I’d seen the beach at Sandy Point State Park many times as I glanced quickly to the left while crossing the Bay Bridge on my way to the ocean, but had never seen this view – up close, looking back at the bridge – until recently.

This is just 35 minutes from Greenbelt (off-rush).

It cost me just $4 to enjoy the beach and assorted amenities, like piers for fishing and crabbing.

You can also rent boats – canoes, kayaks, paddleboards for $10/hour and motor boats for $25. Renters under 45 need a Boaters Safety certificate to use a motor boat while older renters are grandfathered in and can be thoroughly ignorant of safe motoring. (I’m not sure if this is a privilege or something like the opposite).

Near the beach there’s beachy stuff to rent, and food to buy.

Beach food, of course.

Shaded picnic areas look well maintained. For gatherings of large groups (140 to 300 people), the park offers shelters with nearby grills and picnic tables. Here’s the link to learn more and reserve one.

Walking west along the Bay it gets even nicer – more naturalistic and sparsely populated by humans.

With waves no higher than an inch or two and nary a shark in the history of the Bay, Sandy Point is an awfully safe place for the family. On the beach, that is; better take precautions before venturing into the nearby trails. I was told the Blue Crab Trail is popular among birders; they presumably know how to prepare for tick-infested places. (Isn’t it sad that we need to be so afraid now of being near plants?)

Park Hours (in 2017)

First, park staffers want Greenbelt readers to know that the parking lot fills up fast on weekends, so get there early. Weekdays there’s plenty of spaces.

January – March: 7 a.m. to sunset
April – October: 6 am. to sunset
November – December: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For fishing and boating there’s 24-hour access almost all year – from January to mid-November.

Click here for more information about hours and fees.