Purse State Park is a former Maryland state park located on the Potomac River in Charles County that has been subsumed into the 1365acre Nanjemoy Wildlife Management Area. As the Purse Area, the former park is known for fossil hunting on the beaches of Wades Bay at the southern end of the Nanjemoy WMA. Fossil discoveries have included shark teeth and Cibicides.Put Purse State Park into our Nanjemoy trip tool and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next.
Source
Create an itinerary including Purse State Park

Unable to display map at this time. Please try again later.
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors
Purse State Park Reviews
-
Bring a few colanders (fine mesh) to assist the hunting! We scooped sand and pebbles from the wave line.... Better quantity of sharks teeth a ray plates than Calvert Cliffs, Flag pond, or other locati... more »
-
Went to the beach at Purse on Monday, August 12, 2019. Got there about 11:30 A.M. It's about a quarter mile on a path thru the woods to the beach. Stayed till about 4:00. Found, maybe 50 fossilized sh... more »
-
The forest was lovely and the 3/4 mile trail was easy. My granddaughters both enjoyed it. It led to a shore edge of the Potomac which was sadly very littered. Next time we visit the Nanjemoy WMA we will check out the Douglas recreation area.
-
Better quantity of sharks teeth a ray plates than Calvert Cliffs, Flag pond, or other location on the Bay. We collected about 40 of each in less than two hours (1 adult and two kids). The parking lot is about .42 miles from the beach but the trail is wide and relatively easy until the downslope to the beach. Great swimming in the warmish waters of the Potomac (kids loved it)! The beach is only about 4’ wide at low tide and much narrower at higher tides.
Plan your trip to Nanjemoy
Get a personalized plan
A complete day-by-day itinerary
based on your preferencesCustomize it
Refine your plan. We'll find the
best routes and schedulesManage it
Everything in one place.
Everyone on the same page.
Side trips from Nanjemoy
Plans to Purse State Park by other users
5 days in Port Tobacco
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
November, teens, popular sights
PREFERENCES: November, teens
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
6 days in Quantico
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
October, kids, popular sights
PREFERENCES: October, kids
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
31 days in New York City, Washington DC & Boston
BY A USER FROM SINGAPORE
November, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: November
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
28 days in Virginia
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
June, outdoors, historic sites, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: June, outdoors, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
2 days in Washington DC
BY A USER FROM PHILIPPINES
September, popular sights
PREFERENCES: September
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
8 days in Triangle
BY A USER FROM INDIA
December, popular sights
PREFERENCES: December
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
View more plans