Shady Side is a census-designated place (CDP) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States.

[5] Shady Side was once served by the sidewheel passenger steamer, Emma Giles, that operated from Baltimore, making up to five trips per week.

[6] Shady Side is located at 38°50′6″N 76°31′2″W / 38.83500°N 76.51722°W / 38.83500; -76.51722 (38.834965, −76.517326)[7] in southern Anne Arundel County, on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay.

The community is served by Maryland Route 468 (Shady Side Road), which runs south, then west, then north, toward the Annapolis area.

There were 2,306 housing units at an average density of 314.3 per square mile (121.4/km2).

19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.