Sometimes the best places to look are artificial exposures such as road cuts or quarries. A geological map can also help to find fossils. Do your preliminary research to familiarize yourself about a site's characteristics before you head out to a site. Joining a local natural history society can also be a good resource for you. These societies are often able to gain access to areas that may be restricted to the general public.
Most societies have a code of conduct for fossil collecting.
Always obtain permission from the appropriate authorities before you start collecting fossils. Microfossils are fossils that are too small to be seen without a microscope. Pollen, bacteria, and single-cell organisms can be found as fossils but are often overlooked. Macrofossils are easier to find. Fossilized plants and animals, and their parts and traces are all macrofossils.