Assateague State Park Camping

Ever camped next to wild horses? Visitors to Assateague State Park do! They also get treated to campsites that walk out to miles of beautiful white beaches and dunes—and the calming sounds of ocean waves. Just be prepared for some wind and mosquitos in the summer months. Note: Assateague State Park and Assateague Island National Seashore are different parks.

Camping at Assateague State Park

Assateague State Park’s season runs from late April to the end of October. A popular place to camp, it features primarily drive-in sites, with a handful of walk-in campsites. The park is renowned for its wild horses (known as Chincoteague ponies) that roam the area, and the campground’s proximity to Assateague Island’s beaches. The park is popular, so campsites can fill up quickly.

There are 342 campsites at Assateague State Park. The park offers tent campsites as well as RV/trailer campsites. Youth group campsites are also in the park. All campsites feature an asphalt pad, picnic table, and fire ring. The park’s campsites are reasonably spacious but offer almost no shade. Those with RVs will need to be self-contained as the park only offers limited hook-ups (electric in just one loop). Water and sewer hook-ups are not available at Assateague State Park.

Park amenities include a bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets (unavailable at the adjacent national park). Those who wish to make the most of the nearby ocean can access a boardwalk, boat launch, and pier. Lifeguards are on site at some—not all—beach areas. A dump station for RVs is on-site, as are trash and recycling options.

The campground offers a few ADA-accessible campsites with paved paths to the bathhouse. (All of the campground’s pads are paved.) Beaches are accessible, and ramps are in place to help people access some buildings. Eligible people can apply for a Universal Disability Pass, which offers free entry to state parks. Here’s a link with instructions on how to obtain a Universal Disability Pass.

Location, geography, and history

Assateague Island is a 37-mile long natural barrier island directly south of Ocean City, on the Atlantic Ocean. Part of this island is in Maryland; the other is in Virginia. Assateague State Park occupies 855 of the island’s 41,320 acres. There is no through road from the island’s north to the south.

Assateague Island is part of a chain of barrier islands on the Atlantic Coast. It is the product of winds from the Delmarva Peninsula and stormy seas. It is made from sand (run-off from the Appalachian Mountains) moving southward. Storm effects push the island westward, and climate change is accelerating this process.

All of Assateague Island is owned and operated by three government agencies. The state park represents the most developed part of the island, which is otherwise largely untouched by human development (no one resides on the island). The southern part of the island contains Assateague Island National Seashore (established in 1956).

Features, wildlife, and vegetation

Assateague Island houses several unique habitats. Natural and human-made dunes separate the beaches of the Atlantic from inland areas where you can find thickets, forests, grasslands, and scrublands. A number of bays, coves, and marshes are also present near the water. Freshwater pools appear after rainy periods.

In addition to Assateague’s population of over 300 wild ponies is a large bird population. Piping plovers arrive in the spring before traveling south in August. Wading birds like great egrets and clapper rails hunt in the marshes. Northern harriers hunt on the island in the winter. Flocks of brant winter in the area before returning to Northern Canada for summer. Assateague Island is also home to frogs, toads, snakes, crabs, foxes, and raccoons.

The salt and heat of the beach limit the growth of most plants. As you move inland, though, you find durable sea rocket in the dunes and American beachgrass a little higher yet. Beyond the dunes one can find wildflowers including seabeach amaranth, crested fringed orchids, rose mallow, and Eastern prickly pear cactus.

Activities at Assateague State Park

Given its marine setting, visitors to Assateague State Park enjoy kayak touring, allowing them to explore the area’s marine habitats. You might also choose to swim or surf. Please take care when in or near the water. Ocean winds vary, and waves can carry great force and strong currents.

Over 200 bird species have been spotted on Assateague Island, so bring your binoculars! You might take a walk and witness the island’s wild horses. (Please keep a respectful distance.) There are a few trails in the park that allow you to take in the sights and get some exercise. You can also check the park’s Nature Center for interpretive programs.

Visit historic Rackliffe House. (It’s right behind the visitor center.) Or book a private day tour of the island. Day trips might include visits to Ocean City, nearby theme parks, or some local towns, golf courses, and restaurants.

Risks, cautions, and notes

Mosquitos can be bothersome at Assateague State Park, so pack some insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts, and pants.

Do not approach or feed the park’s wild horses, as they might bite or kick. Also, pack away any food and discard trash to prevent attracting them.

Weekends in July can be jam-packed. Plan ahead, and perhaps book stays for mid-week or less hectic times.

Factsheet

Information about Assateague State Park