Fossil Hunting Locations
Each fossil location includes directions, where to find the fossils, what type of fossils can be found there, fossil identification, how to hunt for the fossils, background information on the geology of the area, fossil hunting recommendations, and of course, lots of images and/or videos of the fossil hunting site and the fossils!
The author and host of this site bear no responsibility for injury sustained by those who visit the sites listed herein or the actions of any person visiting this website. This website is mearly a guide to fossil collecting.
Map of fossil hunting sites
Touch/Click a location to view the fossil collecting site. Fossil hunting locations include where to find fossils, samples of fossils found, fossil identification, site images, directions, tips, and other recomendations. Take some fossil hunting trips with your family or friends!
BROWN: Fossil Collecting allowed. BLUE: Fossil Viewing ONLY
Descriptions of Fossil Hunting Locations
This fossil saturated area contains Oligocene to Pleistocene fossils. The main draw is shark teeth, including Megalodon sharks!
From Myrtle Beach down to Tybee Island, this is a nice location to fossil collect because it can be done by beachcombing.
There are also guided tour operators, and if you are more adventerous, you can even dive the Blackwater rivers for fossil shark teeth!
This fossil collecting location contains Miocene marine fauna, including fossil shark teeth.
It's a nice location because the collecting is done by beachcombing along the Chesapeake bay. It is a very family friendly place to look for fossil shark teeth.
This fossil saturated area contains Miocene marine fossils, including shark teeth.
Located in Bakersfield, CA, Shark tooth hill is a world famous spot for Miocene marine fossils. It rare C. planus shark tooth
is a common find here. Near Shark Tooth hill is a pay to dig quarry, called the Ernst Quarries, where you can dig for the shark teeth!
The Potomac river contains many different fossil bearing formations along its cliffs. Just south of DC are cliffs that contain Paleocene fossils. By searching the gravel along the shore, one can find different types of Paleocene shark teeth and shells.
Aurora, NC use to have a mine where fossil hunters could find sharks teeth in. Today, the mine delivers piles of mine tailings to the Aurora Fossil Museum. Here, one can sift for fossil shark teeth, including Megalodon teeth. It is also a very family friendly place to fossil collect at.
This is a nice fossil collecting area. It's all along the Peace River of Florida. Simply grab a shovel and sifter, and wade into the river! Fossils from prehistoric shark teeth to Ice Age mammals can be found!
Venice Beach, Florida is the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World." It's a great place to take the family fossil hunting for... sharks teeth! Families can search the surf, while more adventerous adults can scuba dive for megalodon teeth!
Amelia Island near Jacksonville, Florida is a great family friendly place to look for shark teeth along the wide beach.
This fossil collecting location contains Cretaceous marine fauna, including fossil shark teeth, and the occasional Mosasaur.
Fossil here come from formations that erode out of stream banks in central New Jersey. They are found by walking the streams.
The Caesar Creek Spillway in this Ohio state park uncovers acres of Ordovician fossil bearing formations. Fossils here include brachiopods, corals, and trilobites. This is a very easy and family friendly place to collect at.
This fossil collecting location contains Devonian marine fauna, including fossil trilobites and brachiopods.
Fossils are found in shales, limestones, and mudstones in and around cement quarries in the area.
There is also a family friendly Fossil Park to collect fossils in.
This fossil collecting location contains Devonian marine fauna, including fossil trilobites and brachiopods.
These Devonian fossils are found in mudstones and shales along creeks.
There is also a Family Friendly Park in the area that allows fossil collecting.
This fossil collecting location contains Carboniferous fern fossils
Fossil Ferns are abundant all over the Pittsburgh area. This is one of the many spots where fossil ferns can be found.
Recommended Gear and Books for Fossil Hunting
INCLY Amazon Store: Rock Hounding Gear
INCLY provides budget-friendly rock hounding gear, ranging from the widely favored (4.6/5 stars) 15-piece Geology kit featured in the image to compact 4 and 5-piece sets.
These tools are ideal for fossil and mineral collecting, particularly in harder matrixes and shale.
Roadside Geology Series Books by Mountain Press
The Roadside Geology Series offers state-specific paperback books, serving as valuable mile-by-mile guides with detailed maps and illustrations. Despite not pinpointing fossil hunting spots, these affordable books enhance understanding of regional geology.
Highly recommended for fossil hunters, I've personally enjoyed the Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania editions.
101 American Fossil Sites You've Gotta See
Albert B Dickas, 2018
This is a great updated fossil sites book with at least one fossil site in each state. Each site is broken into 2 pages. One has detailed information, such as directions, GPS coordinates, formation information, etc...
The other is dedicated to images of the site and the fossils found there. It also gives information on fossil 'viewing' sites such as dinosaur trackways, museums, and active excavations.
Plus, my fossil photos are peppered throughout this book!
Recommended Link:
The Fossil Project site has resources for people looking for fossil hunting locations and information.
