Where to Find Fossils in the United States
89 mapped fossils spots across 12 U.S. states. Fossil collecting on most BLM and Forest Service land is allowed for invertebrate and plant fossils, with limits. Vertebrate fossils are off-limits without a permit. State and federal land with fossil-specific protections (national monuments, fossil parks) usually disallow collecting entirely.
Map showing where to find fossils across the United States, with 89 mapped spots
Top states for fossils
States ranked by number of fossils spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused fossils-in-state list.
- Fossils in Nebraska8 spots
- Fossils in Missouri7 spots
- Fossils in Florida6 spots
- Fossils in Michigan5 spots
- Fossils in Ohio5 spots
- Fossils in South Dakota5 spots
- Fossils in Delaware4 spots
- Fossils in Illinois4 spots
- Fossils in Maryland4 spots
- Fossils in North Dakota4 spots
- Fossils in Texas4 spots
- Fossils in Wyoming4 spots
Every fossils spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
Fossils rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find fossils in the U.S.?+
Nebraska, Missouri, Florida have the highest concentrations of fossils in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many fossils rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
89 mapped spots across 12 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect fossils on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like fossils is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify fossils in the field?+
Field identification of fossils comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt fossils on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
