Plan Your Visit

To plan a day at Sandy Point State Park, start with the calendar. On summer weekends and holidays, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, you must book a day-use reservation at parkdayuse.maryland.gov before you go, up to 7 days ahead. The park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset every day but Christmas. Summer entry is $5 a person on weekends and $4 on weekdays; from October to April it is $3 a car.

Step 1: Pick Your Day

• Summer weekends and holidays: the busiest days. Reservation required, no drive-ups.
• Summer weekdays: no reservation needed, $4 a person, and the same lifeguarded beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• May and September: the per-person fee applies from May 1 to September 30, but lifeguards are on duty only from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• October to April: $3 a car, quiet beaches, birding, fishing and the two big winter events, Lights on the Bay and the Polar Bear Plunge. From mid-November to January 2 the park closes to day visitors at 4 p.m.

Full prices and pass details: hours and fees.

Step 2: Get There

Take US 50/301 to exit 32, at the western end of the Bay Bridge. The beach lots are at the end of the main road at South Beach. See parking and directions.

Step 3: Pack

Bring

• Sunscreen, water and an umbrella or an open-sided sun shade (no more than 10 feet square, set up behind the lifeguard stands)
• A trash bag: Maryland state parks are trash free
• Money for the summer concession and the Marina Store
• Insect repellent in late summer, especially near East Beach
• A Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license if you are 16 or older and plan to fish

Leave at home

• Alcohol (allowed only in rented pavilions with a permit)
• Glass on the beach
• Grills and fires on the beach (use the picnic area grills)
• Tents or lean-tos on the sand
• Firewood from home: Maryland DNR bans bringing personal firewood into its parks
• Your dog, if you are going to the summer beach (dogs are fine in the rest of the park)

Step 4: Know What Is There

• Beach: about a mile of sand, a lifeguarded area at South Beach, bathhouse, outdoor showers and a summer food concession. The beach.
• Picnics: Tollgate and South Beach picnic areas, first come; twelve rentable pavilions at East Beach. Pavilions.
• Boating: 22 ramps, open 24 hours. Boat ramps. Kayaks use the small craft launch.
• Fishing: jetties, signed shoreline and a crabbing pier, 24-hour access. Fishing.
• Walks: two short trails and Corcoran Woods. Hiking.
• History: the Mansion, the lighthouse and the story of the park's 1950s desegregation. About.

Can You Camp at Sandy Point?

Not for the general public. Sandy Point is a day-use park. The only camping is two rustic youth group sites, open from early April to early November, each for up to 30 people and strictly for official youth groups. Reserve at 1-888-432-2267.

Drones

Drones are allowed only before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, during park hours, under FAA rules. Stay away from the Bay Bridge, which is a sensitive structure, and contact the park first; see rules.

Who to Call

• Park office: 410-974-2149, sandypoint.statepark@maryland.gov
• Marina: 410-974-4699
• Reservations (pavilions, youth camping): 1-888-432-2267