Absolutely worth the visit! I was looking up nearby beaches to DC for a day trip, and this one popped up. Who wants to cross the Bay Bridge in traffic? (No one.) You won't have to with this find! 1000% better than Calvert Cliffs Park. 2025 rates: $20/car for non-county residents on weekends. Parking is easy if you get there early, and there are real bathrooms at the visitor center. It's still a .5 mile hike to the beach, but it's mostly a firm gravel path with more sand as you get to the beach. Lots of other hiking trails that I didn't try on this visit. Signs help you navigate your way to the beach. There are restrooms and a rinse off station prior to the boardwalk onto the sand. Once to the beach, it's a pretty narrow strip of sand, but off to the right of the main path there is more space. Bring your own everything--shade, seats, snacks, and any digging/sifting equipment for finding fossils! Pack lightly. I saw some people with big beach carts and I'd not recommend it as coming back from the beach it's mostly uphill! Signs at the entrance indicate jellyfish may be present but I didn't see any for the 3 hours I was there. The waves are not very rough and the water is clear out to about 3 feet. I'd recommend water shoes as there are lots of shells/rocks at the shore. I hiked in Teva sandals and it was the perfect shoe for me hiking and on the beach and in the water. Because parking is limited, the beach was not too crowded. It was fun watching other people find fossils as I relaxed in the sun and enjoyed the peace of the sand and surf! read more

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What a total gem of a park- obviously our first time there and it was just a gorgeous Fall day! Apparently this spot is "lesser known" or less visited than the nearby Calvert Cliffs but offers a lot of the same views and perks like finding fossils and shark teeth. Part of the beach have a very small shoreline but around the corner it opens up to this huge wide beach area with a little look out deck. We walked along some of the other pond trails and they were just beautiful. Saw tons of birds and turtles. A lot of the paths are maintained by boardwalks, and sometimes you're just walking along the dirt/sand mix but it's very peaceful and picturesque! We brought our dog and she loved it too! Being that it was November, it felt like a very few amount of people around- I imagine its much busier when it's warm out- but if you're looking for a day on the water- this is a very accessible and fun spot! I would imagine you'd want a wagon or something to carry chairs or anything that you were planning on bringing to the beach as it's a bit of a walk from the parking areas. They do have a handicap accessible lot close to the shore for those that can't do the walk. read more

we went down to the Beach at Flag pond yesterday 8/23 and it was covered in dog poop. seems people thinks it's fine to not clean up after their pets. it's a shame since it is a beautiful beach and lovely park. the trails are nice and the walk to the beach isn't too long. they need to have signs up to clean up after your pets and have people around to clean it up. it was really gross. read more

My family loves this place. We frequent this spot as we love to go find fossils and sharks teeth. This is a great alternative to Calvert Cliffs. It is a shorter walk to the beach, and I would say more fossils to be found, and often not as crowded. There are also several trails to walk and one (that I know of) that leads to you a blind to bird watch. The cost is much more affordable than something like breezy point. I totally recommend checking this place out. read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park is a nice little sandy escape without having to drive all the way to the eastern shore. It's not a pond, but more of a secluded beach on the Chesapeake Bay. It's quite lovely! The few times I've been here, it was never crowded. It's about a 10 minute hike from the parking lots to the beach area. There are also hiking trails, but I've never checked those out. This is a great place to go to search for shark teeth. My friends and I found over thirty. Remember to bring some sifters, if you do! Also bring beach umbrellas and chairs! There are no lifeguards around so don't do anything stupid in the water. There are clean bathrooms and a rinse off area right by the entrance of the beach. It's a dog friendly park. You will need to keep your furry friends are on a leash. Entry fee: $6 per car. read more

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Living in the DMV we're always looking for toddler-friendly alternatives, and I think with Flag Ponds Nature Park we may have just hit the jackpot. My wife and kids (3 & 1 Year's old) made the relatively short 1 hr drive from DC... some pointers to ensure you have good experience: 1. Get there no later than 10 AM, especially on weekends since your ability to enter is dependent on whether or not you get to park your car. And space is limited. An alternative is to show up after 3 PM when parking spots are often available. Parking is $8 2. The beach itself doesn't ever get crowded due to the limiting factor of the small no. of parking spots...so when you get in, you are guaranteed a good experience on a sparsely "crowded" beach 3. It a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the beach. Takes about 10-15 mins to get to there. So if you have kids or elderly folks with you, there's an option to drop them off very close to the beach before parking in the lot, which is a bit of a climb 4. No lifeguard....but overall the water is very calm with almost no waves. The water is only about 2-3 feet in depth for quite a ways out. 5. There's a restroom by the parking lot and another one close to the beach and includes an outdoor shower to rinse off. But beware the bugs around there...bug spray could be helpful by the restroom area. No such problem by the beach 6. There's no shade to be found at the beach, so be sure to bring a tent or something similar to help you cool off during the summer months 7. If you're interested in looking for shark teeth and sea glass...this is the very best place to do it! But it's easiest if you bring a softer with you. I found several smaller shark teeth, but one guy sifting through the sand actually found a massive tooth of a great white!! (There's a chart on the beach by which you can identify the species of shark that the teeth belonged to) I've attached a picture of shark teeth I found there!! All in all we had a fantastic time. read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

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I love nature walks and this park was just a great way to spend one Saturday when nothing else seemed to excite me. About an hour and a half away from my place in Fairfax, this hidden strip along the beach was worth the drive. After we parked, my friend and I walked about half a mile through green woods and finally made it to the beach. The beach is very quiet and relaxing. We saw quite a few families and everyone looking for fossilized shark teeth :) If you're looking to get away from the craziness of the city and enjoy some meditation time, this is the right place for you! They do have entrance fees (as per their website): April - October: $4.00 for in-county residents, $6.00 for non residents November - March: $3.00 in-county resident or non resident. Walk-in/Bike: $2 person read more

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This is a fairly sizable, unique, and impressive park. There isn't much better you could do without crossing the Bay Bridge. The titular ponds are apparently new formations; while the rest of the world is sinking into the oceans, here, land has expanded outwards. From the parking lot, one walks downhill towards the beach through a verdant, paved trail. Most people are here for the beach, but other trails lead to the older ponds, which are now completely inland. There are some interesting views, but bring your bug repellent. The beach itself is much larger than nearby Calvert Cliffs. What appears to be an offshore sandbar breaks the waves, and while wildlife was evident, jellyfish seemed rare. The more littoral ponds intermingle with the bay itself, and there's plenty of shoreline. The water is overall relatively calm and safe, but there's no lifeguards, so watch the kiddies. The main beach is bordered on one side by cliffs, but the other extends for some distance. Past a fence, signs indicate you can no longer swim, walk upshore, or do anything other than stick to the coastline. Which conveniently is exactly what I wanted to do anyway. There are also decent amenities. An elevated building holds restrooms and sand showers before the boardwalk leading to the beach, all of which were quite functional and clean. A pier looks out over the water, and boardwalks through the swampy areas include a wildlife blind. A few exhibits on the history of watermen and on the area pop up periodically. The website warns of crowds on summer weekends. Even on a Friday, their parking lot was close to capacity. I'd get there early. That being said, the parking will fill before the beach itself does by a long shot, meaning that if you get into the park, you'll at least have some sand to work with. You do have to pay, and it's in-county rather than in-state. If you are in-county, I'd think a relatively inexpensive season pass would be the way to go. Even as a Washingtonian, I half think it might have been worth it myself. It's off route 4, so you could drive here straight from the White House if you wanted to. And wouldn't you rather be at the beach? read more

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Great place for families. Better than expected. My family and I were here aug 25 for a day visit. We read the other reviews and arrived before 10 so parking was not an issue. Note that cost of parking is $8 and must be paid in cash (cc not accepted). The bathrooms were well maintained. There is one near the parking lot and then another along the walk at the handicap parking. Be prepared it is quite a walk but worth it. Now the beach. I liked that the waves were mild. Great for young children. Great for tubes. My boys also loved that along the walk there were dips of shallow water where fish were swimming. Not crowded and clear of trash. Didn't notice seaweed or other stuff floating around. My tip is bring cash for parking, don't over pack bc of the walk. If you do a stroller make sure it's got the big wheels (noticed ppl struggling with the umbrella strollers on gravel walk to beach and on sand), carry backpack in lieu of shoulder packs and get there early. Upon exiting park around 1pm, there was a line of cars waiting for parking bc there were no spaces available. We had a great time and plan to visit again soon. read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

Great hidden beach. Its very picturesque and quiet, not alot of people everywhere which I loved. It is a hike to reach the beach so I suggest not to carry to much and there are alot of little jellyfish. Other than that it was beautiful. read more

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We were vacationing in Solomons, and wanted to enjoy a beach. The locals we asked only knew of Calvert Cliffs, which is fine, but small and crowded. We stumbled across this option via a google search. It is an unsung gem - the beach is wild and when we were there (mid week) almost empty. showers and rest rooms near the beach. the walk to the beach is wide and not too long. highly recommend. read more

Not really a business. It is a nature park good for the whole family. Nice way to spend 1-4 hours enjoying nature.

For the perfect day trip head over to this beautiful hidden beach right off the Chesapeake Bay. It is about an hour and a half from DC with little traffic along the way. After you park your car you will take a short quarter mile stroll through the woods ending at a nice quiet sandy beach with gentle rolling waves. Millions of years ago, sharks, whales, crocodiles and other creatures inhabited the waters and shores of this area. If you look hard enough you can still find tons of fossilized shark and sting ray teeth in the water (I found tons the last time I was there!) read more

Nice place to walk the trails with your dog or spend time at the beach swimming or hunting sharks teeth.

Oh my gosh, what a hidden gem! Flag Ponds Nature Park is a new favorite spot for us when we need to escape the city on a beautiful day. The name itself is a bit misleading - the attraction here is not a bunch of little ponds but instead a quiet, relatively unspoiled stretch of beach along the Bay. Upon entering, you'll pay a nominal fee (being from DC we paid $6 for our car) and will be given a map and brief explanation by one of the super friendly park rangers. There are two parking lots that are nicely shaded (and one small handicapped lot closer to the beach). Before embarking for the beach, there is a restroom area (and vending machines, lest you forgot your drinks). The downhill walk to the beach takes about ten minutes (they say it is about half a mile) along some paved, some gravel road. At the entrance to the beach, there are more restrooms and a small outdoor shower. You'll walk for a few minutes along a sandy area with some small ponds before arriving at the shore. Even on a glorious sunny summer day, we were pleasantly surprised to see how peaceful it was. There were families with young children (ourselves included!), couples, elderly people - all ages were represented and everyone seemed to be having a lovely time. If you don't want to spend hours on end sunning yourself, you can search for fossils and shark's teeth! There are some people here who come with panning equipment for more hardcore fossil searching, but you are likely to find something just walking up and down the shore (we came home with 9 shark teeth that my niece and nephew will surely appreciate). Like everywhere else on the Bay, the water is murky and there are jellyfish sightings, but that doesn't deter people from swimming. The water is quite gentle. Other reasons why this place is awesome: It is quiet. QUIET and CLEAN. We used to go to Sandy Point when we needed a beach break, and if you've been there, you know it is neither quiet nor clean. The people who work here are nice and like to join visitors in the fossil-finding fun. There is a basket of public beach toys! So if you forgot yours, you are welcome to borrow the ones here and just return them when you're done. Great little place that we look forward to returning to! read more

We stumbled upon this park after only hearing rave reviews about calvert cliffs. We were more than pleasantly surprised. We made two separate trips to this park and had a wonderful experience each time. We were able to find multiple sharks teeth with just the naked eye (no equipment needed). The beach does get crowded but there is more than enough room for everyone. There are bathrooms and an outdoor shower right off the beach to rinse the sand off before returning to your car. The Duncan's pond trail is also a must. It was short with a beautiful boardwalk through the pond. read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Happy with this find. - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

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This park is Ahhhhhmazing!!! It's beautiful and lots on beautiful little mini sandy islands you can walk from. The only thing is a mini flow of water you can take your shoes off and and walk through We went there and they had the girls who were with the 'Autism' group (can't remember the name off hand) and my son was in love!!! He has autism too and was very happy on the calm beach water We had a great time the staff was awesome and so nice and my son left his phone on the brag and they wanted to come help us , great staff we loved the place read more

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I was looking for a pet friendly beach to bring our dog and stumbled upon this beach! I love that we can take our dog here year round (since it's a park and not a beach, so dogs can even come in the summer!). Best part is that it's only an hour away from the DMV area. The park has a capacity limit and we arrived on a Saturday morning at around 11 AM and got in just fine! (Unlike Sandy Point, where I arrived once at 7AM and was still denied access because it was so crowded). Since I'm a VA resident, I had to pay a fee of $8 per car. The staff was really friendly and asked us if it was our first time there so they can hand out rules and guidelines. The guideline says that the fee is good for an all day pass access to the park, but your re-entry is not guaranteed if you leave. We didn't leave so it wasn't an issue for us. The staff will tell you where to park and there are clear signs that points to you the direction of the beach. From the parking lot, it's about a 7-10 minute walk to the beach through a marked path. You can bring food and beach stuff, but dogs have to be on the leash at all times, even while swimming. Before getting to the sandy area, there are nice, clean restrooms for you to change and even an outdoor shower to rinse off afterwards! I suggest bringing bug repellent if you're prone to mosquito bites since there are a lot of them at this area of the park. But once you get to the sandy area, there weren't any bugs at all! I wouldn't say the water is clear, pretty much similar to the clarity at a lake or Ocean City beach, but the water was very calm and clean. You might see some small seaweed while swimming, but that's natural and it's a park anyway. There are a ton of shells near the shore and a lot of people were looking for shark teeth! I found my first one here too! I even found a ray plate! Because of the shells, getting into the water can be sharp on the feet at first, but once you're about three feet in, you'll feel nice soft sand at the bottom. There are a few people here, but not a lot to the point where you don't get private space, which I really appreciated! Overall, I really enjoyed out weekend getaway here and will be back! read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Coral, sting ray plate, and shark tooth - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

My Daughter and I drove 1.45hrs to be first in line when the park opened. We were first on the beach only to see a Park Ranger finishing up her walk collecting big sharks teeth. I asked why and she said they walk the beach each morning before they open to collect sharks teeth and she showed me a handful (10-12) large teeth. We were there for 4 hrs and only found 6. I complained to the manager and he said it was their policy to walk the beach every day to collect the best sharks teeth for their huge display in the Visitor Center. I think it's AWFUL that they take sharks teeth from guests and kids. Shameful. read more

This is a state park so you will have to pay an entrance fee. That said I feel it is worth it. This is a great park. There is a short .5 mile walk to the beach (closer parking available for handicap) Make sure to bring a small net, bucket & the like to "hunt" crabs and dig for fossils. If you forget your tools/toys there is a small bunch of public use toys right at the entrance to the beach. There is also a fishing pier in case you want to try your hand at that. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a typical beach. Meaning that unlike like high tourist areas that pay for vehicles to 'comb' the beach for trash etc. this place did not seem to have that and given the location I doubt it ever wood. That is not to say that the beach is dirty, but there was some tiny bits of trash here and there and lots of natural debris. I would recommend aqua socks (especially for the kiddos). Also given the tide level there may be more or less of the tiny "ponds". (you will know what I mean when you get there) read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Nice park - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

Flag Ponds Nature Park is a great place to take your dog! We stopped at Flag Ponds on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend around 6:30 pm. The staff warned us that the beach was closing in an hour, but we decided to enter anyway since we only wanted to be there for an hour or two at most. Despite the holiday weekend, most people had cleared out by this time in the day, so we only had to share the beach with a few other people. Pros: - dog friendly (water bowls at all places where there was running water) - running water in the bathrooms - shower for rinsing off - friendly staff Cons: - the beach isn't combed, so you want to wear shoes There is a $6 entry fee per car for non-county residents, but it's a small price to pay for running water and staff to clean and maintain the park read more

We look forward to visiting Flag (as we call it). This is probably the nicest swimming beach on the Chesapeake Bay (at least the nicest I have been to). The fishing here is better than you'd expect. There is a pier (blood worms and shrimp work best). In late summer puppy drum and flounder are abundant. Bonus, you can find large fossil shark's teeth here. The walk to the beach is downhill on the way there, but plan on a 1/2 mile uphill on the way back to your car. Don't be distressed if you are in an overflow parking lot, this beach is massive and there is plenty of room for all. Tip: Check out the nice museum by the main parking lot. read more

Vacationing over Labor Day and didn't want to be in the middle of any tourist attraction. We found Flag Pond through Yelp and decided to spend the afternoon looking for fossils and shark teeth on the shore of the bay. My word it was one of those best decisions ever kind of days! :) read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Sunset - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

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I always find shark teeth here! Great beach for kids, dogs, picnics and sun bathing! You have to hike a ways down to the water, but it's a pleasant walk. People take their dogs here all the time, it looks like fun playing frisbee in the waves with kids and dogs! read more

Flag Ponds Nature Park - Shark Teeth!!!! - Parks Near Me - Lusby, Maryland

We drove two hours to get here by 10:00, and they told us the park is for Calvert County residents only. We asked for alternative parks and the ranger said there are none for out of county residents as the only alternative was already at capacity. We were very disappointed. If we'd been warned, we would never have driven two hours to get here. read more

We've always loved flag ponds. It's a short walk to the beach where you can find sharks teeth! Recently started exploring other trails. We are enjoying our season pass this year! read more

We LOVE this bay beach, but recognize that the things we love might just be the reason some people don't like it! The parking lot is a 10 minute walk to the beach, so you have to pack in all your gear- we bring a wagon for our stuff and toddler. But you are rewarded once you get out to the beach- a nice long stretch of beach with no interruptions. There is a little bathhouse close to the beach, so you don't have to go all the way up to the cars if you need to use the facilities. We even found some cool shark teeth! Beware though and call ahead in summer to check on status of the jellyfish and also because the parking lot fills up in the summer and you can't get in. It keeps the beach a little less crowded, so we are ok with it! read more

Hidden gem! Ended up here after we tried to go to Calvert Cliffs (tide was too high to search for fossils) and got redirected by the park rangers. HUGE THANK YOU TO THOSE 2 RANGERS, we'll be back to Flag Ponds again with it's wide sandy beach and perfect shallow swimming ares for young kids. read more

Very nicely maintained with cool shady trails to walk and a huge secluded beach. Tidal ponds and scenic views will keep you tanning far too long but it is well worth it. Love this place. read more

Relaxing, interesting, but stinky. Long walk to beach so don't plan on bringing a lot because you have to hike there and back and the return trip is up hill! There were a lot of jellyfish! Didn't find any sharks teeth :(. read more

A great park to visit the beach and get in your fix of nature. Be sure to get there early as it fills up in the summer and could be full. Staff is very friendly and price to get in is very reasonable. Great place to see the cliffs and to hunt for shark teeth. read more

Great small park . Took the cub scouts there to do beach clean up . Has walking trails and a beach on the bay.

Yes, this is a beautiful and remote beach, great place to beachcomb, but the last time we were there it was overrun with jellyfish. Not the best for swimming. Our kids were stung multiple times and are now terrified to return there. But all the good things other reviewers said are true! If you don't like swimming it's a lovely trip. read more

Wow! This place was awesome! If you're looking for a nearby yet expansive beach, complete with large swimming ponds, hunt for fossils of so many species (that includes shark teeth!), and not have to drive 3-ish hours to soak some sun, this is the place! I came there on the 4th of June with my family for a much needed break from DC. Although the forecast expected clouds, we saw some sun breaking through so we gave it a chance and went. The drive to the spot was fairly uneventful, but at least gas prices were cheaper than most of the DC area. We arrived around noon so we expected a fair amount of people; between Memorial Day and Labor Day this place gets crowded. I was pleasantly surprised to find a parking spot closest to the beach. My mom really wanted to go despite wearing a cast on her foot. I was apprehensive to let her go, but she insisted (more like demanded). I honestly thought the walk was long and hard like Calvert Cliff's (when you're on a cast), but it was fairly straightforward and about a half a mile, mostly downhill. We got to the beach in about 10 minutes, walking slowly. As for the beach itself, it was pretty expansive, but best of all, it was CLEAN! If you've ever been to Sandy Point, Calvert Cliffs, Matapeake, even Ocean City, you'll notice the water being brackish, even slimy. Plus, the waters are usually full of algae, and smell a bit fishy. Not here! You can actually see the bottom of the beach and it was barely murky. Although, if you're in the middle of one of the ponds by the beach or you decide to venture way out in the bay, it will be, but still pretty clean. And it smelled fine. If you're going to drink the water, I'd suggest you boil it at the very least. Note: the days before, it rained a lot so I took that into account. I was surprised to see wildlife, not surviving, but thriving on this part of the Bay. Between my mother and me, we saw small fishes, various birds, squirrels, rabbits, and turtles. What surprised me about this place were the blue crabs around. I caught one while exploring one of the ponds by a pier (yes, there's a pier there!) but the crab was molting. As for the fossils, expect to find bones of rays, dolphins, shells and shark teeth! Coming there, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of cliffs, but it was all made up by the number of shark teeth I found. This was my second time coming to the area so I'm not an expert at all, but you'd be hard pressed to NOT find any cool fossils! Overall, it was a fun beach. Amenities are more plentiful than other places I've been to. There were bathrooms on sight (with running water). Showers and a water fountain were located next to the bathrooms and beach. It's definitely a kid and pet friendly beach, so long as you follow the Leave No Trace policy. I ended up with a half dozen shark teeth, a decent tan from being out of any shade for too long, and a desire to come back for more. read more

If you like quiet beaches and are an avid fossil hunter, then you'll definitely want to visit this park. My uncle used to be a park ranger here and really showed us an enjoyable time on our first outing there. That was fifteen years ago and we still try to make trips there whenever we can. There is nothing more relaxing than strolling along the shore in search of fossilized shells and sharks teeth. Be patient though; not everyone finds the really good stuff, but you're guaranteed to bring treasure home even if it's just a few regular shells or interesting rocks. For out of county residents, an annual pass is only $20; an amazing deal worth taking advantage of, especially during the off season. read more

Flag Pond Park is a hidden treasure and is home to a beautiful beach. My husband and I love to take our dog for long summertime walks down to the beach. read more

This was a nice park. Just an FYI they only take cash or check. So just be prepared. Also wear water shoes. The "beach" is FULL of broken shells which hurts to stand on, even when in the water. It wasn't crowded at all. It is about a mile walk from where you park to the water. I liked that it was close without having to drive hours. We will be back =) read more

Nice hiking trails. Beware of the beach. I would not advise getting in the water unless your a brave soul, way too many jellyfish. The entrance fee to the park is $6 a car for out of county plates. read more

Dog friendly, affordable, natural! This is a regular favorite for taking the dog and family to the beach. The hike in is about half mile down a gently sloped road with several benches and picnic tables on the way to the beach. The staff is very knowledgable and friendly. They offer an ATV ride to the beach for the elderly and handicapped, "just call the number on the map." The changing room and outdoor shower near the beach are refreshing to wash the sand off before walking back to the car. There's even a dog bowl for your canine companion to get a drink of fresh water. There are beach toys for the kids, a pier for fishing, and if the beach isn't your thing, several wooded hiking trails around the "ponds." The only downside are the sea nettles - jelly fish (but they can't be avoided anywhere in the bay.) read more

This was an incredible place to escape to on a hot and humid dc day! We went out in July and just driving into the surrounding woods the temperature dropped 10!degrees! The number of cars for entrance are restricted which keeps the crowds down. Family and dog friendly, a popular pastime is looking for sharks teeth and other fossils! read more