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Fossil Dig Sites Open to Public in Mississippi Near You

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Best Fossil Dig Sites and Fossil-Related Locations in Mississippi

Explore the best fossil dig sites in Mississippi, including public parks, riverbeds, and museums for fossil hunting enthusiasts.

  1. W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park

    Location: Baldwyn, Prentiss County, Mississippi 38824
    GPS Coordinates: 34.5858, -88.6733
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth (Scapanorhynchus, Squalicorax)
    • Fish bones
    • Clams
    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    • Ammonites
    • Turtles
    • Petrified wood
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Coffee Sand, Demopolis Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: Free MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed (e.g., trowels, sifters)
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, restrooms, lodging in Baldwyn
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Diverse marine fossils
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 based on 100 reviews (Google Maps)

  2. Tishomingo State Park

    Location: Tishomingo, Tishomingo County, Mississippi 38873
    GPS Coordinates: 34.6117, -88.1917
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Brachiopods
    • Crinoids
    • Trilobites
    • Corals
    • Bryozoans
    Geological Period: Devonian
    Stratigraphic Formation: Iuka Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: Fossil collecting prohibited
    Entry Fee: $4/vehicle
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Viewing only
    Tool Use Policy: No tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, restrooms, parking, camping
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi State Parks, Phone: (662) 438-6914, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.7/5 based on 300 reviews (Google Maps)

  3. Homochitto National Forest

    Location: Meadville, Franklin County, Mississippi 39653
    GPS Coordinates: 31.4350, -90.9867
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth
    • Dinosaur bones
    • Petrified wood
    Geological Period: Cretaceous, Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, camping, lodging in Meadville
    Contact Information:
    USDA Forest Service, Phone: (601) 384-5876, Email: Not listed
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.4/5 based on 50 reviews (Google Maps)

  4. Natchez Trace Parkway

    Location: Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi 38804
    GPS Coordinates: 34.2671, -88.7098
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth
    • Fish fossils
    • Turtles
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: Fossil collecting prohibited
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Year-round
    Dig Options: Viewing only
    Tool Use Policy: No tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, restrooms, parking, lodging in Tupelo
    Contact Information:
    National Park Service, Phone: (800) 305-7417, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.8/5 based on 500 reviews (Google Maps)

  5. Cynthia Hinds

    Location: Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi 39120
    GPS Coordinates: 31.5604, -91.4034
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine invertebrates
    • Shark teeth
    Geological Period: Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Yazoo Clay
    Public or Private Access: Private
    Permit Requirements: Appointment required
    Entry Fee: Varies; contact owner
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Guided by appointment
    Tool Use Policy: Tools provided by owner
    Nearby Facilities: Lodging in Natchez
    Contact Information:
    Visit Natchez, Phone: (800) 647-6724, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: Limited data; 4.0/5 based on 5 reviews (estimated)

  6. Tombigbee River

    Location: Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi 39701
    GPS Coordinates: 33.4957, -88.4295
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth (Ptychodus)
    • Vertebrates (fish, crabs)
    • Invertebrates (mollusks, ammonites)
    • Plants
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Eutaw Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit recommended
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools (shovels, sifters) allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Columbus
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 based on 30 reviews (estimated)

  7. Cedar Bluff Clay

    Location: Carthage, Leake County, Mississippi 39051
    GPS Coordinates: 32.7351, -89.5359
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Clams
    • Snails
    • Corals
    Geological Period: Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Private
    Permit Requirements: Landowner permission required
    Entry Fee: Varies; contact landowner
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided with permission
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools with permission
    Nearby Facilities: Lodging in Carthage
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: Limited data; 4.0/5 based on 5 reviews (estimated)

  8. Vinton Bluff

    Location: West Point, Clay County, Mississippi 39773
    GPS Coordinates: 33.6581, -88.5144
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth
    • Ray teeth (Ischyrhiza)
    • Marine invertebrates
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Eutaw Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit recommended
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools with permission
    Nearby Facilities: Lodging in West Point
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: Limited data; 4.0/5 based on 5 reviews (estimated)

  9. Holly Springs National Forest

    Location: Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi 38635
    GPS Coordinates: 34.7715, -89.4487
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth
    • Marine fossils
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, camping, lodging in Holly Springs
    Contact Information:
    USDA Forest Service, Phone: (662) 236-6550, Email: Not listed
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 based on 80 reviews (Google Maps)

  10. Red Bluff

    Location: Foxworth, Marion County, Mississippi 39483
    GPS Coordinates: 31.2513, -89.8353
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth (Megalodon)
    Geological Period: Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit recommended
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools (sifters) allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Columbia
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Megalodon teeth
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.6/5 based on 40 reviews (estimated)

  11. Mississippi Petrified Forest

    Location: Flora, Madison County, Mississippi 39071
    GPS Coordinates: 32.5142, -90.3230
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Petrified wood
    Geological Period: Oligocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Private
    Permit Requirements: None; entry fee required
    Entry Fee: $7/adult, $5/child
    Best Season to Visit: Year-round
    Dig Options: Viewing only
    Tool Use Policy: No tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, restrooms, parking, lodging in Flora
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi Petrified Forest, Phone: (601) 879-8189, Email: Not listed
    Famous Discoveries: Large petrified logs
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 based on 200 reviews (Google Maps)

  12. Ball Creek

    Location: Pontotoc, Pontotoc County, Mississippi 38863
    GPS Coordinates: 34.2476, -88.9987
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils
    • Vertebrates
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit recommended
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Pontotoc
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  13. Vicksburg

    Location: Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi 39180
    GPS Coordinates: 32.3525, -90.8778
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils (Lucina, Styliola)
    • Pteropods
    • Mastodon fossils
    • Bison, deer, horses, sloths
    Geological Period: Eocene-Oligocene, Pliocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Not specified
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Vicksburg
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Mastodon fossils
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.4/5 based on 50 reviews (estimated)

  14. Tupelo Selma Formation

    Location: Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi 38801
    GPS Coordinates: 34.3142, -88.7887
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Oysters (Exogyra, Gryphaea)
    • Ammonites
    • Crabs
    • Fish
    • Echinoids
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Selma Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Tupelo
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 based on 30 reviews (estimated)

  15. Bethany Eutaw Formation

    Location: Bethany, Lee County, Mississippi 38824
    GPS Coordinates: 34.5057, -88.7328
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Hadrosaurs
    • Mollusks
    • Echinoids
    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Eutaw Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Tupelo
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Hadrosaur fragments
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  16. Waynesboro

    Location: Waynesboro, Wayne County, Mississippi 39367
    GPS Coordinates: 31.6749, -88.6464
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils
    • Shark teeth
    • Bivalves (Teredo)
    Geological Period: Oligocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Vicksburg Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Waynesboro
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 based on 25 reviews (estimated)

  17. Yazoo City

    Location: Yazoo City, Yazoo County, Mississippi 39194
    GPS Coordinates: 32.8551, -90.4055
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth (Carcharodon)
    • Sand dollars
    • Petrified wood
    • Whale bones (Zeuglodon, Zygorhiza)
    Geological Period: Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Jackson Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Yazoo City
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Zeuglodon (Basilosaurus) bones
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 based on 60 reviews (estimated)

  18. Meridian

    Location: Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi 39301
    GPS Coordinates: 32.5658, -88.9266
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Shark teeth (Galeus, Heterodontus)
    • Ray teeth (Archaeomanta, Burnhamia)
    • Marine mollusks (Ostrea, Pleurotoma)
    • Snake vertebrae
    Geological Period: Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Bashi Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Meridian
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 based on 30 reviews (estimated)

  19. Union County

    Location: New Albany, Union County, Mississippi 38652
    GPS Coordinates: 34.4942, -89.0078
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils
    • Vertebrates
    • Echinoids
    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Ripley Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in New Albany
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  20. Kemper County

    Location: De Kalb, Kemper County, Mississippi 39328
    GPS Coordinates: 32.7676, -88.6681
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils
    • Shark teeth
    • Oysters (Diploschiza, Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Selma Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in De Kalb
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  21. Noxubee County

    Location: Macon, Noxubee County, Mississippi 39341
    GPS Coordinates: 33.1107, -88.5695
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils (Cucullaea, Ostrea)
    • Vertebrates
    • Corals
    • Gastropods (Turritella, Natica)
    Geological Period: Eocene
    Stratigraphic Formation: Clayton Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Macon
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  22. Oktibbeha County

    Location: Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi 39759
    GPS Coordinates: 33.4599, -88.7916
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Marine fossils
    • Shark teeth
    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Prairie Bluff Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Starkville
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 based on 30 reviews (estimated)

  23. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

    Location: Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi 39202
    GPS Coordinates: 32.3251, -90.1595
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Whale fossils (Zygorhiza, Basilosaurus)
    • Dinosaur bones
    • Marine invertebrates (Pleurotoma, Turritella)
    • Crabs
    Geological Period: Eocene, Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Moodys Branch Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: None; museum entry
    Entry Fee: $8/adult, $6/child
    Best Season to Visit: Year-round
    Dig Options: Educational programs
    Tool Use Policy: Not applicable
    Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, restrooms, parking, lodging in Jackson
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Phone: (601) 576-6000, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Zygorhiza kochii (state fossil)
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.7/5 based on 400 reviews (Google Maps)

  24. Corinth

    Location: Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi 38834
    GPS Coordinates: 34.9460, -88.5410
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Selma Chalk
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Corinth
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  25. Houlka

    Location: Houlka, Chickasaw County, Mississippi 38850
    GPS Coordinates: 34.0455, -88.9490
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Ripley Formation
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Houston
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 15 reviews (estimated)

  26. Okolona

    Location: Okolona, Chickasaw County, Mississippi 38860
    GPS Coordinates: 34.0017, -88.8500
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Oysters (Exogyra)
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Selma Chalk
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Okolona
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: None widely publicized
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 based on 20 reviews (estimated)

  27. Ripley

    Location: Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi 38663
    GPS Coordinates: 34.7300, -88.9500
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Echinoids (Linthia)
    • Oysters (Exogyra, Gryphaea)
    • Ammonites (Baculites, Scaphites)
    • Fish teeth
    Geological Period: Cretaceous
    Stratigraphic Formation: Owl Creek Marl
    Public or Private Access: Public
    Permit Requirements: MDEQ permit required
    Entry Fee: Free
    Best Season to Visit: Spring to Fall
    Dig Options: Self-guided
    Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
    Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Ripley
    Contact Information:
    Mississippi DEQ, Phone: (601) 961-5500, Email: [email protected]
    Famous Discoveries: Well-preserved ammonites
    User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 based on 25 reviews (estimated)

  28. Blue Springs

    Location: Blue Springs, Union County, Mississippi 38828
    GPS Coordinates: 34.3891, -88.8890
    Fossil Types Found:

    • Oysters (Exogyra)

Comparison Table of Mississippi Fossil Dig Sites

Site Name State Fossil Types Dig Type Average Rating
W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park Mississippi Shark teeth, Fish, Clams, Oysters Permit-only 4.5/5
Tishomingo State Park Mississippi Brachiopods, Crinoids, Trilobites Viewing-only 4.7/5
Homochitto National Forest Mississippi Shark teeth, Dinosaur bones, Petrified wood Permit-only 4.4/5
Natchez Trace Parkway Mississippi Shark teeth, Fish, Turtles Viewing-only 4.8/5
Cynthia Hinds Mississippi Marine invertebrates, Shark teeth Guided 4.0/5
Tombigbee River Mississippi Shark teeth, Vertebrates, Invertebrates, Plants Permit-only 4.3/5
Cedar Bluff Clay Mississippi Clams, Snails, Corals Restricted 4.0/5
Vinton Bluff Clay Mississippi Shark teeth, Marine invertebrates Restricted 4.0/5
Holly Springs National Forest Mississippi Shark teeth, Marine fossils Permit-only 4.5/5
Red Bluff Mississippi Shark teeth (Megalodon) Permit-only 4.6/5
Mississippi Petrified Forest Mississippi Petrified wood Viewing-only 4.5/5
Ball Creek Mississippi Marine fossils, Vertebrates Permit-only 4.2/5
Vicksburg Mississippi Marine fossils, Pteropods, Mastodon Permit-only 4.4/5
Tupelo Selma Formation Mississippi Exogyra, Ammonites, Crabs, Fish Permit-only 4.3/5
Bethany Eutaw Formation Mississippi Hadrosaurs, Mollusks, Echinoids Permit-only 4.2/5
Waynesboro Mississippi Marine fossils, Shark teeth Permit-only 4.3/5
Yazoo City Mississippi Shark teeth, Sand dollars, Petrified wood Permit-only 4.5/5
Meridian Mississippi Marine fossils, Shark teeth Permit-only 4.3/5
Union County Mississippi Marine fossils, Vertebrates Permit-only 4.2/5
Kemper County Mississippi Marine fossils, Shark teeth Permit-only 4.2/5
Noxubee County Mississippi Marine fossils, Vertebrates Permit-only 4.2/5
Oktibbeha County Mississippi Marine fossils, Shark teeth Permit-only 4.3/5
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Mississippi Whale fossils, Dinosaur bones, Marine invertebrates Educational 4.7/5
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Fossil Dig Tourism in Mississippi

Mississippi, often overlooked for fossil hunting, is a treasure trove for the best fossil dig sites in Mississippi, offering thrilling paleontology field adventures for families, beginners, and avid rockhounds. Known as the “fossil whale belt” of the Southeast, the state boasts a geological history shaped by ancient seas, leaving behind a wealth of marine fossils, shark teeth, and even dinosaur bones. Public dinosaur excavation areas in Mississippi, like the W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park in Baldwyn, allow permitted collectors to unearth shark teeth and clams from the Ripley Formation, making it a top destination for family fossil hunting trips in Mississippi. The Tombigbee River and Homochitto National Forest offer low-cost paleontology tours in Mississippi, where enthusiasts can sift for Cretaceous fossils with a free MDEQ permit. Sites like Red Bluff in Marion County yield Megalodon teeth, perfect for self-guided fossil digs in Mississippi. For those preferring educational experiences, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson showcases the state fossil, Zygorhiza kochii, alongside dinosaur relics, while Tishomingo State Park offers Devonian fossil viewing. Spring and fall are ideal for rockhounding destinations in Mississippi, with mild weather enhancing access to riverbeds and bluffs. Despite strict regulations prohibiting collecting in national parks like Natchez Trace Parkway, private sites like Cynthia Hinds provide guided prehistoric site tours in Mississippi by appointment. Nearby facilities, including parking and visitor centers, ensure comfort, while the Mississippi Office of Geology and Visit Mississippi resources guide dinosaur dig vacations in Mississippi. From Yazoo City’s whale fossils to Vicksburg’s mastodon remains, the state’s 21+ fossil sites offer diverse opportunities to uncover fossils of sharks, whales, and dinosaurs in Mississippi. Whether planning jurassic fossil parks in Mississippi or seeking where to find fossils in Mississippi, this state delivers unforgettable adventures connecting visitors to Earth’s ancient past.[](https://www.mdwfp.com/paleontology-collections)[](https://beautifulsprout.com/fossils-in-mississippi/)

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Frequently Asked Questions About Fossil Digging in Mississippi

Can anyone dig for fossils in Mississippi national parks?

No, fossil collecting is prohibited in Mississippi national parks like Natchez Trace Parkway to preserve resources. Viewing is allowed.

[](https://beautifulsprout.com/fossils-in-mississippi/)

What gear do I need for a fossil dig in Mississippi?

Bring a trowel, sifter, shovel, magnifying glass, and gloves—gloves for permitted sites. Check site-specific tool policies.

[](https://howtofindrocks.com/rockhounding-in-mississippi/)

Are guided fossil tours available in Mississippi?

Yes, private sites like Cynthia Hinds offer guided tours by appointment, and museums provide educational programs.

[](https://beautifulsprout.com/fossils-in-mississippi/)

Do I need a permit to collect fossils in Mississippi?

Yes, a free MDEQ permit is required for public lands, and landowner permission is needed for private lands.

[](https://beautifulsprout.com/fossils-in-mississippi/)

What types of fossils can I find in Mississippi?

Common fossils include shark teeth, marine invertebrates, whale fossils, dinosaur bones, and petrified wood from the Cretaceous and Eocene periods.

[](https://www.mdwfp.com/paleontology-collections)

Is fossil digging in Mississippi suitable for kids?

Yes, sites like W.M. Browning Fossil Park and museum programs are family-friendly, but check age restrictions for safety.

[](https://beautifulsprout.com/fossils-in-mississippi/)

What is the best time to visit Mississippi fossil sites?

Spring to fall (March–October) is ideal due to milder weather and better access to riverbeds and bluffs.

[](https://beautifulsprout.com/fossils-in-mississippi/)

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