Where to Find Fossils in Maryland: 42 Mapped Sites
Maryland has 42 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are Calvert Cliffs State Park, Hancock, and North Ferry Point. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 4 of the 42 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Maryland
All 42 fossils sites in Maryland. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Maryland
Fossils live in sedimentary rock — limestone, shale, and sandstone. Fresh exposures are everything: roadcuts, creek banks after storms, quarry spoil, and eroding badlands beat weathered outcrop every time.
The richest reported sites in Maryland: Calvert Cliffs State Park, Hancock, North Ferry Point, A float about 100 ft S of Calvert Beach, probably from "zone 17", Central Ave., 2-3 feet above base, Brightseat Fm., Maryland.
Of the 42 sites, 4 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Fossils Sites in Maryland
- Calvert Cliffs State Park — Public Access
- Hancock — Public Access
- North Ferry Point — Public Access
- A float about 100 ft S of Calvert Beach, probably from "zone 17" — Other
- Central Ave., 2-3 feet above base, Brightseat Fm., Maryland — Other
- Cherokee-Sanford Brick Clay Pit (USNM Loc. 41614, 41615) — Other
- Chesapeake Bay — Public Access
- Eurypterids of the Keefer Sst. Mbr, Mifflintown Fmn., Hancock, Maryland — Other
- Locality 401 (Plum Point Marl, Calvert Fm), Zone 10 — Other
- M 100 — Other
- M 107 — Other
- M 108 — Other
- M 109 — Other
- M 117 — Other
- M 119 — Other
- M 120 — Other
- M 124 — Other
- M 125 — Other
- M 126 — Other
- M 339 — Other
- M 346 — Other
- M 479 — Other
- M 480 — Other
- M 481 — Other
- M 482 — Other
- M 483 — Other
- Molluscan Zone 10, Little Cove Point Mbr, St. Marys Fm - Murfreesboro — Other
- Molluscan Zone 10 (Unit A), Little Cove Point Mbr, St. Marys Fm - Langleys Bluff — Other
- Molluscan Zone 9 (Zone A), Windmill Point Mbr, St. Marys Fm - Chancellor Point — Other
- Mouth of Little Antietam Creek near Eakles Mills, one mile ESE of Smithsburg — Other
- near Le Gore — Other
- Orthid fauna of the Zygospira-Hebertella community, Reedsville and Martinsburg F — Other
- Oxford Neck — Other
- Piscataway Creek, Nanjemoy Fm., Potapaco M., Maryland — Other
- PRI Loc. 95 (sample 28, replicate B) - Little Cove Point Mbr, St Mary's Fm — Other
- Schemeompf’s old Quarry, top of a hill, west of Conococheague Creek — Other
- Section starting 200 feet east of the center of the bridge over Little Run — Other
- Severn Formation Locality C (Hampton Mall Shopping Center) — Other
- UNCW Loc. Z-893 - Drumcliff [Drumcliff Mbr, Choptank Fm] — Other
- Unit 2, Rose Hill Formation, North Mountain Section, Maryland — Other
- Unit 7, Upper Tonoloway Limestone, McKenzie-Pinto Section — Other
- U. S. Highway 40 Roadcut, just west of Conococheague Creek at Wilson — Other
How to Identify Fossils
Look for biological structure the rock around it lacks: shell curves and growth lines, the spongy honeycomb interior of bone, leaf veins, ribbed corals, or the segmented symmetry of a trilobite. Fossils usually contrast with their matrix in color or density. Bone that has mineralized feels heavier than fresh bone and often shows a polished brown-black surface.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find fossils in Maryland?
Maryland has 42 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are Calvert Cliffs State Park, Hancock, and North Ferry Point. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Maryland?
We have 42 documented fossils sites in Maryland, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Maryland?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current land status before you dig.
How do I identify fossil?
Look for biological structure the rock around it lacks: shell curves and growth lines, the spongy honeycomb interior of bone, leaf veins, ribbed corals, or the segmented symmetry of a trilobite. Fossils usually contrast with their matrix in color or density. Bone that has mineralized feels heavier than fresh bone and often shows a polished brown-black surface.
What should I bring to collect fossils?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
More to Find in Maryland
Fossils in Nearby States
Data: Paleobiology Database, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.