Camping At Assateague

General Camping Information

MD District Camping

VA District Camping

Backcountry Camping

General Camping Information

Visitors to the Maryland district of Assateague Island may enjoy a variety of camping opportunities. The National Park Service provides year round camping in oceanside and bayside campgrounds. These campgrounds are first-come, first-served from October 16 through April 14. Reservations are recommended April 15 through October 15. For backcountry camping enthusiasts, two oceanside and four bayside sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis for visitors who wish to backpack or paddle the island. A $5 backcountry permit is required and is only issued during business hours. National Seashore camping information may be mailed upon request. Obtain a detailed brochure by calling the Sinepuxent District Ranger Station at (410) 641-3030.

There is no camping available in the Virginia district of Assateague Island. Commercial campgrounds are available on the neighboring island of Chincoteague, Virginia. For more information contact the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce at (757) 336-6161.

Assateague State Park is also located in Maryland on Assateague Island. The State Park provides 350 campsites that are open from April through October. For more information call (410) 641-2120.

Reminders..............

Your visit to Assateague will be a pleasant one if you plan ahead! The barrier island habitat can be harsh if you are not prepared. Campers are reminded to bring firewood, sunscreen, insect repellent, screen tents for shade and insect protection, and long tent stakes to anchor tents in the sand and wind.

Assateague Island is a fee area. In addition to camping fees, the three agencies on the island collect entrance fees. Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia are federal fee areas. The entrance fee schedule for these areas is in effect year round. These passes are valid at both the Maryland and Virginia entrances. Entrance passes are not available through the mail. A separate $3 per person ($4 for out of state residents) daily pass is required for Assateague State Park from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Do not feed or approach any wildlife! Food storage in campgrounds is strictly enforced! The wild horses bite and kick, observe them from a distance. Feeding wildlife encourages destructive behavior along roadsides and in campgrounds while adversely affecting their digestive systems.

Visitors are encouraged to stop and enjoy the exhibits and aquariums at one of the visitor centers to become acquainted with the barrier island environment. During the summer months lifeguard protected beaches are in operation and rangers lead walks, talks, demonstrations and evening programs. Recreational opportunities such as swimming, surf fishing, crabbing, clamming, and canoeing are popular summer activities.

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Maryland District Camping

Assateague Island National Seashore provides oceanside and bayside camping year round. Both campgrounds offer drive-in pads suitable for tents, trailers and recreational vehicles (no hookups). The Oceanside campground also provides walk-in, tent-only sites, located 100-200 feet from centralized parking areas. Any interested tent, trailer or RV campers may reserve a drive-in site in the "Generator-Free Zone" available in Bayside campground. All campsites provide a picnic table and a grill. All Oceanside sites have upright grills. All Bayside sites have ground fire rings. All fires must be in grills provided at the campsites. Ground fires are prohibited at oceanside campsites. Centrally located facilities include chemical toilets, cold water showers and drinking water.
Assateague Island National Seashore campground maps

Assateague Island National Seashore campgrounds are on the National Reservation System April 15 through October 15. By calling 1-800-365-CAMP (2267), the National Reservation System contractor, SPHERIX, will take reservations up to 5 months in advance of the date you want to camp. Reservations may also be made via the Internet at the National Reservation Service web address, http://reservations.nps.gov. During the reservation period, family campsites are $20 per night. From October 16 through April 14, family campsites are first-come first-served and sites are $16 per night. There is a 50% discount for visitors with Golden Age or Golden Access passes. Groups of 13 or more must use group campsites. Group campsites are available for reservations year round at $30 per night per site. For further information regarding campground regulations, call the Sinepuxent District Ranger Station at (410) 641-3030.

Assateague State Park is located in the Maryland district of Assateague Island within the National Seashore boundaries. The State Park is open from April 28, 2006 through October 30, 2006. For reservations, call 1-888-432-2267. Campsites are $30 per night. Electrical hookups are available in a limited number of sites for $40 per night. The campgrounds feature hot water bathhouse facilities available only to State Park campers. Pets are prohibited. For other State park information call (410) 641-2120 or (410) 641-2918.

There are no other overnight facilities available on Assateague Island. Ocean City, Maryland, 8 miles north, has many accommodations. Contact the Visitor's Bureau at (800) OC OCEAN (or 626-2326). During the busy summer months, campers without reservations must often stay in private campgrounds or at State parks on the mainland until space becomes available. Some alternative camping options include Pocomoke River State Park near Snow Hill, MD (410) 632-2566 or Trap Pond State Park near Laurel, DE (302) 875-2392.

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Virginia District Camping

There is no camping in the Virginia District of Assateague Island. Nearby Chincoteague, Virginia has a wide variety of private campgrounds to accommodate families and groups. For further information about accommodations in Chincoteague, Virginia, contact the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 258, Chincoteague, VA 23336, (757) 336-6161. For lower Eastern Shore accommodations, contact the Virginia State Travel Service, RT 13, New Church, VA 23415, (757) 824-5000.

The Virginia district of Assateague Island is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a National Wildlife Refuge. Pets are prohibited (even in your vehicle) in the Virginia district of Assateague Island! The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is open year round. The National Park Service operates the Toms Cove Visitor Center within the refuge year round. Ranger-led programs are conducted daily in the summer. For more information about National Park Service activities in the Virginia district, contact Assateague Island National Seashore, P.O. Box 38, Chincoteague, VA 23336, (757) 336-6577. For more information about refuge wildlife, activities, and hours of operation, contact the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 62, Chincoteague, VA 23336, (757) 336-6122.

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Backcountry Camping

Assateague Island National Seashore has two oceanside and four bayside camping areas for visitors who wish to backpack or paddle the island. All backcountry sites are located in Maryland; no camping is permitted in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The distance traveled to backcountry sites from the Ranger Station in Maryland range from 2 ½ to 13 miles. If traveling from the Toms Cove Visitor Center in Virginia the nearest campsites are State Line and Pope Bay, each at 12.5 miles.
Backcountry Camping Map

BACKCOUNTRY REGULATIONS:

1. Pets are prohibited.
2. Transportation of campers and their equipment by vehicle (including those with an Over Sand Vehicle permit) or motorized boat is prohibited. Campers must have the proper equipment, including raingear.
3. You are required to camp at the site/s listed on your permit. Once your permit is issued, you may not change the itinerary. No exceptions.
4. Bayside campsites - camp within 50 feet of the fire rings. Oceanside campsites - camp within the designated and posted boundary. Camping is not allowed on the beach or dunes.
5. Only dead wood on the ground may be collected for firewood. Driftwood is scarce; do not count on its availability. Do not burn trash.
6. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings at the bayside sites. At the oceanside sites, fires are allowed on the beach below the high tide line. Fires should not be left unattended and should be extinguished with water. Do not cover them with sand.
7. In Maryland, all vehicles must be parked at the North Beach Ranger Station (for hikers), Old Ferry Landing Parking Area or Bayside Picnic Area (for paddlers). In Virginia, ask the Toms Cove Visitor Center staff for parking information.
8. Protect wildlife by securing your food and keeping a clean campsite. Do not pet, feed, or approach the wildlife, including horses. Be sure to maintain a safe distance.
9. Please pack out all trash. Do not throw trash into toilets, it causes damage to pumping equipment. Trash bags are available upon request.
10. Do not enter or approach any buildings or closed areas.
11. Hunting camps are not permitted.

The National Park Service strongly encourages the practice of Leave-No-Trace camping techniques while enjoying Assateague and other natural areas. Ask a Ranger for more information about the principles of Leave-No-Trace Outdoor Skills and Ethics.

WHEN SITES ARE OPEN:

On rare occasions the park and/or backcountry campsites will be closed due to severe weather. Otherwise, oceanside sites are usually open year-round. During the spring and summer, however, one or both oceanside sites may be closed due to bird nesting. Bayside sites are open year-round with the exception of a brief period during the hunting season. This period traditionally includes one week in mid- to late-October and a two-week period starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving and ending in mid-December. Please check with the Ranger Station at (410) 641-3030 for designated hunting dates.

Adverse weather conditions are common during the spring and fall. We advise against paddling during small craft advisories. Bayside campsites are known for high concentrations of biting insects anytime from April through October. Camping on the bayside during the summer months is not recommended.

SITE DESCRIPTION AND FACILITIES:

No fresh water is available at any backcountry site. One gallon per person per day is the recommended minimum.

Oceanside sites:
-camping allowed within the posted boundaries only
-designated by red boundary posts.
-share a picnic table and a chemical toilet
-Little Levels accommodates up to 30 people
-State Line accomodates up to 25 people

Bayside sites:
-campers must be within a 50 ft. radius of the fire rings
-in forested areas (except Pope Bay, where shade is limited)
-individual campsites, designated by a picnic table and a fire ring
-share a chemical toilet
-have group and/or person limitations (whichever comes first):
-Tingles Island and Pine Tree up to 5 groups or 25 people
-Green Run up to 3 groups or 15 people
-Pope Bay up to 2 groups or 10 people

Note: When hiking on the beach or camping at the oceanside sites, expect to encounter vehicles in the Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) zone, especially during the summer months. An OSV permit is required to drive in the 13.5 mile OSV zone, which allows a maximum of 145 vehicles. Transportation of campers and/or equipment by vehicle is prohibited.

OBTAINING A BACKCOUNTRY PERMIT:

Backcountry camping without a permit is prohibited. A $5 fee per backcountry permit and a $10 7-day entrance fee per vehicle is required. Fees are paid and permits are obtained in either district of Assateague Island National Seashore: at the North Beach Ranger Station in Maryland or the Tom's Cove Visitor Center in Virginia.

Due to sudden and severe changes in weather, advance reservations are not accepted. Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of departure. Please check with radio, television, and the internet for up-to-date information on local weather patterns. Paddlers can check for small craft advisories for "Coastal Waters from Fenwick Island to Chincoteague Island" or by calling (410) 641-3030.

Note: In Maryland, canoe rentals are available on the island from Memorial Day through Labor Day. In the off-season, contact the Ocean Sity Chamber of Commerce at 410-213-0552 for local rentals. In Virginia, canoe rentals are available from several local vendors. Call the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce at (757) 336-6161 for more information. Many outfitters will not rent canoes or kayaks during a small craft advisory.

CHECK-IN TIMES are based on distance of the campsite from your departure point. Please consider your level of experience and weather conditions and adjust your start time accordingly. Permits will not be issued after the times listed. Assateague sunset charts are found at The U.S. Naval Observatory under "Ocean City, Maryland" or by calling (410) 641-3030.

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