Sandy Point State Park

About

This 786-acre Maryland State Park is located along the Northwestern shore of the majestic Chesapeake Bay. The park’s beaches and picnic areas are well known for their breathtaking scenic water views that overlook one of Maryland’s true treasures, the Chesapeake Bay. The park was first opened on June 25, 1952 and has provided its guests with various activities and services ever since. Some of these activities and services include Swimming Beaches, Picnicking, Fishing, Crabbing, Boating, Hiking, Youth G​roup Camping, Areas of Historical Interest and Wildlife Viewing. The Park also offers a marina store and boat rentals.

Boating

Sandy Point’s staff is very proud of the park’s marina facility, which includes 22 launching ramps and six finger piers for temporary day use docking on a first come first served basis. The marina’s boat pump-out station is available April through October. The facility is certified as a Clean Marina. Please call Sandy Point State Park’s headquarters at 410-974-2149 to check for boat pump-out availability.

Depending on the Coast Guard’s wind and weather reports, motorboats are available for rent in late spring, summer, and early fall. The marina is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The marina is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Fishing and Crabbing

Fishing from the shoreline is permitted in designated areas. There are several rock jetties in the park and a fishing pier located next to the boat launch ramps. The park allows night fishing; however, only people who are actively fishing can be in the park after the park closes. Bait & fishing supplies are available in the marina store.

Special Note: A Chesapeake Bay Sport fishing license is required for those 16 years of age and older. For the safety of our visitors, tents are not permitted. Only see through sun shelters without a bottom floor are permitted.

The Chesapeake Bay blue crab is a delicious treat and can be caught on the park’s fishing and crabbing pier located at the south end of the boat launch ramps.

Special Note: Be sure to follow the crabbing regulations and restrictions. This information, as well as crabbing supplies, may be found at the marina store located near the boat launch ramps.

Trails

Whether you feel like taking a recreational walk or looking for some of Maryland’s beautiful plants and animals, Sandy Point State Park has an opportunity for you. The Symbi Trail is located by the first picnic area on the right after entering the park. This trail provides views of an old planted pine forest and leads to neighboring marshes that many plants and animals call home. There is another short trail near the small craft parking lot that provides hikers with wooded cover that is perfect for seeing some of Maryland’s distinctive birds.

The Corcoran Tract
Bordering Sandy Point State Park is the Corcoran Tract, a natural environmental area. Here there are approximately four miles of trails where you can hike, jog, and see many types of plants and animals. For more information about this property please call Sandy Point State Park at 410-974-2149.

Nature Center and Interpretive Programs

The Sandy Point Nature Center, located in the heart of the park, is an education center which displays collections of local wildlife including a snake, turtles and frogs. Visitors of all ages will also enjoy hands-on displays and an area where they can dress up like a ranger. The park also offers a wide variety of interpretive programs for visitors of all ages, as well as environmental education programs for grades 3-8.

Picnicking and Pavilions

The park’s grassy picnic areas are located next to the swimming beach. Playgrounds and bathrooms are located in these areas also. A limited numbers of grills and picnic tables are available on a first come first served basis.

The park’s marina store, located near the boat launch ramps, offers a variety of picnic and grilling supplies.

For those visitors who prefer not to cook, a food concession located at South Beach is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Swimming Beaches

The park’s lengthy beaches located at South Beach provide plenty of room for stretching out and enjoying the sun’s warmth as you dry off after swimming in the cool tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

A portion of South Beach is protected with lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day to Labor Day.

A bathhouse is located near the beach and provides park users with restroom and showering facilities. Snack food, beach and picnic supplies are also available at the South Beach area of the park.

Youth Group Camping

The park has two Youth Group Camping sites that are strictly for official youth groups only. The youth group camping sites are open from the beginning of April through the beginning of November. These rustic camping sites overlook the Chesapeake Bay. Each site has a small picnic shelter with two tables and a grill.