Assateague Island National Seashore Campground

Facilities

The campground is open year-round. Advance reservations are available up to 6 months in advance during the following dates:  Oceanside Group Sites: Year-round. Equestrian Non-electric sites: From October 16 through April 15 each year (closed April 16 - October 15). Oceanside and Bayside Individual sites: From March 15, 2019 through November 15 each year (first come first serve only, November 16 - March 14).  Amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, and unheated showers for rinsing off sand. Water in the campground is available when temperatures are above freezing, and year round at the dump stations. The island can be accessed from the northern route in Maryland or the southern route in Virginia, but there is no through road from one end of the island to the other. Access to both Maryland and Virginia entrances are reached by bridge over mainland routes. 

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. 

Natural feaures

Assateague is a 37-mile long barrier island on the Atlantic Coast of Maryland and Virginia. The terrain is a mix of sand dunes, maritime forests and salt marshes, and is just a couple miles wide at its broadest section. Two herds of wild horses inhabit the island. The Maryland herd roams freely in part of Assateague Island National Seashore. The Virginia herd roams in large fenced areas in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The horses are descendants of late 17th century horses brought by colonists attempting to avoid livestock taxes. They now thrive among other wildlife including sika deer, ghost crabs and migrating birds like the great blue heron and snowy egret.

Recreation

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