Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-23. Check linked official notices before travel.

Assateague Island National Seashore spans a barrier island off Maryland and Virginia, with ocean beaches, marshes, and free-roaming horses. Choose your district before setting out: there is no road through the island between its northern and southern entrances. Maryland offers national-seashore camping; the Virginia district does not.

Highlights of Assateague Island

• Ocean and bay shore: choose beach walking, paddling, or a marsh-side route rather than expecting one continuous scenic drive.
• Wild horses: observe the Maryland and Virginia herds from a distance. They have different managers and occupy different parts of the island.
• Barrier-island habitats: dunes, maritime forest, and wetlands support nesting and migrating birds.

Plan your seashore visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check current district and beach conditions before departure. An Assateague State Park pass does not cover national-seashore or refuge admission. The official fee guide separates these charges and pass rules.

Horses, surf, and exposed beaches

No lifeguards are on duty at the national-seashore beaches in either district. Strong currents can occur. Use an appropriate life jacket when recreating in or near the water, and do not treat a calm-looking surf line as a safety guarantee.

Stay at least 40 feet from horses and 150 feet from seals. Back away if an animal approaches. Never feed or give water to the horses. Secure food in your vehicle or a sealed, locked container. Bring water, sun protection, and insect protection; mobile coverage can be limited.

Protect dunes and wildlife

Use designated trails and boardwalks. Do not block roads to photograph animals. Pets are allowed only in specified Maryland areas, with a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are prohibited on nature trails, at backcountry campsites, and throughout the Virginia portion, including inside vehicles. Service-animal access follows separate rules.

Camping and beach-driving permits

For NPS camping, use the Maryland campground guide. Individual campsites cost USD 40 per site per night, before any entrance or applicable booking charge. Reservations are required March 15–November 15 and open six months ahead. Bayside Drive-in uses reservations year-round; winter Oceanside access has different loop restrictions. A campsite reservation is not an over-sand vehicle permit.

Two entrances and separate park systems

The Maryland entrance follows Route 611 south of Ocean City. Start at the Assateague Island Visitor Center, 11800 Marsh View Lane, Berlin, before crossing the Verrazzano Bridge. The NPS ranger station and campground office are at 6633 Bayberry Drive after the entrance.

Virginia access follows Route 175 through Chincoteague. Most Virginia island land is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Use the Herbert H. Bateman center at 8231 Beach Road for current visitor services. To drive between districts, return to the mainland.

Nearby parks by road

Assateague State Park is a separate Maryland beach and camping area reached from Route 611. Pocomoke River State Park is a mainland option; its Shad Landing area is at 3461 Worcester Highway near Snow Hill. Choose the actual entrance rather than a general river or island map pin.

Choose a beach, trail, or overnight visit

Walk the beach, explore bay-side water, or follow nature trails through the island's changing habitats. Maryland's Life of the Forest and Life of the Marsh trails are each half-mile loops with wheelchair access. For a Virginia visit, check the refuge's routes and seasonal wildlife closures rather than carrying Maryland trail assumptions south.

Camping is available only in Maryland. NPS campgrounds have no hookups. Assateague State Park has a different campground and booking system, so check which reservation you hold before arrival.

Visitor services and accessibility

The Maryland visitor center has exhibits, restrooms, maps, and a bookstore. NPS camping facilities include chemical toilets, drinking water, and seasonal cold-water showers. Beach wheelchairs are available in both districts, with local checkout arrangements and time limits. They require someone to push them. Review the district accessibility information before planning a beach visit around this service.

About the national seashore

From development plans to protected shore

The 1962 Ash Wednesday storm damaged roads and buildings planned for a resort community. Federal protection followed in 1965. Assateague State Park, established in 1956, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1943, retain their separate identities within the island's wider visitor landscape.

Horses and coastal bird habitat

The horses descend from domestic animals that returned to a free-ranging life. NPS manages the Maryland herd; the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company owns and manages the Virginia herd under a refuge permit. The popular shipwreck origin story is not confirmed by historical records. Refuge beach and marsh habitats also protect migratory birds and nesting species such as piping plovers.

Contact Assateague Island National Seashore

Call 410-641-1441. Select extension 1 for Maryland visitor information, 2 for Virginia visitor information, or 3 for Maryland camping. Administrative mailing address: 7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD 21811.