’s J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake.
How do you get to Smith Island from Crisfield?
By boat. Smith Island Cruises runs a seasonal day trip from Somers Cove Marina, Wednesday through Sunday. Passenger ferries and mail boats also leave from the city dock.
When is the National Hard Crab Derby?
Every Labor Day weekend at Somers Cove Marina. It started in 1947.
Can you kayak at Janes Island State Park?
Yes. The park has about 30 miles of marked water trails and a free canoe and kayak launch. It also rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboards when the weather allows.
Why is Crisfield called the Seafood Capital of the World?
After the railroad arrived in 1866, Crisfield shipped oysters and crabs across the country, with about 150 packing plants at its peak. For more Eastern Shore trips, see our small towns in Maryland, including Berlin.
Where to find them
- Smith Island Cruises Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield, MD 21817 Website Directions
- Janes Island State Park 26280 Alfred J. Lawson Drive, Crisfield, MD 21817 Website Directions
- J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum 3 Ninth St., Crisfield, MD 21817 Website Directions
- Ward Brothers Workshop 3195 Sackertown Road, Crisfield, MD 21817 Website Directions
- National Hard Crab Derby Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield, MD 21817 Website Directions
- City Dock and the historic district W. Main St., Crisfield, MD 21817 Directions
- Brick Kiln Beach Crisfield, MD 21817 Directions
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book through them, Best Small Towns in America may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay in Crisfield
Keep exploring
Solomons, MDAbout 41 miles as the crow fliesBoating village where the Patuxent meets the Chesapeake Bay.Things to do in Solomons →
Berlin, MDAbout 42 miles as the crow fliesVictorian Main Street town just inland from Assateague and Ocean City.Things to do in Berlin →
Easton, MDAbout 56 miles as the crow fliesTalbot County's arts town, with a 1684 Quaker meeting house.Things to do in Easton →Also nearby: St. Michaels · Chestertown · Chesapeake City