Bateman Educational and Administrative Center is open from 9 a.m. Reservations are recommended, call (888) 432-CAMP (2267).Ĭhincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia) - The Wildlife Refuge's Herbert H. Campsites have warm showers and electric sites. The park has a nature center and offers a wide variety of interpretive programs for visitors of all ages. Public access to the beach and the day use parking lot is open daily from 9:00 a.m. Campsite reservations are recommended, call (877) 444-6777.Īssateague State Park (Maryland)- Located at the end of Route 611 (just before the entrance to the National Seashore), the park is comprised of 680 acres of Assateague Island and offers separate swimming, surf-fishing and surf-boarding areas. The National Park Service offers guided walks, talks and special programs. Wear sunscreen to prevent damage from UV rays.Īssateague Island National Seashore (Maryland)- The National Seashore is open 24 hours and the Assateague Island Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m.

Wear Bug Spray and Sunscreen - Assateague is notorious for its mosquitoes so be sure to protect yourself from bug bites.There is a $5 fee for adults, $3 for children. Visit the Assateague Lighthouse – (Located in Virginia, on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge) Climb the stairs and get a birds-eye view of Assateague and Chincoteague.Explore the nature trails and see herons, egrets and other wading birds. More than 300 species of birds inhabit the island. Enjoy Outdoor Recreation and Wildlife Viewing – The island has miles of pristine beach, picnic areas, and designated areas for fishing and boating.For your own safety, keep your distance and do not feed or pet them. For a close up view of the ponies, you can also paddle a kayak or take a guided boat cruise. In Virginia, the ponies may be seen in the marshes along Beach Road and from the observation platform on the Woodland Trail. The “Life of the Forest” and “Life of the Marsh” nature trails are good places to look. See the Wild Ponies - In Maryland, drive slowly along the park roads and stop and park in the designated parking areas on the Bay side of the park.Vehicles must return to the mainland to access either the north or south entrance. There is no vehicle access between the two entrances on Assateague Island. The south entrance (Virginia) is at the end of Route 175, two miles from Chincoteague. Getting to Assateague Island: There are two entrances to the island: The north entrance (Maryland) is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City. Hotel accommodations are located nearby in Ocean City and Berlin, MD and Chincoteague, VA. Camping is available in the Maryland portion of the island. Fish and Wildlife Service and Assateague State Park, managed by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. Assateague Island consists of three public areas: Assateague Island National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. It is a unique vacation destination with breathtaking scenery and plenty of recreational opportunities including fishing, crabbing, clamming, kayaking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, hiking, and swimming. Assateague Island, a 37-mile long barrier island located off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, is most known for the more than 300 wild ponies who wander the beaches.

Assateague national seashore