If you are searching for a bit of adventure, Calvert Cliffs State Park in Maryland makes for an affordable, fun day out. Read on to learn about the park and what you can do during a visit there.

Calvert Cliffs State Park is located in Calvert County, Maryland and is known for its cliffs, fossils, and shark teeth and is on the Chesapeake Bay. It is an approximately 1 hour and 45 minute drive from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. A car is needed to reach Calvert Cliffs State Park.

Calvert Cliffs makes for a very affordable day trip. The day admission fee is $5 per vehicle for Maryland residents and $7 per vehicle for out-of-state residents. 

Calvert Cliffs State Park is open year-round and my visit was in late-April.

To access the attractions of Calvert Cliffs State Park, you have to walk along a trail that leads to the cliffs and beach area. The Red Trail and Orange Trail are both options to access this area. The Red Trail is the more common and direct route and is 2 miles each way (4 miles round trip); this is the route I took. The Orange Trail is slightly longer. You can also take one trail there and the other to return.

These are the directions for the Red Trail hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/calvert-cliffs-red-trail

At the start of the trail near the parking lot there are proper restrooms and portable toilets are available near the beach and cliffs.

Along the 2 mile walk to the cliff and beach area, there are lots of trees, ponds, and beaver marshes which have abundant wildlife.

Once you get to the end of the trail, the beach and cliffs will be apparent. A common activity to do at Calvert Cliffs State Park, besides admiring the cliffs, is to search for fossils and shark teeth at the beach. Since the cliffs are constantly being eroded by the elements, they expose geologic formations from the Miocene era which was approximately 6 to 20 million years ago. During this time, sharks lived in the area and their teeth were preserved, which is why you are able to find them today.

To find fossils or shark teeth, I would recommend bringing something to pan with. You can buy a panning shifter on Amazon or another option would be to use a colander (just run it through the dishwasher after!). I was able to find some fossils while panning along the shore line.

Calvert Cliffs is also a beautiful place to have a picnic, which is what my friend and I did. There are a few picnic tables at the beach, or you can also bring a beach blanket or beach towel to sit down on. I don’t recommend carrying a beach chair as the distance to the beach from the parking lot makes them a bit cumbersome to carry.

If the weather is nice when you visit, it is possible to swim at the beach. I didn’t bring my bathing suit the day we visited but I greatly enjoyed putting my feet in the water while I was panning. Do note there are no lifeguards at the beach so swimming is at your own risk.

Overall Calvert Cliffs State Park makes for an enjoyable place to enjoy nature and the Chesapeake Bay. It was one of my favorite days out in recent memory and I hope to return again soon.