Fossil Dig Sites in Maryland, USA
Note: Maryland’s fossil record is rich, but public fossil dig sites are limited due to private land ownership and regulatory restrictions. Below are verified public sites for fossil hunting, focusing on Miocene marine fossils, Paleocene shark teeth, and Cretaceous dinosaur remains. For more options, consider museums or nearby states like Virginia.
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Calvert Cliffs State Park
Location: Lusby, Calvert County, MD 20657
GPS Coordinates: 38.4028, -76.4222
Fossil Types Found:
- Shark teeth
- Mollusks
- Corals
- Ray plates
- Whale bones
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Calvert, Choptank, St. Marys Formations
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None for beach collecting
Entry Fee: $5/vehicle (in-state), $7/vehicle (out-of-state)
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; no cliff digging
Nearby Facilities: Restrooms, parking, lodging in Lusby
Contact Information: Website, Phone: (443) 975-4360
Famous Discoveries: Megalodon teeth, *Messapicetus* whale
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.6/5 (300 reviews)
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Bayfront Park (Brownies Beach)
Location: Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, MD 20732
GPS Coordinates: 38.6793, -76.5326
Fossil Types Found:
- Shark teeth
- Porpoise teeth
- Mollusks
- Bone fragments
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Calvert Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: $10/adult, $5/child
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; no cliff digging
Nearby Facilities: Restrooms, parking, lodging in Chesapeake Beach
Contact Information: Website, Phone: (410) 257-2230
Famous Discoveries: *Orycterocetus* whale remains
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 (200 reviews)
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Matoaka Cottages
Location: St. Leonard, Calvert County, MD 20685
GPS Coordinates: 38.4716, -76.4833
Fossil Types Found:
- Shark teeth
- Mollusks
- Corals
- Whale bones
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Calvert, Choptank Formations
Public or Private Access: Private (public access with fee)
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: $10/person (kids under 5 free)
Best Season to Visit: Year-round
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; no cliff digging
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in St. Leonard
Contact Information: Website, Phone: (410) 586-0269
Famous Discoveries: None
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.4/5 (150 reviews)
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Flag Ponds Nature Park
Location: Lusby, Calvert County, MD 20657
GPS Coordinates: 38.4526, -76.4588
Fossil Types Found:
- Shark teeth
- Ray plates
- Mollusks
- Turtle shells
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Choptank Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: $4/resident, $6/non-resident (Nov–Mar: $3)
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; no cliff digging
Nearby Facilities: Restrooms, parking, lodging in Lusby
Contact Information: Website, Phone: (410) 535-5327
Famous Discoveries: *Chesapecten* shells
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
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Dinosaur Park
Location: Laurel, Prince George’s County, MD 20708
GPS Coordinates: 39.0708, -76.8672
Fossil Types Found:
- Dinosaur bones
- Turtle bones
- Crocodile teeth
- Plant fragments
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Arundel Clay
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: Registration for guided programs
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Year-round (open twice monthly)
Dig Options: Guided programs
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided; finds kept by park
Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, parking, lodging in Laurel
Contact Information: Website, Phone: (301) 627-1286
Famous Discoveries: *Astrodon johnstoni* bones
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.7/5 (120 reviews)
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Purse State Park
Location: Nanjemoy, Charles County, MD 20662
GPS Coordinates: 38.4300, -77.2530
Fossil Types Found:
- Shark teeth
- Ray teeth
- Mollusks
- Crocodile teeth
Geological Period: Paleocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Aquia Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: None
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Nanjemoy
Contact Information: Website, Phone: (301) 743-7613
Famous Discoveries: *Otodus* shark teeth
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 (100 reviews)
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Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Location: Chesapeake City, Cecil County, MD 21915
GPS Coordinates: 39.5344, -75.7813
Fossil Types Found:
- Mollusks
- Plant spores
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Magothy Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: None
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; caution near canal
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Chesapeake City
Contact Information: None
Famous Discoveries: *Ariadnaesporites* spores
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (80 reviews)
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Popes Creek
Location: Popes Creek, Charles County, MD 20664
GPS Coordinates: 38.3989, -76.9914
Fossil Types Found:
- Shark teeth
- Ray teeth
- Mollusks
- Snake vertebrae
Geological Period: Eocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Nanjemoy Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: None
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in La Plata
Contact Information: None
Famous Discoveries: *Palaeophis* snake vertebrae
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 (90 reviews)
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Wailes Bluff
Location: Point Lookout, St. Mary’s County, MD 20687
GPS Coordinates: 38.0656, -76.3649
Fossil Types Found:
- Mollusks
- Crustaceans
- Mastodon teeth
Geological Period: Pleistocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Talbot Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: None
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Point Lookout
Contact Information: None
Famous Discoveries: *Mastodon* teeth
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.1/5 (70 reviews)
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Federalsburg
Location: Federalsburg, Caroline County, MD 21632
GPS Coordinates: 38.6940, -75.7721
Fossil Types Found:
- Mollusks
- Crustaceans
Geological Period: Pleistocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Pamlico Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: None
Entry Fee: None
Best Season to Visit: Spring–Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Federalsburg
Contact Information: None
Famous Discoveries: None
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.9/5 (60 reviews)
Comparison of Maryland Fossil Dig Sites
| Site Name | State | Fossil Types | Dig Type | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvert Cliffs State Park | Maryland | Shark teeth, Mollusks, Corals, Ray plates, Whale bones | Public, Self-guided | 4.6/5 |
| Bayfront Park (Brownies Beach) | Maryland | Shark teeth, Porpoise teeth, Mollusks, Bone fragments | Public, Self-guided | 4.5/5 |
| Matoaka Cottages | Maryland | Shark teeth, Mollusks, Corals, Whale bones | Private, Self-guided | 4.4/5 |
| Flag Ponds Nature Park | Maryland | Shark teeth, Ray plates, Mollusks, Turtle shells | Public, Self-guided | 4.5/5 |
| Dinosaur Park | Maryland | Dinosaur bones, Turtle bones, Crocodile teeth, Plants | Public, Guided | 4.7/5 |
| Purse State Park | Maryland | Shark teeth, Ray teeth, Mollusks, Crocodile teeth | Public, Self-guided | 4.3/5 |
| Chesapeake and Delaware Canal | Maryland | Mollusks, Plant spores | Public, Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Popes Creek | Maryland | Shark teeth, Ray teeth, Mollusks, Snake vertebrae | Public, Self-guided | 4.2/5 |
| Wailes Bluff | Maryland | Mollusks, Crustaceans, Mastodon teeth | Public, Self-guided | 4.1/5 |
| Federalsburg | Maryland | Mollusks, Crustaceans | Public, Self-guided | 3.9/5 |
Fossil Dig Tourism in Maryland
Fossil hunting in Maryland is a thrilling adventure, offering some of the best fossil dig sites in Maryland for families, beginners, and seasoned paleontologists. Renowned for its Miocene marine treasures along the Calvert Cliffs and Cretaceous dinosaur finds, Maryland’s public fossil excavation areas in Maryland, like Calvert Cliffs State Park and Bayfront Park, yield abundant shark teeth and mollusks, making them prime family fossil hunting trips in Maryland. Low-cost paleontology tours in Maryland, such as self-guided fossil digs in Maryland at Purse State Park, uncover Paleocene shark teeth, while Dinosaur Park in Laurel provides guided programs to discover *Astrodon johnstoni* bones, the state dinosaur. Rockhounding destinations in Maryland, including Popes Creek and Wailes Bluff, offer Eocene and Pleistocene fossils, ideal for paleontology field adventures in Maryland. Common fossils in Maryland include megalodon teeth, *Ecphora* shells, and dinosaur tracks, with fossils of animals in Maryland ranging from ancient whales to crocodiles. Prehistoric site tours in Maryland thrive in spring and fall, when beaches and streambeds are accessible. While Jurassic fossil parks in Maryland are absent due to geological constraints, sites like the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and Federalsburg provide unique Cretaceous and Pleistocene finds. With parking and lodging in towns like Lusby and Laurel, Maryland’s fossil tourism caters to all. For those wondering where to find fossils in Maryland, the Maryland Geological Survey offers resources, though public sites are limited. Dinosaur dig vacations in Maryland, complemented by visits to the Calvert Marine Museum or nearby Virginia’s fossil-rich shores, ensure unforgettable discoveries for amateur fossil hunters seeking Maryland’s ancient past.
Fossil Digging FAQs
Can anyone dig for fossils in Maryland state parks?
Collecting is allowed only in designated areas like Calvert Cliffs State Park beach; most state parks prohibit fossil removal.
What gear do I need for a fossil dig in Maryland?
Hand tools (trowel, sifter), gloves, sturdy shoes, and a bag for fossils. Eye protection is recommended.
Do I need a permit for fossil hunting in Maryland?
No permits for public sites like Calvert Cliffs; private land requires landowner permission.
When is the best time to fossil hunt in Maryland?
Spring to fall (March–October) for accessible beaches and favorable weather.
Can kids join fossil digs in Maryland?
Yes, sites like Bayfront Park and Dinosaur Park are family-friendly with supervision.
Are guided fossil tours available in Maryland?
Yes, Dinosaur Park offers guided programs; most sites are self-guided.
Can I keep fossils I find in Maryland?
Yes, at public sites like Calvert Cliffs; Dinosaur Park retains finds. Private land requires approval.