Area
Matapeake
A former ferry terminal, public beach and wooded shoreline trail make Matapeake a distinctive Kent Island stop on the Chesapeake Bay.
Matapeake’s public waterfront carries a reminder of travel before the Bay Bridge. The clubhouse began as a ferry terminal in 1936 and served that role until the bridge opened in 1952. Today, Matapeake Clubhouse and Beach combines that building with a beach and wooded trail at 201 Clubhouse Drive.
Beach and woodland
The county lists free general admission, a picnic area and a trail with Bay Bridge views. The dog beach has a separate approach through the woods. Dogs are excluded from the clubhouse, its lawn and the main public swimming beach. For a swimming visit, consult current conditions and posted beach notices; the presence of a beach on a park map does not establish conditions on the day.
A starting point for a longer outing
The South Island Trail runs from Matapeake toward Romancoke alongside Route 8. The paved route offers a different outing from the natural-surface path at the beach. Choose the route and entrance that suit the activity rather than expecting every path at Matapeake to have the same surface.
For a ride extending farther across Kent Island, check the county’s trail-connection project information. A planned crossing of US 50/301 remains a separate infrastructure project. The beach, established South Island Trail and proposed connections need to be read as distinct parts of the map.