People Cross County Lines In Maryland Just To Eat At These Iconic Crab Shacks
Maryland sits on the map like a proud host of the blue crab, and locals take their seafood seriously enough to drive past perfectly fine restaurants just to reach that one special spot they trust.
Every summer, parking lots fill with out-of-state plates and cars from neighboring counties, all chasing the same goal: a table covered in brown paper, a mallet in hand, and a mountain of steamed crabs dusted with Old Bay.
These crab shacks have earned their reputations one bushel at a time, drawing road trippers, regulars, and families who plan entire weekends around a single meal.
I have logged plenty of miles tracking down the best spots, and these thirteen places keep showing up on my mental shortlist whenever I start craving that perfect combination of waterfront views, fresh catches, and the satisfying crack of a crab claw.
1. The Point Crab House & Grill – Arnold, Maryland
As I wind down 700 Mill Creek Rd toward The Point Crab House & Grill in Arnold, MD 21012, the first glimpse of water always feels like a quiet little promise that the crabs will be worth the drive.
On lazy afternoons, I hunt down a deck table where platters of steamed blue crabs and peel and eat shrimp show up looking ready for a magazine cover until the seasoning scent snaps me back to reality.
During one chilly visit, a creek breeze slid under my sleeves, and I kept warming my hands on hot soup between cracking claws so I could stay in the game.
Another time, a family from the DC suburbs landed at the next table, happily admitting they skipped closer options because they trust these crabs more than anything near home.
I usually leave with a satisfied grin and a mental guest list for the next visit when I finally convince enough friends to help me bury one of those long tables in shells.
2. Cantler’s Riverside Inn – Annapolis, Maryland
When a craving for no-nonsense steamed crabs hits hard, I follow the narrow lane straight to Cantler’s Riverside Inn at 458 Forest Beach Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409, knowing I have picked the right spot.
Some days, I claim a picnic table by Mill Creek, listening to bushel baskets knocking together while the staff rolls out brown paper and scatters seasoning like glitter.
On my most single-minded visits, I order only steamed Maryland blue crabs and spend half the afternoon locked in on mallets, picks, and an ever-growing mound of shells.
One sharp winter evening, I watched locals in worn work boots swap stories about the morning’s catch while I tried to match their pace with a tray of extra-heavy jumbos.
By the time I finally pushed back from the table and headed for the car, the lot had filled with out-of-county plates that proved the word about Cantler’s travels fast.
3. Harris Crab House – Grasonville, Maryland
Crossing the Kent Narrows Bridge toward Harris Crab House at 433 Kent Narrows Way N, Grasonville, MD 21638, I cannot help noticing how many license plates clearly had to cross a few county lines to get there.
On long evenings, I like a seat by the big windows so I can watch boats drift under the bridge while trays of hot crabs arrive wearing generous coats of seasoning.
One late fall afternoon, I watched couples arrive bundled in heavy coats, shrug off the cold, and order all-you-can-eat crabs as if summer had simply moved indoors.
Another visit put me at a bar height table near regulars debating crab sizes with more intensity than most people bring to major life decisions.
By the time I crack into one last claw, it always feels obvious why so many drivers think paying the toll and crossing the Bay is a small price for this crab ritual.
4. Fisherman’s Crab Deck – Grasonville, Maryland
The turnoff for Fisherman’s Crab Deck at 3032 Kent Narrow Way S, Grasonville, MD 21638, always feels like a secret side door into a little universe built entirely around crab cravings and boat traffic.
On bright afternoons, I aim for a rail-side table, where working boats slide into the harbor while a server sets down a tray of steamed crabs that threatens to block my entire view.
One gray winter day, I skipped the deck and settled into the warm dining room, joining families in hoodies and team hats who were happily working through crab legs and baskets of fried seafood.
Another time, I ended up beside a couple from Pennsylvania, carefully comparing this crab deck to their usual Ocean City haunt as if they were judging a championship round.
When I finally dust the last seasoning off my sleeves, I always understand why road trippers treat Fisherman’s as both the unofficial welcome sign and farewell stop for Eastern Shore adventures.
5. Waterman’s Crab House & Dock Bar – Rock Hall, Maryland
Driving into Rock Hall and turning toward Waterman’s Crab House at 21055 W Sharp St, Rock Hall, MD 21661, I feel the harbor gently steering me toward one very specific mission involving steamed crabs.
On good evenings, I settle on the deck with a front row seat to masts, working boats, and baskets of crabs landing beside hush puppies and simple sides that never really stay side for long.
One late-season visit turned into a farewell to crab weather, and every table around me seemed united in the unspoken goal of squeezing in one more feast before winter.
Another night, I watched a birthday crew from across the Bay roll in with coolers and wide grins, clearly planning ahead for leftovers on the ride home.
Leaving Rock Hall after a session at Waterman’s always feels less like finishing dinner and more like completing an essential Maryland tradition that people gladly plan weekends around.
6. Woody’s Crab House – North East, Maryland
Rolling into the town of North East and spotting Woody’s Crab House at 29 S Main St, North East, MD 21901, I get the sense that Main Street itself has agreed to revolve around crab appetites.
On busy days, I grab a seat inside and watch servers hustle out platters of jumbo crab cakes and steaming buckets of crabs as if the whole building runs on pure seafood energy.
One crisp afternoon, I wandered in after a walk along the water, and a single bowl of rich crab soup warmed me up enough to commit to a full tray of crabs.
Another visit had me chatting with a couple from Delaware who cheerfully admitted they schedule shopping trips around Cecil County purely to finish the day at Woody’s.
When I step back onto Main Street with a content stomach and a faint dusting of seasoning, it always feels clear why this spot keeps stacking up awards and regulars.
7. The Red Roost Crabhouse & Restaurant – Quantico, Maryland
The first time I followed the winding back roads to The Red Roost at 2670 Clara Rd, Quantico, MD 21856, it felt like chasing a whispered tip about a hidden Eastern Shore crab hall.
Each arrival still makes me smile at the sight of that barn-style building, a onetime chicken house that reinvented itself as one of the most talked about crab feasting spots around.
On one particularly ambitious night, I surrendered to the all-you-can-eat spread and watched friends drift from crabs to fried chicken to shrimp as if we were training for a very tasty marathon.
Another time, I pulled in right at opening and saw cars from several counties already lined up, full of people who clearly know the country route by heart.
When I step back into the marshy air after a long meal, I always feel grateful that I trusted the small signs and kept driving until the road ended in crabs.
8. Crab Bag – Ocean City, Maryland
Heading up Coastal Highway toward Crab Bag at 13005 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842, I usually spot a cluster of people near the carry-out window and know serious crab business is already underway.
On peak evenings, I grab a table and watch towering trays of steamed crabs arrive so full that the paper-covered surface nearly disappears beneath shells and mallets.
One off-season visit let me see a calmer side of the place as staff talked about shipping crabs to loyal regulars who could not wait for their next beach trip.
Another trip had me watching a family from inland Maryland turn a simple day off into a full-scale cracking session, carefully packing leftovers into boxes for the ride home.
Whenever I walk back to the car with seasoning on my sleeves, it feels obvious why people treat this casual spot as the true flavor of Ocean City.
9. Captain Dan’s Crabhouse – Eldersburg, Maryland
Turning off the road toward Captain Dan’s Crabhouse at 2021 Liberty Rd, Eldersburg, MD 21784, I feel like I am pulling into the central command station for crab feasts in Carroll County.
Inside, I like to sit at a table covered in paper and watch staff glide between the dining room and the seafood market counter with arms full of steamed crabs and takeout orders.
One rainy evening, I listened to regulars reminisce about coming here since the seventies, proudly claiming the same booth whenever crab season hits its stride.
On a different visit, I chatted with a group from Howard County who joked that they stopped trying new local spots because Captain Dan’s had already spoiled them.
Every time I see someone hauling a heavy bag of steamed crabs out to the parking lot, I know they are about to become extremely popular wherever they are headed next.
10. Bethesda Crab House – Bethesda, Maryland
Stepping off busy Bethesda Avenue and into Bethesda Crab House at 4958 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, I always feel as if I have ducked through a portal from city rush to crab-focused calm.
On good evenings, I grab a seat on the covered patio and watch trays stacked with steaming blue crabs move past office workers who have happily swapped keyboards for mallets.
One winter night, I found myself beside a group of friends from Virginia good-naturedly arguing about the proper way to pick a crab, clearly as comfortable here as in their own kitchens.
Another time, I sat near a family throwing a birthday party with a mountain of crabs instead of cake, and the grins at that table were louder than any candle song.
When I step back onto the sidewalk, I always marvel that such a relaxed crab house holds its own among all the high-energy storefronts around it.
11. Nick’s Fish House – Baltimore, Maryland
Driving through the Baltimore Peninsula to Nick’s Fish House at 2600 Insulator Dr, Baltimore, MD 21230, I still get a little thrill when the waterfront view suddenly opens up around the parking lot.
On sunny afternoons, I like an outside table where I can watch the water while servers deliver trays of steamed crabs and big seafood platters to a lively mix of locals and day trippers.
There was a brisk visit when I started with crab soup just to thaw my fingers before getting serious with the shell-cracking operation that followed.
Another time, I rolled in from the suburbs after a long drive and realized that the combination of careful steaming and harbor scenery made every extra mile feel like a smart choice.
Leaving Nick’s with a satisfied appetite, I always feel as if I have just checked off an unofficial introduction to Baltimore’s crab personality.
12. The Crab Shack – Edgewater, Maryland
Pointing the car down Solomons Island Road toward The Crab Shack Edgewater at 3111 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037, I usually see cars sweeping into the lot from all directions with the same idea.
Once inside, I like to settle into the casual dining room while steam rises from big platters of crabs, shrimp, and Cajun-style boils that look tailor-made for sharing.
On one evening, I watched staff roll a full catering spread out to a waiting truck, clearly preparing to take a traveling crab party to another county.
Another night, I ended up near a group from Annapolis happily confessing that this place had ruined them for any other quick seafood fix.
Driving away from The Crab Shack Edgewater, I always start plotting which friends I can recruit next time so we can order a comically large amount of crabs together.
13. Blue Crab House – Street, Maryland
Following the country roads toward Blue Crab House at 3501 Ady Rd, Street, MD 21154, I feel less like I am heading to a restaurant and more like I have been invited to a rural crab gathering.
When I pull up, pickup trucks and family cars usually line the outside while people wander in for trays of hot steamed crabs and straightforward, comforting sides.
One cool evening, I grabbed a table, and the combination of heavy local meals and friendly staff made the drive from the suburbs feel like an obvious win.
On another visit, I chatted with a couple from Baltimore County who laughed about happily trading highway time for the chance to haul a half bushel from here back home.
Each time I roll back onto Ady Road with that satisfied, slightly seasoned feeling, I understand why so many crab fans quietly claim this unassuming spot as their reliable favorite.