Calvert Cliffs Fossil Hunting: A Southern Maryland Family Day Trip

The cliffs along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County are millions of years old, built from layers of ancient seabed packed with fossils. As the cliffs erode, fossil shark teeth, shells and bone fragments wash onto the beach below, and Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby is one of the most popular places in Maryland to look for them. For families, it's a rare combination: a forest hike, a beach, and the real possibility of a child going home with a fossil tooth they found themselves.

This guide covers how a visit works, what to bring, the park's rules about the cliffs, and how to pair it with Solomons Island for a full Southern Maryland day. It also explains why the logistics of getting there, especially on summer weekends, make a chauffeured day worth considering.

Where Calvert Cliffs Is and How Long It Takes to Get There

Calvert Cliffs State Park sits in southern Calvert County, south of Prince Frederick and north of Solomons, off MD 2/4. From Washington, the Maryland suburbs or Annapolis, expect a drive of roughly an hour and a half to two hours, depending on your starting point and traffic on MD 4 and US 301. From Baltimore, it's a bit longer.

That drive is a big part of the day, and the return trip comes after hours of walking and beach time, with sandy, tired kids. It's one of the reasons families choose to have someone else drive.

The Hike to the Beach

The fossil beach isn't next to the parking lot. The park's main route, the Red Trail, runs about 1.8 miles one way through woods and past a marsh and ponds before reaching the beach. It's mostly flat and suitable for most families, but it can be muddy after rain, and young children will need breaks. Plan on roughly 30 to 45 minutes each way at a family pace, and longer with small kids. The park's other trails are longer and loop through the woods.

Because of the hike, a visit usually takes at least three to four hours in total. Bring everything you'll need for the day, since there are limited facilities at the beach.

Finding Fossils: How It Works

Most of the fossils found at Calvert Cliffs date to the Miocene epoch, when this part of Maryland was under a warm, shallow sea. The most common finds are small shark teeth, which are often dark gray or black, along with shells, coral and fragments of bone. Larger teeth, including from the giant shark megalodon, are occasionally found but are rare.

The best technique is patient. Walk slowly along the tideline, look for the distinctive triangular shape and glossy surface of a tooth, and sift through the sand and gravel at the water's edge. Many visitors use a small sieve or kitchen colander. Low tide exposes more beach and generally makes for better hunting, so checking a tide chart before you go is worthwhile. Fossils are also easier to find after storms, when fresh material has washed out of the cliffs.

The Rules: Stay Off and Away From the Cliffs

This is the most important thing to know before you go. The cliffs are unstable and can collapse without warning. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources prohibits climbing on the cliffs, digging into them and walking beneath them, because of the risk of serious injury. Fossil collecting is allowed on the beach using hand tools only, and you should never dig into the cliff face.

Beach access and conditions can change after storms or erosion, so check the park's page on the Maryland DNR website for current rules, hours, fees and any closures before you set out.

What to Bring

A small sieve or colander and a bag or container for finds.
Water shoes or old sneakers for wading at the water's edge.
Water, snacks and lunch, since there are no food concessions at the beach.
Sunscreen, hats and bug spray for the trail.
A towel and a change of clothes for kids, kept in the car for the ride home.
A small backpack to carry everything on the 1.8-mile trail.

When to Go

Calvert Cliffs is open year-round, and each season has advantages. Summer is the most popular time, with warm water for wading, but also the busiest, hottest and buggiest; bring insect repellent for the trail and check yourself for ticks afterward. Spring and fall bring milder temperatures and fewer visitors, which makes the walk more pleasant. Winter can be surprisingly good for fossil hunting, since storms wash fresh material onto the beach and there's less competition, though you'll want warm layers and waterproof boots.

Whatever the season, check the tide chart for Cove Point or the nearest station and try to arrive at the beach around low tide.

The Parking Lot Problem

On warm-weather weekends and holidays, Calvert Cliffs can be very busy, and Maryland state parks can close to new vehicles when they reach capacity. Arriving after the lot fills can mean waiting, being turned away, or changing plans after a long drive. Arriving early helps, but it means leaving home very early with kids.

A chauffeured trip changes that equation. Being dropped at the trailhead means you aren't circling the lot, and the chauffeur can wait nearby or run you to your next stop when you're ready. Check the DNR's site or social media for capacity updates on busy days, and consider a weekday visit if you can.

Pairing It With Solomons Island

Solomons, about 15 minutes south of the park, makes a natural second stop. The Calvert Marine Museum has exhibits on the region's fossils — a great way to identify what your kids found — along with maritime history and live animals. Solomons also has a waterfront boardwalk and seafood restaurants, which make a good end to the day.

Other nearby options include Flag Ponds Nature Park, another Calvert County park with a beach where fossils can be found, and the shops and restaurants of Prince Frederick on the way home.

Why Hourly Service Works for This Trip

A day at Calvert Cliffs has several moving parts: a long drive, a hike, beach time and maybe a museum and dinner in Solomons. Hourly chauffeur service keeps the car and chauffeur with you, so you can leave a cooler, spare clothes and towels in the vehicle and head to the next stop on your schedule. For a family of four or five, a Chevrolet Suburban or Lincoln Navigator has room for beach gear. For a scout troop, homeschool group or family reunion, a Mercedes Sprinter carries up to 13 passengers.

Our guide to planning a multi-stop chauffeured day explains how to build a schedule with realistic buffers. To book a Calvert Cliffs day, call (877) 609-1919 or send your plans through our booking form; every trip is quoted as a flat rate before you confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the hike to the beach at Calvert Cliffs State Park?

The main route, the Red Trail, is about 1.8 miles one way. It's mostly flat but can be muddy after rain. Most families take 30 to 45 minutes each way.

Can you dig for fossils in the cliffs?

No. The cliffs are unstable, and climbing on them, digging into them or walking beneath them is prohibited. Fossil collecting is allowed on the beach with hand tools only. Check the Maryland DNR website for current rules.

What fossils can you find at Calvert Cliffs?

Most finds are small Miocene shark teeth, shells and bone fragments. Larger teeth, including megalodon, are occasionally found but rare. Low tide and the days after storms tend to be best.

Does the parking lot at Calvert Cliffs fill up?

On busy warm-weather weekends and holidays, it can, and Maryland state parks may close to new vehicles at capacity. Arriving early, visiting on a weekday or being dropped off avoids most of the problem.

What else is there to do near Calvert Cliffs?

Solomons Island, about 15 minutes south, has the Calvert Marine Museum with fossil exhibits, a waterfront boardwalk and seafood restaurants. Flag Ponds Nature Park is another nearby beach option.