Ocean City hotel prices: What travelers paid this summer.

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Every summer, tourists flock to Ocean City to get their beach fix and spend time with family at one the town’s many accommodations. But like with most vacations, visitors can expect prices to fluctuate based on the dates they’re in town.

Keith Whisenant, General Manager of The Residence Inn, said July Fourth is a particularly expensive time to visit the shore.

“July fourth is a highly busy period where the rate is much higher than normal. And it usually seems to be the five weeks at the very end of July all the way till Labor Day,” Whisenant said.

Tourists may expect rates to go down significantly on weekdays, but that’s rarely the case.

Amy Thompson, Executive Director of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, said, “Generally what we’re seeing is, qualitatively, we hear that rates are high, but I think the world is expensive, I don’t think its unique or special to accommodations.”

Hotels with coveted views, such as the Residence Inn, usually cost visitors more but make up for it in amenities.

“It’s anywhere between 300, 500, 700, based on weekday versus weekend. its constantly flowing,” Whisenant said.

And although rates begin to decrease after Labor Day, weekend events in the fall drive prices right back up.

“But with these big festivals that are coming in the fall, we’re predicting that those rates will be high,” Thompson said.

Popular events in the fall increase the demand for lodging in Ocean City.

“Ocean’s calling, Boardwalk rock, the second the lineup gets released, I’ll walk in the next morning, and we’re overbooked by 10, 15, 20 rooms,” Whisenant said.

And while Labor Day marks the official end of summer, planning for next year is already underway at Ocean City’s most popular stays.