Still only open to Chesapeake Beach residents only even if you live in North Beach. They really have ruined this park by being so unwelcoming even to nearby residents. Large signs saying you will be trespassing and so on. They need to do better than this, makes both towns look very unwelcoming. read more

Bayfront Park - Beaches Near Me - Chesapeake Beach, Maryland

A nice spot for a quick getaway from the city. I thought the price was a bit high, but when you add it all up, it's cheaper than going over the bridge to the shore. There's lots of space on the "beach" and the water is really shallow so you can walk out a 1/4 mile and still be at waist level. There's no guard on duty policing the beach, so you can bring all the food and liquor you want and have a ball. There are two small portapotties if you need them. The downside (besides the price) is the parking situation. If the lot's full, there's no easy way to access this place, which (perhaps intentionally) limits the number of people who can be here at once. The hike to the beach is 8-10 minutes so if you leave something in the car, sayonara. I'd strongly suggest investing in a cart so you can just roll your chairs, umbrellas and cooler. Also: BEWARE, THIS PLACE HAS JELLYFISH! read more

A free park with a small beach and a large boardwalk. Very small parking area that fits perhaps 20 cars at a push. No services here at all. But it's hard to complain when it's free. Great spot for shells and pretty stones and simply looking out over Chesapeake Bay. read more

See all

This is the most passive aggressive beach we've ever visited. *4 stars only because our family visited in the winter time* read to the end if you are visiting between Memorial Day-labor day. We've been visiting this beach during the winter for the past 3 years. Coming from Pennsylvania, it's a nice day trip to this small beach to get our sharks teeth hunting fix. The teeth you find along the water line are small but you can find bull shark, snaggle tooth shark, rays teeth and more. Also, small glass beads also line the beach. Entry is free during the winter months only. There are no rest rooms available. In order to find the teeth, look right where the water is gently splashing onto the beach. Teeth and fossils will most likely be, black and shiny. It also helps to have the sun shining where you are looking for this will cause them to stand out even more. I was told that megalodon shark teeth can be found out a bit further if you come prepared with equipment, but we didn't venture beyond the beach area. Stay away from the cliffs. It's not worth your life and car size chunks do regularly fall without warning. Now for the negative. Remember my four star review was strictly a winter time rating. If you visit between Memorial Day-Labor Day they charge huge amusement park prices to visit this small, bare bones beach. Obviously, this is the towns passive aggressive way of saying that they don't want outsiders visiting their beach but they will tolerate you long enough to collect your $18 a person if you choose to visit. (Yes I wrote PER PERSON, it's NOT a typo) Again, if you are looking for a summer time beach save your money and research other local beaches and feel free to make sure you take your hard earned money and go out to lunch somewhere other than this town just to make your own passive aggressive point. Happy hunting! read more

See all

Great spot to sneak a spring swim and find some shark teeth. You can walk out hundreds of feet and still be hip deep. Perfect for the doggos! But $16 a person during the summer is a bit silly. Hurry up and check it out! Its far enough south to not see the other side of the bay on hazy days ...so has a more oceany feel than other local bay beaches read more

Once a great place to take my family for a day away from the city. Unfortunately, due to pedantic decision making of this small town non-locals are not really welcome which is apparent by closing a once public beach to anyone not from the local area. I wonder how much money the local restaurants and businesses are losing due to reduced tourism. I wouldn't go back there until this is made right. I'd propose these local residents should be banned from DC's National Mall, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and Virginia's Old Town Alexandria since these areas are always congested. Ridiculous right, as ridiculous as closing Brownie Beach to non-residents. read more

My seven-year-old son is obsessed with fossils and shark teeth. My three-year-old fell asleep, so I dropped them off (son and hubby) by the entrance. As soon as we pulled up, a woman came out of her house and then a man to let us know we could not drop off/ park/wait by the entrance. I dropped my son and husband off and moved the car two streets over with the engine on so I could wait while my baby slept. Ten minutes later, a different man came out of his house with a dog and started walking toward me; as soon as he saw my baby sleeping in the back, he turned around. The residents are very hostile; the town gave me an apartheid vibe. They think they own the beach. And quite frankly is not that impressive. Spend your money somewhere else. read more

We were looking for a nice beach day but as soon as we pulled into the park, there was a giant sign that basically said if you are not a Calvert County resident then you will be towed and fined. I found it ridiculous that there was no mention of this rule on their website. Do not come to this beach unless you are a county resident. So dissatisfied! read more

Agree with the others. $18 entrance fee per person! Outrageous! Very anti-tourist and the staff aren't that friendly. Also beach is extremely small so don't expect much and definitely not worth the price. Just a port-o-potty. Would have given this place 1 star for the obscene prices but I liked digging and finding all of the goodies. I will not be going back during the peak season. The Chesapeake board that's responsible for these crazy prices can bite me. read more

We spent a slice of Christmas Day at Bayfront Park. Nothing else is open and we needed a bit of breathing room from the family and the farm. Voila, a nice 45 minute drive over to Chesapeake Beach, MD...and we've found ourself a little gem. And, I implore you...do not judge a beach by its cover, my friends. As this is a little chunk of the Calvert Cliffs, it allows not only a little glimpse into the natural phenomena, it is also a veritable goldmine for fossils. Particularly, shark teeth. Yes, shark teeth fossils. As Andrew R points out, this is not really a beach to come for white sandy frolicking. It's not super groomed. There are trees fallen down. It's got a lot of shells that are sharp. It's a nice beach, and you can certainly swim here when it is warm enough (not on Christmas, obviously), complete with a stretching boardwalk that curls around the left side (when you enter the beach). There are some benches up there and it's a really lovely view, quite peaceful. It's not a beach in Mexico at a resort. As for the fossil combers, this is obviously not a secret anymore. On this somewhat chilly December day there were no less than 20 folks combing the beach looking for the elusive shark teeth (which look like little black triangles, for the record...not huge carnivore teeth). Pro-tip from my fossil fiend husband (he polled the natives): the shark teeth actually exist inside the cliffs, so the highest potential for finding them along the beach is after a heavy rain. Sometimes they wash up, but they do not originate in the bay, they are in the cliffs. Bonus: I found a shark vertebrae, which for me...pretty good. I lose patience so it was pretty fun to find something. The views are gorgeous, dogs are allowed (please clean up after them), and there are some fees during "beach season." But none in the offseason (between Labor Day and Memorial Day, I believe). You'll find the rules listed on the sign near the entrance (which is a bit hard to find so do keep an eye out as you are driving!). You'll park and then walk down a cement path to reach the beach. There are a few porta potties, but otherwise save the boardwalk and the shark teeth...this is pretty bare bones. Pun intended! Apparently it gets very crowded in high season and there is a bit of a battle over the admission fees charged by Chesapeake Beach community. They are high to prevent crowding and all the fossils being picked over by non-locals. Fair enough. If you are super into fossiling, pay the fees and consider it a donation to the sharks. If you want a white sandy beach, find another one with lesser fees. Seems fair. Regardless, free in the off season. Make a quick stop, if you can find a few shark teeth...you can call it a good day. Or ya know, be like me and just enjoy the view and the fresh air. read more

See all

Nice little spot if you want the beach vibe with out the crowds there is definitely a lack of minority around the town it made me feel a bit out of place but if you can move past that it's alright read more

I visited this secluded, beautiful little beach several times years ago and a few times in the last several years. The Calvert County cliffs make a lovely backdrop to the small, quiet beach. The water is unbelieveably shallow and warm with very little wave action, it's almost more of a cove or lagoon. That is very family friendly if you have little ones, but there is no lifeguard on duty. For fossil lovers, there are shark's teeth fossils to be found. This is one of the reputations of the beach. A nice distraction for the kids. You can also bring your dog, which we have not done but hope to do some day. Today, my family decided to spend the day and we were dumbfounded with regard to the fees. For non-Calvert County residents: $13 per adult and $9 per child; $44 for a family of four - really?? Yes, I would pay to park, but the only 'amenities' this beach has are a couple of trash cans and porta-Johns. If the idea is to keep people away, it's a great idea because although we love the rustic, quiet little place, I doubt we will be back. Sad, because from what I can see, the fees are not being used to do much for the beach itself. read more

First off $18 a person is outrageous. Second, add dogs and SMOKING to beach restrictions. After paying $36 for two of us to enjoy the beach, the last thing I want is to choke on second-hand smoke. Beach is calm, clean and shallow. Better option than Breezy Point (police told us lot was full, come back in 45 minutes) or North Beach ($17 per person, small beach right off main road, packed.) An hour and change from DC but I doubt I'll return because of the cost. read more

I would love to take my daughter here more often because I feel it's safe for young children & toddlers, but the town of Chesapeake Beach is extremely unwelcoming. First- they want to charge me $25.00 for just a few hours. I mean, it's just me and my daughter, she's currently 3. They increase the prices every year because they claim "they do not want non-residents there" wow, do I want to come to your town at all? IT IS A PARK, GET OVER YOURSELVES. Second- There are no amenities. None. The "bathroom" aka port-a-potty isn't even near by & it's summer, you think I want to use one in the summer? Third- There's a small boardwalk entrance in the neighborhood, you can't park there though. I once unloaded a few things there & the residents were SO rude & so nasty. They even called the police while we were unloading, WE WERE NOT PARKED!! There were people BY the cars the entire time. The cop seemed so annoyed by the residents even calling, as we can read signs. I used to love coming here about 3-4 years ago, but now I cannot stand the attitude of the residents and their casual nasty demeanor about "their beach." my visits to this beach & town will be less and less if this continues. They even have a waterpark in town, but I have zero desire to even go there because of their bad attitudes. read more

Hah! That one star review is hysterical. Yeah, if you come here to sun bathe or swim, you will be disappointed. Go to Flag Pond instead. If you come here to collect fossils, you'll be amazed. I've been all over the country and this is one of the best places you'll ever find. Tip: When you get stung by a jellyfish, DO NOT pee on it. That is an urban legend that just won't die. Instead, use white vinegar. Tip: The teeth get bigger the farther down the cliffs you go... read more

Narrow, dirty beach. Prices for non-residents are high during the summer. We went on 9/21/12 and it wasn't clear whether the fee would be charged since it was off-season. We couldn't find the information online. Before we went, we wrote email to the person who seems to be in charge of the park and asked what the fees would be on 9/21/12. He didn't answer the question, and told us to call Town Hall. In planning a whole bunch of stops for that day, I didn't need yet one more thing to do to get information. Why can't they put the fees online? Anyway, we took one look at the beach and left. But the biggest downer is the distance from the car to the beach. It's a long walk downhill -- which means a long walk uphill later -- and you may not be ready for that if you're dragging beach gear, kids, etc. on a hot summer day. Find a beach where you can park the car closer, and walk on a level path in both directions. read more

Such a negative atmosphere. People sitting right as you turn it to collect money- just a negative experience all around.

This used to be a good place to look for interesting shells, fossils and shark teeth. Then around 2015, the gummint got involved and of course, messed it up. Somehow, they can charge $18 a person in the summer for people to enjoy something they did not create. It's nature. It should be free. Keep the damned gummint out. read more

The entry fee is outrageous! I would give it zero stars if I could. You are not getting what you pay for that is for sure. The parking lot is itty bitty so when it is full you have to park a half mile down the road which is fine but the road to get there is treacherous with kids in tow. There is no place to safely walk on the side of a very busy road with blind curves. Not worth $18 to not even be able to park there! No way was this is worth the hour and a half drive for us. read more

Overly priced but nice low key spot for families. Actually called Brownie Beach too. But you will pay $18 if you are not Calvert county resident. Advice wait until the clerks leave as that is when the locals go for free. Around 5pm. Liked it, sand bar is long but needs shower facilities for $18.00 pp and real bathrooms. read more

Beautiful little section of beach. And dog friendly. Very nice boardwalk for a walk as well.

This is like a sanctuary. Private and calm. Is a good place to get your feet wet and walk on the sand. The sunrise at this park makes my walk more enjoyable. You will love it! read more

Beautiful place but if your not from here, it is a steep entry fee during the summer season. Small parking lot... read more

Bayfront Park - Small but beautiful beach park - Beaches Near Me - Chesapeake Beach, Maryland

See all

We went to this park to enjoy a dog friendly beach/park. Although the views were incredible, the beach was VERY small and hard to find any area for us to even sit. Not only that, but even though we are from a neighboring county and close to this park we had to pay $32.00 to even get in to walk to the beach, to then not even find a place to relax. We understand a fee to get into any park but $16.00 PER ADULT is outrageous. The boardwalk is nice and the views are beautiful, but as a dog owner, I would not come back to this park with my dog. Even though they are dog friendly, it didn't matter seeing that we weren't even able to really experience the beach we paid so much for. Even, if the idea is to price it to keep it local, then maybe it should not be one of the top hits for public, dog friendly beaches in Southern Maryland, or it should be open to Calvert County residents only. Overall, to pay $32.00 for a beach that is not even the size of a football field, I was VERY disappointed, even though the boardwalk was beautiful. read more

I loved this beach!! Me and my boyfriend were looking for a place to go to have a nice picnic waterside. I came across this place online and I thought it would be perfect! It's very scenic and picture perfect. It has its own free parking lot, and even though it's small, we showed up around 3pm and there were still spots. We went in the off season so it was free for us to enter, but during the summer season it's $16 a person!!! I don't think the beach is worth that at all. I also don't think it's a place to go to if you're looking for a nice swimming spot. The water is shallow and cold. I think this beach is perfect if you're looking for a scenic spot on the water and it's only an hour outside of DC! read more

See all

Tourist? Try Breezy Point Beach or North Beach instead. The town charges what many think are outrageous fees for a small beach with no services. The high price is to DISCOURAGE non residents. As many reviewers have mentioned, limited parking, long walk. If you are not a local, try Breeze Point Beach or North Beach, both have services and cater to tourists. read more

LOVE THIS BEACH!!! Great prices, and the staff members are so cute especially the one with ray bans.

Beach is nice, residents are angry and make it difficult for you to have a nice day with your family. Remember that scene from pretty woman in Beverly Hills? I think those snobby sales ladies moved here. I suggest Flag Pond Park, just s few miles south. The beach is great, and I always find shark teeth there.... read more

I love fossil hunting and the beach, so this little park is made in heaven for me...USUALLY. But I tend to go in the off season, as I know there is a charge to use the park...however, I went against my judgement and decided to try to get a beach trip in this summer here. I was completely and totally shocked by the OUTRAGEOUS fees being charged here for Out of County residents. $16.00 a PERSON (not a car, but per person!!!) to visit a crappy beach that isn't even on the ocean? And that doesn't even have picnic facilities or TOILETS?!?!!? That is over the top greedy, and not only did I not pay today to visit the park, I also refused to spend any money in town either. Stupid and greedy, I will NEVER be back during the summer. See you after Labor Day! read more

LOCALS ONLY! OTHER$ PAY $$$ I suggest going in the shoulder seasons. If you don't live here - Don't come here. You are NOT welcome here unless you PAY. (In the summertime) We went there in the off season when our daughter was young and LOVED IT! We recently returned to enjoy Brownie Beach to experience it in the summer. 4 adults + 2 kids $16 per Adult $9 per Child =TOO MUCH $ 35 minutes away is Flag Pond for $6 per car. Go there instead. read more

Too expensive and too small it is a chill place but for that prize you can go elsewhere were they actually have a decent bathroom and shower to clean off after read more

This beach is nice, but the pricing is outrageous. $18 a person is ridiculous. The 3 people, that's right- they need 3, at one entrance gouging visitors for money were rude and unhelpful. They are actively discouraging people from out of town. When we did get to the beach, there were maybe three or four other families. There is one portapotty. I woul have enjoyed he beach more if I hadn't had to pay double minimum wage. Shame on them for exploiting Maryland's natural beauty. The woman running the "ticket booth" was particularly rude and aggressive. read more

This beautiful secluded beach is a beach intended for the residents of the town of Chesapeake Beach. So many non residents come to Chesapeake Beach thinking they have found a secret hide away - and you have not. This is exactly why the town started charging non residents and why prices have increased yearly since. There are barely 20 parking spots in the tiny parking lot of Route 261 - and if you pay attention (yes you tourists) you pass at LEAST five signs that indicate "Residential Neighborhood, NO BEACH ACCESS" if you attempt to skip the parking lot and head down local streets to access said beach. All of the charging, singage and police presence is a result of non residents ruining the residents experience. If you want ammenties like bathrooms, showers, and lifeguards try North Beach a mile down the road. Try Breezy Point Park just 4 or so miles down the road. Or even Ocean City would welcome you the tourist. read more

Somebody please make sense out of this... I am an active duty military spouse. My fee is $9 with my military ID. My 5 year old son's fee is $10 because he does not have an ID... What 5 year old has an ID? I have been coming here for two years now and have only been charged $10 cash for my family when we visit. But now $19. This is ridiculous. Unfortunately this last visit will be our last one. I am thankful to catch a break with the discount however I think the fees are just insane. read more

Summertime prices are steep ($13 per adult), especially considering the beach has porta-potties rather than real bathrooms, no drinking water, and no showers. On the other hand, the beach is dog friendly and it only takes about 40-50 minutes to drive there from DC. The views to the north and the south are pretty, and there are some little slices of shade to be had. read more

Not really worth the $73 I paid today. When we need the port-a-potties, they were pad locked. Trash on wak to beach. There were way to many dogs. Sad that they are charging a high fee. read more

Nice area to look for shark teeth. Kids love it and its a great way to spend a morning.

The beach is ok with the possibility of finding some good shark teeth but the Town imposed entry fee is ridiculous and takes advantage of people. Shame on the town council for ruining it for everyone. I am from CA and yes there are parking fees but they are minimal compared to the $18/person the town council imposed. read more

Went to this beach after labor day so it was free to get in. During the summer months it's $16 per adult to enter if you live outside of the county... Which is absolutely ridiculous. This beach is not worth a $16 entrance fee so if your not going in the off season when it's free I suggest going to another nearby beach. With that being said, parking is also not the best for this beach. It has one VERY small parking lot and I can only imagine it filling up quickly in the summer months. It was a short walk to the actual beach and when we arrived I was pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness and beauty of it. To the left is a small boardwalk and to the right of the beach are the cliffs. The beach itself is pretty small so we went by the cliffs to look for some sharks teeth. We found about 25 small teeth but no big ones. Mind you, this was our first time looking for sharks teeth ever so I was ecstatic with what I found. You can also walk out pretty far (50ft give or take) into the water because it's so shallow (about mid calf to knee length) perfect if you have a dog! Oh and watch out for the jelly fish and horseshoe crabs!! read more

Horrific. Just left. We arrived and immediately packed up to leave after noticing glass in MUTLIPLE places. Two adults and a toddler almost $40. We asked for a refund and they said no because you must leave within 30 minutes and it took us 40 minutes. MY SON IS DISABLED and the path is lengthy. I explained that it takes about 10 minutes to walk the path, they said no and the security guard motioned that it was time for me to leave. The staff working was horrific and inconsiderate and the beach is overpriced for a GLASS RIDDLED slab of mud. read more