Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and
waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move.
Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest,
relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

## Overview

Assateague Island National Seashore is a 37-mile long barrier island on the
Atlantic Coast of Maryland and Virginia. Famed for its wild horses, this
barrier island is a constantly shifting ribbon of sand, altered daily by
powerful wind and waves. Assateague Island, dedicated as a National Seashore
on September 1, 1965, lays claim to a long and rich history. Today's visitors
can explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests, and coastal bays.
Only a couple of miles wide at its broadest point, the island's terrain offers
shelter to the famed wild horses as well as sika deer, ghost crabs, and
migrating birds such as the great blue heron and snowy egret. Favorite
recreational activites include fishing, surfing, beachcombing, swimming, and
sunbathing.

The Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) Zone at Assateague Island contains miles of
unspoiled beaches managed by the National Park Service to accommodate OSV
enthusiasts and other beach goers.  
  
The Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, and the
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge work together to manage and protect this
unique, diverse strip of land.  
  
For more information visit the Assateague Island National Seashore website .

## Recreation

Activities are abundant on the island, with both crabbing and clamming as well
as a long stretch of beach for swimming, kayaking and fishing.

## Facilities

Activities are abundant on the island, with both crabbing and clamming as well
as a long stretch of beach for swimming, kayaking and fishing.

## Natural Features

Assateague Island, famed for its wild horses, lies off the Delmarva Peninsula
on the Atlantic Coast. This barrier island is a constantly shifting ribbon of
sand, altered daily by powerful wind and waves.  
  
The Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, and the
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge each manage and protect this unique,
diverse strip of land.  
  
For more information visit the Assateague Island National Seashore website .

## Nearby Attractions

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge offers a 14,000-acre wildlife preserve
located at the southern end of Assateague Island. To the north, Assateague
State Park  features two miles of pristine ocean beaches. Ocean City, Maryland
is only about 10 miles away with a 2.5 mile long boardwalk filled with shops,
restaurants, and a wide variety of entertainment options. The historic town of
Berlin is about 10 miles west of Assateague, offering many shops and
restaurants.

## Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations/Modifications: Customers can modify/cancel reservations starting
18 days after the reservation was made. Customers cancelling a reservation
will be charged a $10.00 service fee. Customers wishing to modify a
reservation can do so online or over the phone with Recreation.gov and may be
subject to a $10.00 service fee.

Late Cancellations: Customers who cancel a reservation the day before or the
day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s use
fee. Cancellations for a 1-night stay will forfeit the entire amount paid and
will not be subject to the additional service fee.

Early Departures: Customers wishing to early depart before 11am can receive a
refund for that night and subsequent nights provided they are off the campsite
completely by 11am. Customers wishing to early depart after 11am can receive a
refund for subsequent days, but will not get a refund for the current night.
**ANY** early departure requires that you stop at the Ranger Station to check
out with the rangers or no refunds will be given. (See Need to Know)

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Assateague Island National Seashore is a 37-mile long barrier island on the Atlantic Coast of Maryland and Virginia.  Famed for its wild horses, this barrier island is a constantly shifting ribbon of sand, altered daily by powerful wind and waves.  Assateague Island, dedicated as a National Seashore on September 1, 1965, lays claim to a long and rich history.  Today's visitors can explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests, and coastal bays.  Only a couple of miles wide at its broadest point, the island's terrain offers shelter to the famed wild horses as well as sika deer, ghost crabs, and migrating birds such as the great blue heron and snowy egret.  Favorite recreational activites include fishing, surfing, beachcombing, swimming, and sunbathing. </p>
<p>The Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) Zone at Assateague Island contains miles of unspoiled beaches managed by the National Park Service to accommodate OSV enthusiasts and other beach goers.<br> <br>The Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge work together to manage and protect this unique, diverse strip of land. <br> <br>For more information visit the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm" rel="nofollow">Assateague Island National Seashore website</a> . </p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
<p>Activities are abundant on the island, with both crabbing and clamming as well as a long stretch of beach for swimming, kayaking and fishing.</p>
<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>Activities are abundant on the island, with both crabbing and clamming as well as a long stretch of beach for swimming, kayaking and fishing.</p>
<h2>Natural Features</h2>
<p>Assateague Island, famed for its wild horses, lies off the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Coast. This barrier island is a constantly shifting ribbon of sand, altered daily by powerful wind and waves. <br> <br>The Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge each manage and protect this unique, diverse strip of land. <br> <br>For more information visit the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm" rel="nofollow">Assateague Island National Seashore website</a> . </p>

<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/" rel="nofollow">Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge</a>  offers a 14,000-acre wildlife preserve located at the southern end of Assateague Island. To the north, <a href="https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/eastern/assateague.aspx" rel="nofollow">Assateague State Park </a> features two miles of pristine ocean beaches. Ocean City, Maryland is only about 10 miles away with a 2.5 mile long boardwalk filled with shops, restaurants, and a wide variety of entertainment options. The historic town of Berlin is about 10 miles west of Assateague, offering many shops and restaurants. </p>
<h2>Charges & Cancellations</h2>
<p>Cancellations/Modifications: Customers can modify/cancel reservations starting 18 days after the reservation was made. Customers cancelling a reservation will be charged a $10.00 service fee. Customers wishing to modify a reservation can do so online or over the phone with Recreation.gov and may be subject to a $10.00 service fee. </p>
<p>Late Cancellations: Customers who cancel a reservation the day before or the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s use fee. Cancellations for a 1-night stay will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to the additional service fee. </p>
<p>Early Departures: Customers wishing to early depart before 11am can receive a refund for that night and subsequent nights provided they are off the campsite completely by 11am.  Customers wishing to early depart after 11am can receive a refund for subsequent days, but will not get a refund for the current night.  <strong>ANY</strong> early departure requires that you stop at the Ranger Station to check out with the rangers or no refunds will be given. (See Need to Know)</p>

Seining the waters of Assateague Island National Seashore.

Seining the waters of Assateague

Oceanside campground sites enjoy the sight, smell, and sound of the unceasing wave activity.

A tent pitched on the sand

Unlikely friends one might think, but a common sight along the seashore.

A bird hitches a ride on the back of a wild horse.

Royal Terns tussle over a tasty fish.

Wild horses are frequent visitors in the campground.  Safety guidelines require a 40-foot distance between person and horse.

A wild horse grazes near the campground

A band of wild horses enjoy the ocean breeze.

Assateague Island National Seashore Wild Horses on the Beach

A turtle crawls toward the sea.

Wild horses often seek respite from the heat and biting insects by resting on the beach.

A band of horses rest on the beach

Sandpipers are just one of the many species of waterfowl found along the shoreline.

A flock of sandpipers on the beach

Enjoy the miles of unspoiled beaches and dunes.

Assateague Island National Seashore beach and dunes

Assateague Island National Seashore Campground

Bird's eye view of the park

Assateague Island National Seashore

Located on the Indigenous homelands of the Pocomoke and Occohannock people,
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge protects beach, dune, marsh, and
maritime forest habitats. Established in 1943 to protect migratory birds, this
refuge is now one of the most visited in the United States. This gem of
Eastern Virginia is a birder's paradise, as well as the home of cultural
treasures such as Assateague Lighthouse and the world famous Chincoteague
ponies.

<p>Located on the Indigenous homelands of the Pocomoke and Occohannock people, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge protects beach, dune, marsh, and maritime forest habitats. Established in 1943 to protect migratory birds, this refuge is now one of the most visited in the United States. This gem of Eastern Virginia is a birder's paradise, as well as the home of cultural treasures such as Assateague Lighthouse and the world famous Chincoteague ponies.  </p>

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Since this site is only accessed by the public during the hunting season, it
is truly a refuge for a variety of wetland and woodland birds. It also holds a
unique treasure called Lucky Boy fen - one of only four sea-level fens found
in Virginia. This unique feature of the refuge is located just above the
highest tide levels, at the base of a slope where abundant groundwater
discharges. Sea-level fens are nutrient-poor, maritime seepage wetlands,
confined to a few sites with an unusual combination of environmental
conditions for the mid-Atlantic.

<p>Since this site is only accessed by the public during the hunting season, it is truly a refuge for a variety of wetland and woodland birds. It also holds a unique treasure called <span>Lucky Boy fen - one of only four sea-level fens found in Virginia. This unique feature of the refuge is located just above the highest tide levels, at the base of a slope where abundant groundwater discharges. Sea-level fens are nutrient-poor, maritime seepage wetlands, confined to a few sites with an unusual combination of environmental conditions for the mid-Atlantic.</span></p>

Assateague Island National Seashore

Directions

Reviews

Campgrounds

Assateague Island National Seashore Campground

Nearby Parks

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge