• An Assateague wild horse finding shelter in the dunes.

    Assateague Island

    National Seashore MD,VA

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  • Message from the Superintendent

    The planning team is currently in the final stages of drafting the General Managment Plan and beginning the internal review process which includes reviews and revisions. More »

  • Virginia District - Beach Parking Update

    Due to Hurricane Sandy and the March 6 storm, there is limited parking in the Virginia District. As of 4/4/13 parking lot 1 and part of parking lot 2 are open. All parking lots are expected to be open by Memorial Day weekend. More »

  • Hurricane Sandy Photos on flickr

    View images from the Maryland and Virginia districts of Assateague Island National Seashore on our flickr site. More »

Life on the Edge

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

Features

  • Wild horses on Assateague beach

    Wild Horses

    Enjoy their beauty from a distance, and you can help make sure these extraordinary wild horses will continue to thrive on Assateague Island.

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  • A park ranger offers helpful tips to a young visitor using a seine net to collect marine organisms that thrive in the marshes and bay.

    Ranger-Guided Programs

    A variety of ranger-guided programs are available to encourage visitors of all ages to enjoy and learn more about the barrier island environment.

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  • Tent in the oceanside campground.

    Camping at Assateague

    Make some memories camping at the beach. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

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  • nps social media icon, 23kb

    Join the Conversation!

    Discover what's new and stay in touch with Assateague through Facebook, Twitter & flickr.

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  • Over Sand Vehicle icon

    Over Sand Vehicles

    Get your permit for an adventurous getaway in the Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) zone.

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  • Assateague Island National Seashore logo

    What's a GMP?

    Help shape the park's future! Participate in developing our new General Management Plan.

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  • Assateague Island Alliance logo

    Join Our Friends Group!

    The Assateague Island Alliance was created to support the preservation, education, stewardship, and recreational opportunities of the park.

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Did You Know?

piping plover photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service image library. 4 kb

...that instead of needing to keep her eggs warm, the beach-nesting piping plover will stand over her eggs on hot days to shade them and keep them cool.