Photo: Adam Moss from Tonawanda, New York, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
🌤 Weather at Matapeake State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36–73 °F | 66–87 °F | 41–78 °F | 29–46 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Stevensville 2SW, 1 mi away, elevation 10 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Matapeake State Park is a Maryland state park on Kent Island near Stevensville, run by Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation on land owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The 21-acre park opened to the public in May 2009; its clubhouse is the former ferry terminal, opened in 1936.
Quick Facts
| State | Maryland |
| Nearest City | Stevensville |
| County | Queen Anne’s |
| Operated by | Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation |
| Park Size | 21 acres |
| Opened to the public | May 2009 |
Location & Getting There
Matapeake State Park is located near Stevensville, Maryland. The park’s coordinates are 38.9537, -76.3524.
Things to Do
Queen Anne’s County runs two facilities here. At the clubhouse grounds you find the county’s only public swimming beach, an outdoor amphitheater, a family picnic area and a one-mile trail through the woods with views of the Bay Bridge; the trail ends at a separate dog beach on the Chesapeake Bay. Nearby, the Matapeake Fishing Pier and Ramp has a 650-foot lighted fishing pier for fishing and crabbing, a 25-foot-wide boat ramp and a picnic area with grills. Source: Queen Anne’s County, as of October 2026.
Best Time to Visit
The beach is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and general admission is free. The fishing pier and boat ramp are open 24 hours, all year; parking at the pier costs $2.50 an hour, and the ramp requires a Queen Anne’s County public landing permit. For water quality at the beach, the county points to the Maryland Healthy Beaches website (as of October 2026).
Visitor Tips
Matapeake is run by Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation, and general admission is free (as of October 2026). The beach, the county’s only public swimming beach, is open from sunrise to sunset daily. Dogs are not allowed at the clubhouse, on its lawn or on the public beach; a wooded trail behind the clubhouse leads to a separate dog beach on the Chesapeake Bay.
Explore More Maryland State Parks
Matapeake State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Maryland. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Maryland guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
More parks nearby: Sandy Point State Park is a short drive away, while Love Point State Park lies a short drive away.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Matapeake State Park
Park policy: Park at the Matapeake Clubhouse and Public Beach lot, then pick up the pet trail where it starts at the fence behind the clubhouse — a winding path through the woods that ends at a sandy Dog Beach on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay. Dogs stay leashed the whole way and may only be off leash once they are playing in the water. Bring a plastic bag: waste cleanup is what keeps this stretch open to dogs, since families use the public beach next door.
- Pets allowed?
- Dedicated dog beach and pet trail; dogs barred from clubhouse, its lawn and public beach
- Park-specific rules
- Queen Anne's County limits you to two dogs per handler, requires a collar ID and up-to-date vaccinations, and bans spike, choke and prong collars. Handlers must be at least 16 unless an adult comes along.
Are dogs allowed at Matapeake State Park?
Dedicated dog beach and pet trail; dogs barred from clubhouse, its lawn and public beach.
More: Maryland state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
Plan your gear for Matapeake State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
