Assateague Island National Seashore Campground

Location

7206 NATIONAL SEASHORE LN
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Policies

Check-in

12:00 PM

Check-out

11:00 AM

Max stay

14 nights

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Assateague Island National Seashore sits along a moving Atlantic shoreline where sand, surf, salt marsh and maritime forest shift with wind and tide. Visitors come for the island's signature wild horses often seen grazing near dunes and marsh edges and for long stretches of beach that accommodate everything from beachcombing and surfing to paddling and kayak launches. The staffed Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) Zone keeps miles of beach open for drivers who bring their own rigs, and shallow bays and tidal creeks reward anglers, crabbers and clammers. Wildlife viewing is a major draw year-round: sika deer, ghost crabs, migrating shorebirds and wading birds such as great blue heron and snowy egret are common, and nearby protected areas Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge to the south and Assateague State Park to the north extend the options for auto touring, hiking and biking. Ocean City and the historic town of Berlin are about a ten-mile drive off the island if you want restaurants, shops or a boardwalk break from the beach. The National Seashore campground accommodates 159 sites in a mix of setups: 83 sites accept both RVs and tents, 74 are tent-only, and there are 2 equestrian non-electric sites for horse camping and horseback riders. Campsites are arranged across bayside and oceanside areas Bayside Loops A, B and C contain 24, 12 and 12 sites respectively; the Equestrian Non-Electric loop has 2 sites; five oceanside group sites are available; Oceanside Loop 1 has 19 sites, Loop 2 has 22 sites, and the walk-in oceanside sections total 63 sites split as 35 (Walk-In 42 44, 51 82), 22 (Walk-In 83 104) and 6 (Walk-In 45 50). The campground is open year-round, with advance reservations accepted up to six months ahead for most site categories: oceanside group sites and bayside individual sites are available year-round, equestrian non-electric sites book seasonally from October 16 through April 15, and oceanside individual sites take reservations March 15 through November 15 (they operate first-come, first-serve November 16 through March 14). Basic amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, and unheated showers (March 15 November 15) for rinsing off sand; campground tap water is on when temperatures are above freezing and dump stations remain open year-round. An entrance fee is required unless you carry an America the Beautiful pass, and all campers must check in at the ranger station; note the reservation rules and fees modifications or cancellations can be made starting 18 days after booking but carry a $10 service fee, late cancellations (the day before or day of arrival) incur the fee plus forfeiture of the first night, and early-departure refunds require checkout with rangers (specific refund rules apply). The island is reached from Maryland or Virginia via bridges off the Delmarva mainland; there is no through road linking the two ends of Assateague, so plan your approach based on whether you want the Maryland or Virginia access point.