Assateague State Park in Maryland, USA - map and visitor information

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

Assateague State Park is Maryland's oceanfront state park on Assateague Island. Choose it for a beach day or an ocean-side campsite. Its entrance fees and reservations are separate from Assateague Island National Seashore, which occupies other parts of the island.

Highlights of the state park

• Two miles of Atlantic beach provide space for beach walking, surf recreation, and fishing outside the marked swim sector.
• Ocean-side camping offers a different stay from the national seashore's Oceanside and Bayside campgrounds.
• Marsh habitat supports waterfowl, deer, and free-roaming horses.

Plan your state park visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Use the Maryland fee and reservation guidance for current charges and applicable exemptions. A federal seashore visit uses different passes and fees.

Ocean conditions and wild horses

The guarded swim sector operates seasonally. Outside lifeguard hours or the marked area, swimming is unguarded. Watch children closely and consider rip currents before entering the ocean.

Keep at least 40 feet from horses. Never feed, touch, or give them water. Store food securely. The island wildlife-safety guidance explains why approaching horses can injure both people and animals.

Protect the beach

Stay off dune vegetation. Beach fires, glass, and alcohol are prohibited. Pets have area and seasonal restrictions; confirm that your chosen campground loop or beach permits them.

Reserve the correct campground

Book through the Maryland state park reservation system, up to 365 days ahead. State campground check-in runs 2–10 p.m.; late check-in after 10 p.m. is not permitted. ADA-only campsites require a qualifying visitor to occupy the site throughout the reservation. These bookings do not reserve an NPS campsite.

State park entrance and arrival

Follow Route 611 across the Verrazzano Bridge. Use 6915 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, Maryland, for the state ranger station and campground office. The mailing address at 7307 Stephen Decatur Highway serves a different purpose.

Nearby parks by road

Assateague Island National Seashore has its own Maryland entrance and campground office on Bayberry Drive. Pocomoke River State Park's Shad Landing area, at 3461 Worcester Highway near Snow Hill, offers a separate mainland stop.

Beach time and island nature

Walk the ocean shore or explore the bay by canoe or kayak. Keep fishing, surfing, and kayaking outside the designated swimming sector. For more island trails, check which routes belong to the national seashore before extending your visit.

Beach and campground facilities

A boardwalk connects day-use parking to the dune edge. The accessible day-use bathhouse operates May–October. Off-season toilets are portable, with no running water. Electric campsites are limited to specified loops; choose the site amenities during booking.

About Assateague State Park

A state park beside a national seashore

The state park dates to 1956. The surrounding national seashore followed in 1965, after the 1962 Ash Wednesday storm disrupted development plans. The two designations remain separate parts of the island's protected landscape.

A free-ranging herd and coastal birds

Assateague's horses descend from domestic animals. NPS manages the Maryland herd, which can move into developed areas. Coastal marshes also serve migrating birds. Animal sightings are unpredictable, so view wildlife when it appears rather than following it through the campground.

Contact Assateague State Park

Call 410-641-2918 for the seasonal ranger station or 410-641-2120 for headquarters. The official state park guide lists beach, campground, and pet rules.