Assateague Island is the perfect place for beach camping! Our weekend there was very memorable, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go again! See Blog Post: Two Wild Nights at Assateague Island
Unique to Assateague Island:
- Camp on the beach
- See the wild horses
- See the lighthouse
- Swim in the ocean
- Swim or enjoy watersports on the Bay side
Adventures:
Visit the Lighthouse – The lighthouse at Assateague is actually on the opposite side of the bay from the campground, so it’s a quite a drive. You actually have to be on the Eastern Shore in Virginia to access it, by Wallops Island (see map). However, if you are a lighthouse enthusiast, it’s a picture perfect red and white striped one. In fact, the only one of two red and white striped ones on the East Coast. My only suggestion is to make sure it’s got a fresh coat of paint before you make the drive (we were not that lucky)!
See the Wild Horses – Okay, this one isn’t too hard to accomplish. I’m pretty sure we saw the horses as soon as set foot in the park. Very cool how they meander through the campgrounds. They don’t seem to hurt anyone, just make sure you keep your campsite trash picked up!
Watersports on the Bayside – The bayside of Assateague has a beach and swimming area where people can rent kayaks. People also bring windsails which I thought were neat to watch.
Next time I visit Assateague Island:
- I saw it all! I just want to spend more time at the beach!
Transportation:
A car to get there. Then you could easily rely on bikes as it’s very flat terrain. You access the main park via Ocean City and the Island part on the Virginia side of the bay.
Lodging:
Camp! There are 2 campsites at Assateague Island, one is at the national park and the other is a Maryland State Park. Check both websites for openings. We stayed at the Maryland State Park and were just one dune away from the beach. Recommend planning at least 6-9 months ahead, sites book up quickly.
Restaurants/ Meals & Drinks:
Camping – No restaurants to be seen.
Tips/ Things to Know:
- Don’t pitch your tent in the sand, choose the harder ground. Our friends had trouble keeping their tent staked when it got windy because it was in the sand.
- Do not leave trash outside at your campground.
My Time Spent on the Island:
- 1 day drive through to see the lighthouse in 2013
- 2 days camping on the beach in September 2015
Hope you find our travel guide helpful!
