We wanted to make a day trip to search for fossils at Calvert Cliffs and this seemed to be one of the only options so off we went. The road to get to the campsites / office is relatively bumpy and the road is full of ruts and rocks that could actually be challenging for a small car or a car that is low to the ground. We drove slowly and it was fine. The lady in the office was very friendly and we paid in cash which is preferred. This is clearly a family-run operation. The walk down to the beach was via a kind-of steep set of stairs. At the bottom there were a few other groups of people there, many of them apparently semi-professional fossil hunters with specialized digging hand tools. Unfortunately the tide was coming in when we got there (poor planning on our part), but this limited our fossil searching to a sliver of exposed beach itself as the water was covering a significant portion of the ground. I would highly recommend Wellington-style rubber boots or something similar to keep your feet dry while you search (everyone else on the beach was wearing them). Your sneakers will probably get wet. As far as fossils go, we didn't find much. One of us found what appeared to be a very small shark tooth. You are not allowed to dig into the cliffs themselves due to erosion concerns but you could see layers of shells and small fossils in the cliffside which was interesting. All in all it was not the fossil-rich experience I was expecting. I've heard about digging for fossils at Calvert Cliffs for many years and so it was a bit disappointing to come away empty-handed. If we had been better prepared to wade out into the water and brought some sort of implements with us we may have had more success. Not a terrible afternoon at all but not a place I will be chomping at the bit to return to. read more

This review is for the beach. Perhaps a new owner has taken over, as we had nothing but a pleasant experience with the woman who took our money and her husband, who showed us where to park. It was $10 per person (cash only!), but considering that the beach has tons of shells and fossils, and lots of parking, we found it a very fair price. They even give you a permit so you can leave and come back on the same day. I would suggest bringing an umbrella or sun tent, as there isn't much shade (at least before 2 pm est, when we left). The water is a bit murky, but refreshing and sandy once you get out past the shoreline. You may want to bring water shoes. read more

Beautiful place to go with family or friends!! Gently customer service and amazing private beach!!! read more

Matoaka Beach Cabins - Vacation Rentals Near Me - St. Leonard, Maryland

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I live locally and wanted to drive through the campsite to see if it was somewhere I wanted to camp in the future. An older gentleman on a gator started berating me using profanity, which naturally scared me and I kept driving. He then got on his gator and chased me out of the campsite and onto the main road. He was unfortunately way too slow and was outwitted. The campsite looked beautiful but I would be nervous to return. read more

We stayed for 2 nights and it was a different experience. I would not call it great, but definitely something that should be tried once. I would give 5 stars to the location and beauty of the place, but the actual accommodations/cabins need a bit of an upgrade. It is advertised as rustic and that's what they are, very basic. Each cabin has a fridge, cooking oven, stove, beds with matressess, standing shower, and commode. Not all cabins have AC, confirm before you make a reservation read more

HORRIBLE! Bad customer service.. they are super desperate for money.. Went to visit today and asked a few questions..the man at the entrance was very rude and cut me off MULTIPLE times asking for $10!and told me he did not want to answer any of my questions.. which is very rude for someone who owns a business that I was interested in.. if you read there are multiple reviews of the man yelling and how rude they are.. I wish I read the reviews before going so I did not have to experience this....very very rude! read more

We stayed this weekend and thought it was great! We expected a cabin like in a camping site - and that's what we got. Camping cabin. Right on the cliff and steps from the beach. Yes, the place could use some updating which I know they're doing. But mainly - the place was neat and clean. I hope they also buy a couple of wifi repeaters so we'd have wifi in the cabins. My phone had good service. We'd come again. read more

Matoaka Beach Cabins - Vacation Rentals Near Me - St. Leonard, Maryland

This is one of those interesting places that will be perfect for some, and unacceptable for others. I found myself straddling the line. What's great about this place is, it is right on the water, and has a pretty amazing beach access, which they claim is private. Is that legal? I don't know, and I'm sure the owners don't either. For ~$110 a night, you will get an enormous cabin with a kitchen and a fireplace. Could comfortably sleep seven as-is, many more if you come prepared. A few problems: the cabins do not have modern heat, and access to firewood, though promised, is unpredictable. You've got about five minutes worth of hot water at any given time. That's fine for a campsite, but this is a cabin; it wasn't cheap. And to boot, to get a reservation, you have to send them a paper check (covering the entire proposed balance), in the mail, which they will deposit in full as soon as they get it. My wife and I came to hunt sharks' teeth, and had a good time. It was nice to be able to get up at dawn and go right down to the beach. If I had been in town for any other reason, I would have thought of this place as completely unusable. read more

Nice beach ...this was my first time and unfortunately I walked past the sign that said to check into the rental office because I was talking to my girlfriend and the owner came running out yelling as if I intentionally tried to ignore the sign. He proceeded to ask me if I could read English and continued raising his voice towards me my fiancée and my brothers mother in law. We were raising our voice too in defense because we were sad at the way he was speaking to us as if we were intentionally trying to get over on him. We had money and were willing to pay but he continued to speak to us in a way that demonstrated no customer service or concern for how we were being treated. He told me this is private property and that he was going to call the police if we didn't leave and we were in no way being hostile or making threats. It was very disheartening because it honestly felt like a case of racial discrimination. I'm all for supporting businesses and I admit that I missed the sign but it was in no way intentional. He automatically came at me as though I had an agenda and made the comment about me not being able to read English. This post is in no way one of those raged reviews it simply is what happened and it was uncalled for. I understand that people may often walk past this sign or try to sneak in without paying but that is not who I am. I hope this review will cause some kind of reflection on his part and for future customers who choose to support this business. read more

The cabins are rustic and are like camping without the tent. My family love going here and would recommend it. We spend a week there every year. read more

The cabins are simple and if you are looking for that serious cabin feel then this would be for you. The current owners were very friendly, The easy access to the beach was unbelievable! My partner and I absolutely loved that we could go to the beach at any time of the day. The made a few updates on the other cabins and they look beautiful from the outside I don't know about the inside of those. We stayed in one of the older cabins. There is only hot water in the shower so keep that in mind. The stove top was gas and is a bit dangerous if you are not quick enough. I recommend brushing your teeth in the "kitchen sink". The water was running yellow in the bathroom sink. If you need anything stores are about a 15min drive from the cabin along with fast food as well. The current owners do have a cat or two that just roam around the cabin area but they usually go inside. The cats are extremely lovable and friendly so if you are allergic just be wary because they have no problem greeting you. The beds are absolutely not comfortable at all. Do bring a mattress pad to cover it. My partner and I had to make shift a bed by compiling two of the twin sized beds on top of the full bed and draping a mattress pad across it as well. I have contemplated staying there again next year mainly due to the amazing access to the beach. The only huge issue we had (besides the beds) while staying there was the trash being shrewd along side of our cabin from the last people. There also really isn't a great place for your trash to be put without running risk of it being torn to shreds by an animal. read more

My family and I have been coming to Matoaka cabins off and on over the past 12 years or so. I can think of no other place that makes you feel like you are in the mountains and at the beach at the same time. We have been privileged to have known the original owners and hope that the next generation of family will continue their legacy. The first thing one has to be prepared for is, these are "rustic" cabins. This is NOT Holiday Inn !!! While they do have basic amenities of lighting, refrigerator, gas stove and indoor shower and bathroom facilities,the condition of these may vary from cabin to cabin. We've never had anything that didn't work; but if there was a problem the hosts were quick to rectify the problem. The next thing that affects the satisfaction of the stay is, the caliber of the guests that occupy the other cabins. Because the cabins are located in close proximity to one another, noisy night owls or early rising children that can't behave could pose a threat to your experience. Nothing can wreck the harmony like loudmouthed imposing neighbors, or screaming kids.There are camp rules,but I don't think they are strongly enforced. That being said, for those that prefer more peace and solitude, try to plan your stay AFTER Labor Day or before Memorial Day. It would be recommended not to book your stay over the 4th or Labor Day. The cabins cost more, and you will have a hard time booking a cabin if you wait too long. If you do have children, it's a great place; as there is a 1/4 mile of beach that is never full, and you are not far away from modern conveniences such as movie theaters, a variety of eateries, and other natural and historical points of interest. read more

This is simple, rustic cabin accommodation that could be from the 50s. The current owners recently took over from their grandparents, and have already started making some improvements, so will be interesting to see how the place develops by next summer. But as it stands this is an excellent place for rest and relaxation, so long as you're not expecting modern conveniences or plush surroundings. For those that like their holidays SIMPLE, this is the place for you. The eight or so cabins sit placed among trees, with an open grass play area in front. They have a view of the sea, and a short walk down some steps takes you to the lovely beach itself. Except for the jellyfish making swimming impossible, the beach is great. Nearby there's lots to do, with good eating options in Solomon's Island. The cabins sleep minimum 6 but with zero privacy, so couples will want a cabin to themselves. But this is also a great place for groups or for extended families, with lots of space for kids to play while the adults relax. read more