Best Shelling Beaches in Maryland

If you’re looking for a unique beach experience, consider combing the shores of Maryland for sea shells! Whether you’re an avid shell collector or simply looking to take home a memento of your beach vacation, Maryland offers some of the best shelling beaches in the country. With its diverse coastline and abundant marine life, the state is home to a wide variety of shells just waiting to be discovered.

Best Time to Find Shells on the Beach

Knowing the best time to find shells on the beach can enhance your experience and help you come away with a great collection. The best time to look for shells on the beach is generally early morning after a storm or high tide. Storms tend to bring an influx of new shells, while high tides can loosen up existing ones that may be buried in the sand. It’s important to wait until after these events since they expose large amounts of shells that were previously hidden beneath the surface.

The key is to know when tides are low and how that affects the shoreline of your favourite beach. I mean, tides vary in intensity every day, so it is important to check tide tables before planning your trip. Generally, it is best to plan for low tide to enable a much wider area of the beach to be accessible and visible, exposing more of the beach’s hard-packed sand and making shell collecting easier. At high tide, much of the beach area may be covered by waves which eliminate potential areas for finding shells.

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How to Find Conch Shells on the Beach

During low tide, walk around in shallow water and look in rock pools or along sandy areas. Be sure to check out places where seaweed usually accumulates as well – these areas are often home to a variety of shells and sea creatures.

It also helps if you head out early in the morning when there aren’t many people around so that you won’t be competing with others for finding shells!

Additionally, look for mudflats where clams may have been buried by retreating water since this is another great place to search for hidden treasures such as cowry or scallop shells. Find out more tricks here. 

Best Shelling Beaches in Maryland

Brownie Beach, Bay Front Park

This beach is a hidden gem located on the Eastern Shore, and it offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. Along with the breathtaking scenery, visitors can find a variety of shells along this shoreline that are perfect for collecting. Whether you stick close to shore or venture out into deeper waters – which can be done safely due to shallow depths – there are endless possibilities for finding unique shells that range from common varieties like hermit crabs to rare finds like conchs or whelks.

The beach is accessible on foot only, so plan ahead and bring supplies such as food and drinks since there won’t be any stores nearby. The best time to go is low tide since there will be more area available for strolling and searching for seashells.

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Ocean City Beaches 

Ocean City, Maryland is a great destination for families and beach lovers alike! The area boasts some of the best shelling beaches in the state, with beautiful white sand and stunning ocean views. Whether you are looking to spend the day exploring or just finding seashells along the shoreline, Ocean City has something for everyone.

The most popular shelling beach in Ocean City is located on the northern tip of Assateague Island. You will find lots of beautiful shells across the inlet on this beach, as well as to the Assateague Bayside. You may also explore miles of pristine coastline and find an abundance of shells that have been washed up onshore.

From pretty pink conchs to colourful hermit crabs, to oysters, to clams to scallops there’s no limit to what you might find—each one more beautiful than the next! Plus, it’s easy to access since a state park trail runs parallel to the beach.

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Assateague National Seashore and state park

Located on the Eastern Shore, this beautiful park spans over 37 miles of diverse terrain from the Atlantic Ocean to Sinepuxent Bay, this natural wonderland offers some of the best shelling in the state. As one of the most popular destinations for shelling on the East Coast, visitors can find an array of shells, shark teeth, sea glass and other beach treasures along these stunning shorelines.

Besides shelling, you can enjoy the beach’s view of stunning coastline, pristine sand dunes, and marshlands with a huge variety of wildlife – including wild horses population; there are plenty of unique finds waiting to be discovered here.

Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis

Located just off the Chesapeake Bay and only a short drive from Washington D.C., Sandy Point State Park provides visitors with a unique beach experience. Not only does the park offer its visitors miles of shoreline to explore, but it also offers some of the best shelling opportunities in Maryland. There are many different species of shells that can be found on these sandy shores, making for a great day at the beach for children and adults alike.

The beach is open from sunrise to sunset each day and provides visitors with access to nearly eight miles of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay. Here you can explore rock jetties full of shells just waiting to be discovered. At low tide, when water levels are at their lowest point, you can even search for fossils!

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Breezy Point Public beach

Breezy Point Public Beach, located in Calvert County, Maryland, is one of the best shelling beaches on the East Coast. Whether you’re looking for rare or common shells such as scallops, oysters and clams, Breezy Point has something to offer everyone. The beach offers plenty of room to explore and even some picnic tables if you want to take a break from your shell hunting while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

The wide open sandy beach makes it easy to find what you’re looking for as well as get around without feeling crowded. Even during peak season visitors can find themselves with plenty of space and time to hunt for their favourite types of shells without interruption.

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Calvert Cliffs State Park, Lusby

This is another hidden gem with over two miles of beachfront along of the Chesapeake Bay area.  Here, visitors can find an array of shells and fossils that make up this unique attraction. The park has plenty to offer for any outdoor enthusiast looking for a great beach experience. While exploring its pristine shoreline, you’re likely to come across some amazing shell fragments like scallops, oysters, clams and mussels. The beautiful scenery and natural wildlife provide an even more enjoyable experience as you wander along its sandy shores.

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Flag Pond, Lusby

Located in Calvert County, Flag Pond offers visitors a picturesque beach to explore and discover treasures from the sea. It’s the perfect spot for a day trip from Washington, D.C., Baltimore or Annapolis.

The area around Flag Pond provides plenty of activities for families and individuals alike, such as swimming and fishing in its calming waters. When it comes to finding shells on this beach, you’ll want to keep an eye out for tiny green crabs, horseshoe crabs, moon snails and much more! The sand at Flag Pond is especially sandy which makes it easier to sift through when looking for shells. You can also find different types of stones along with various types of sea glass that have been tumbled smooth by the waves over time.

Terrapin State Nature Park, Stevensville

Located on Kent Island, this park offers visitors plenty of natural spaces as well as waterfront access to explore. The sandy beach is perfect for finding different kinds of shells and other treasures from the Bay’s waters. The variety of shorelines in Terrapin State Nature Park provides ample opportunities for shell seekers to find something special.

The park has several trails that are worth exploring, but those who are hoping to find some unique shells should head straight for the beach area near the pier. Here, there have been reports of a variety of shells including oyster, cockle and scallop varieties being found over the years.

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Matoaka Beach, Southern Maryland

Boasting stunning vistas and plenty of shoreline for beachcombing, Matoaka is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.  Located in the Chesapeake Bay Community of Maryland, Matoaka Beach stretches for miles on the Atlantic Coast, offering visitors an opportunity to relax and collect shells.

Betterton Beach, Betterton

Located on the Eastern Shore, this beach offers a unique experience for visitors and locals alike. The tranquil waters of the Chesapeake Bay make for perfect conditions for finding interesting seashells. From colourful conchs to moon snails, there are always plenty of treasures to be unearthed at Betterton Beach.

Check out beach combing tips here.

Also, visit this Facebook Page to get tips and learn more about specific spots to get sea shells.

Wrap Up

Overall, Maryland is home to some of the best shelling beaches in America. Assateague Island, Ocean City, and Sandy Point State Park offer some of the best opportunities to explore the region’s unique coastal environment and bring home one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or just an afternoon adventure, these spots will have something special for everyone.