Queen Anne's County coastal shores · Maryland

Matapeake Beach

State: Maryland
County: Queen Anne's

A Chesapeake Bay public swimming beach at the historic Matapeake clubhouse, with a separate trail leading to the designated dog-beach zone.

Good fit: A county-listed Chesapeake swimming-beach visit by the historic clubhouse, with a separate designated dog-beach trail. Details & sources ↗

Plan around: Dog permission applies to its own footprint, not the ordinary beach or lawn. Use the clubhouse beach lot rather than the separate pier/marina system; confirm the complete sand route. Details & sources ↗

Get directions ↗Compare this beach View saved beaches

PLAN THE BASICS

At a glance

How we research ↗

Parking: Some details unconfirmed
Details & sources
Arrival and fee detailsDetails & restrictions Matapeake Beach · parking entry ↗
Dogs: No dogs on public swim beach · separate dog trail/beach
Details & sources
No dogs on public swim beach · separate dog trail/beach
Read the scoped dogs details and sources
Matapeake Beach · dogs ↗
Restrooms: Facilities unconfirmed · see details
Details & sources
Facilities unconfirmed · see details
Read the scoped restrooms details and sources
Matapeake Beach · restrooms showers ↗
Lifeguards: Guard coverage unconfirmed
Details & sources
Guard coverage unconfirmed
Read the scoped lifeguards details and sources
Matapeake Beach · lifeguards ↗
Key restrictions: Check before you go
Details & sources
Matapeake Beach · public access rules ↗
All rules and facility limits
Best for: See beach overview
Beach overview
Read the beach overview and its planning limits
Sources & review dates

More planning facts: access, driving & fees

Public access: Public accessDetails & restrictions
Beach driving: Driving permission unconfirmedDetails & restrictions
Accessibility: Route details unconfirmedDetails & restrictions

Choose an entrance

Matapeake Beach · documented named approach

County-listed public swimming beach at the clubhouse. The dog beach is a separate sandy footprint reached by the trail beginning behind the clubhouse fence. Do not extend dog permission across the public beach or lawn.

Official route / restriction details ↗

Review dates & updates

These are desk-research dates for each named category, including unresolved facts. They are not on-site inspections, current-opening confirmations or water-safety observations.

identity location: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
summary description: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
known for: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
live weather: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
daily forecast: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
tides: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
surf rip forecast: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
official flags closures: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
water quality: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
public access: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
crowds: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
sand shoreline: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
surf: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
shelling: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
shark teeth: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
sea glass: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
driftwood: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
snorkeling: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
scuba: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
wildlife: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
accommodations: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
commercial activities rentals: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
alcohol rules: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
fire rules: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
camping rules: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
shore fishing rules: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
hours: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
dogs: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
lifeguards: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
restrooms showers: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
parking entry: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
accessibility: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
driving: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
public access rules: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
dining: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
history: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
managing authority: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
official source links: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
main photo: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
photo gallery: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · unresolved
admission payment passes: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
plan your visit: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
check before you go: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
nearby beaches: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified
closer look: research reviewed 2026-10-29 · verified

Report a change at Matapeake Beach

Parking, route & accessibility evidence

Parking & entry: Arrival and fee details. Park at the clubhouse/public beach lot at 201 Clubhouse Drive. The designated dog trail begins at the fence behind the clubhouse; the fishing-pier/marina parking system is separate.

Parking source ↗

Accessibility: Route details unconfirmed. Confirm the complete parking-to-sand route and remaining sand gaps with the manager before arranging an accessible visit.

Accessibility source ↗

Open the county entrance directory ↗

Use the directory to check each entrance’s identity and status. Guide map pins are approximate shoreline locations, not turn-by-turn entrance directions or proof of current opening.

Known for

Historic ferry clubhouse, Chesapeake Bay swimming shore and a separate dog-beach trail.

Sources & review date ↗

Rules & facilities

Check before you go

Check the exact manager’s current notices, access/booking rules, weather and any dated water advisories. This research does not certify present opening, staffing or water safety.

Sources & review date ↗

Admission, payment & passes

General park/beach admission is free. Separate paid fishing-pier and boat-launch rules do not apply automatically to this beach visit.

Sources & review date ↗

What to bring & supporting visit details

Plan your visit

Choose the public swimming beach or the separate dog trail before arriving; use the clubhouse/public beach lot and keep pets out of the public beach and lawn.

Sources & review date ↗

Public or private?

Public access

Who can visit: Visitors using the documented public arrival, subject to current manager rules and notices.

Entry route, fees & access boundaries

Manager / access authority: Queen Anne’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Access basis: The cited source identifies this named shore and its access arrangement.
Where to enter: County-listed public swimming beach at the clubhouse. The dog beach is a separate sandy footprint reached by the trail beginning behind the clubhouse fence. Do not extend dog permission across the public beach or lawn.
Fees & reservations: General park/beach admission is free. Separate paid fishing-pier and boat-launch rules do not apply automatically to this beach visit.
Restrictions & exceptions: County-listed public swimming beach at the clubhouse. The dog beach is a separate sandy footprint reached by the trail beginning behind the clubhouse fence. Do not extend dog permission across the public beach or lawn.
What this label covers: The named coastal shore and its documented arrival. Adjoining private property, current opening, water use and facilities retain separate source scope.

Beach ownership, the route across land, public shoreline-use rights and access to facilities are separate questions. Rules vary by state and location. Use the identified public entrance or documented permission; neither a nearby resort nor an admission fee by itself establishes that a beach is private. A mapped beach is not permission to cross private property.

Matapeake Beach · public access ↗

Access policy reviewed 2026-10-29. Not a live closure report or a property-boundary survey.

Allowed & prohibited activities

Alcohol: Alcohol is prohibited on the public beach.

Fires and grills: Bonfires are prohibited; popup tents are also prohibited.

Overnight camping: Overnight beach camping permission is not confirmed.

What still needs confirmation

Public beach camping is not verified; ask the manager before planning an overnight stay.

Shore fishing: Shore fishing rules are not confirmed for this beach.

What still needs confirmation

Confirm the permitted fishing footprint before casting; nearby launch/pier permission is separate.

Sources & review date ↗

Hours: Hours & seasonal limits
Sunrise to sunset daily; posted hours do not certify current opening.
Matapeake Beach · hours ↗
Dogs on the beach: No dogs on public swim beach · separate dog trail/beach
Dogs are excluded from the clubhouse, lawn and public swimming beach. At the separate Matapeake Dog Beach & Trail, dogs must be leashed except while playing in the water. Limit two dogs per handler; current vaccinations, ID collar and immediate waste pickup required.
Matapeake Beach · dogs ↗
Lifeguards: Guard coverage unconfirmed
The county identifies Matapeake as a public swimming beach, but its reviewed facility and dog-zone pages do not publish a staffed lifeguard season, tower or duty hours. Do not treat swimming permission as confirmation that a guard will be present.
Matapeake Beach · lifeguards ↗
Restrooms: Facilities unconfirmed · see details
The county lists restrooms for the clubhouse/public-beach complex. A shower/rinse and restroom access along the separate dog route have not been confirmed.
Matapeake Beach · restrooms showers ↗
Access & beach rules: Rules & restrictions
County-listed public swimming beach at the clubhouse. The dog beach is a separate sandy footprint reached by the trail beginning behind the clubhouse fence. Do not extend dog permission across the public beach or lawn.
Matapeake Beach · public access rules ↗
Beach driving: Driving permission unconfirmed
No verified drive-on beach route; use the authority-listed vehicle parking and pedestrian arrival.
Matapeake Beach · driving ↗

Conditions & activities Surf, sand, wildlife and suitability

Conditions at the beach

Local times use Eastern Time. No beach observation or saved forecast is displayed here. Forecast issue times, observation times, tide prediction dates and laboratory sample dates remain separate from desk-research dates. A linked source does not confirm current opening, a warning flag or swimming safety.

Weather observation

No exact on-beach weather observation or observation station is assigned here. The linked National Weather Service page provides forecast navigation; a forecast is a prediction, not an observed beach condition.

Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗

Daily forecast

The independently checked National Weather Service point-forecast link is available for this approximate planning point. The returned source is a regional marine grid, with no county land zone assigned at this point. It is not a forecast of breaking surf at this beach. No saved numeric forecast is displayed here. Forecast issue and prediction times are separate from source review and are not on-beach observations.

Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗

High & low tides

Use NOAA’s dated regional tide references with their stated station scope; exact beach timing is unverified.

Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗

Surf & rip forecast

No exact-beach surf/rip forecast verified; check current NWS warnings and local postings before entering water.

Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗

Closures & warning flags

Check the manager’s current notices and on-site signs; no live observed warning flag is verified.

Responsible source ↗

Water quality

Current exact-beach sample/advisory unavailable; consult the responsible health/monitoring source before water contact.

Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗ · Responsible source ↗

National Weather Service point forecast ↗ for the independently reviewed approximate planning point.

Crowd meter

Crowd levels have not been measured for this entrance; use the authority’s capacity and booking rules when planning.

Sources & review date ↗

Sand & sandcastles

A Chesapeake Bay public swimming beach at the historic Matapeake clubhouse, with a separate trail leading to the designated dog-beach zone.

Sources & review date ↗

Surfing profile

Bay/river shore; surf conditions and suitability are unrated.

Sources & review date ↗

Beachcombing

Beachcombing expectations and collection rules need exact-beach confirmation; leave natural material in place until the manager confirms what may be collected.

Not established as a notable shark-tooth beach in the reviewed local evidence.

Sources & review date ↗

Snorkeling & scuba diving

Shore snorkeling is unrated; no verified entry/exit route or typical underwater visibility is established for this beach.

Shore scuba is unrated. Local instruction or dive travel does not establish a dive from this beach.

Sources & review date ↗

Clothing-optional, nudity & topless sunbathing

Full nudity/clothing-optional permission is unconfirmed; this guide must not appear as a verified clothing-optional match.

Responsible source ↗

Female-topless sunbathing permission is unconfirmed; this guide must not appear as a verified topless match.

Responsible source ↗

Water clarity & shore snorkeling

Typical clarity: Not yet assessed. Typical underwater clarity has not been assessed for this named shore. Water color, bacterial results and forecasts do not measure visibility.

Shore snorkeling not yet assessed. Shore snorkeling is unrated; no verified entry/exit route or typical underwater visibility is established for this beach.

Typical clarity describes how easily you may see through the water. It does not establish bacterial water quality, safe swimming, calm conditions or visibility today.

Evidence, location scope & review

Desk review 2026-10-29 · Matapeake Beach. This is not an on-site inspection or a current conditions report.

Matapeake Beach

↗

Find clear-water and shore-snorkeling options ↗ · Report a change ↗

Shore & sky wildlife

County rangers documented sea lettuce at Matapeake Beach on May 25, 2026; a dated local observation does not establish today’s shore condition.

Sources & review date ↗

History & interesting facts

The clubhouse was a ferry terminal built in 1936, serving the Matapeake–Annapolis ferry until the Bay Bridge opened in 1952; county restoration work began in 1999.

Sources & review date ↗

Food, stays & rentals

EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY

Food & drink nearby

Local dining recommendations

Offsite dining planning: The Narrows Restaurant is a Kent Narrows operator. Confirm its current service directly; no restaurant or concession is asserted to stand on this beach.

Research notes & location scope

Offsite dining planning: The Narrows Restaurant is a Kent Narrows operator. Confirm its current service directly; no restaurant or concession is asserted to stand on this beach.

Supporting research source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-29

These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.

Accommodations by the beach

Offsite county accommodation planning is available through Visit Queen Anne’s; Kent Island Resort is a separate lodging operator. A hotel reservation does not grant access to private beaches.

Before you book

Confirm the exact property or rental unit, view category, beach route, accessibility and total price directly. Nearby lodging does not establish access to a private beach, a boat transfer or permission to camp.

Research notes & location scope

Offsite county accommodation planning is available through Visit Queen Anne’s; Kent Island Resort is a separate lodging operator. A hotel reservation does not grant access to private beaches.

Supporting research source ↗ · Supporting research source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-29

These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.

Activities & rentals

Kent Island Scuba at 703 Old Love Point Road, Stevensville is a local diving shop/instruction contact, not a verified launch or shore-dive operator at this beach. Confirm trip destination and rental availability directly.

Sources & review date ↗

Explore nearby beaches

Sources & review date

Guide desk research reviewed 2026-10-29; this is not a field-by-field current verification or an on-site inspection. Official facts, dated agency evidence and editorial assessments retain their own scope. Unknowns and conflicts remain open. Methodology · Rating explanations · Correction history

An exact-beach scenic photograph is pending. No substitute photograph is displayed.

Visitor experiences

Original, moderated reviews and photographs. Visit dates and entrances provide context; visitor ratings and reports do not replace official facts or current conditions.

Read approved visitor experiences here when available.

Share your visit or photograph Account & synchronized favorites

Matapeake Beach

At a glance

Choose an entrance

Matapeake Beach · documented named approach

Known for

Rules & facilities

Check before you go

Admission, payment & passes

Plan your visit

Public or private?

Allowed & prohibited activities

Conditions at the beach

Weather observation

Daily forecast

High & low tides

Surf & rip forecast

Closures & warning flags

Water quality

Crowd meter

Sand & sandcastles

Surfing profile

Beachcombing

Snorkeling & scuba diving

Clothing-optional, nudity & topless sunbathing

Water clarity & shore snorkeling

Shore & sky wildlife

History & interesting facts

Food, stays & rentals

Food & drink nearby

Local dining recommendations

Accommodations by the beach

Activities & rentals

Explore nearby beaches

Visitor experiences

Research evidence by field

known for · check before you go · admission payment passes · sand shoreline · history

plan your visit

alcohol rules

crowds · surf · shelling

snorkeling

wildlife

commercial activities rentals