About Assateague Island National Seashore
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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Spring: Often windy and cool with lows in the 40's and highs in the 60's. Summer: Hot and humid with lows in the 60's and highs in the 80's. Fall: Warm with lows in the 50's and highs in the 70's. Winter: Damp cold and often windy. Lows in the…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Maryland, Virginia. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
Assateague 7 day vehicle pass.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Assateague per person walk-in or bicycle
Operating Hours
Open year round, 24 hours a day.
Activities
Current Alerts
9/22/26 MD OSV closed due to overwash. VA South OSV is closed due to overwash. The VA North OSV fishing mile is closed.
Postponed- Beach Clean Ups scheduled for National Public Lands Day on September 26 in MD and VA have been postponed due to storm conditions. New date TBD.
Getting There
There are two entrances to Assateague Island National Seashore. Assateague's north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, MD. The south entrance is at the end of Route 175, two miles east of Chincoteague, VA. There is no vehicle access between the two entrances on Assateague Island. Vehicles must return to the mainland to access either the north or south entrance.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
The Assateague Island National Seashore Annual Park Entrance Pass is $45.00. It is valid in both the Maryland District and Virginia District (Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge).
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Ranger-Led Programs at Assateague
A variety of ranger guided programs are available to encourage visitors of all ages to enjoy and learn more about…
Surf Fishing on Assateague
Grab your fishing pole and get comfortable on the beach! Surf fishing is an activity that is not only fun…
Bird at Toms Cove
The Virginia district of Assateague Island lies within the Atlantic Flyway, providing excellent birding opportunities year-round. No matter what time…
See the Wild Horses in the Maryland district
View the wild horses of Assateague Island National Seashore. The wild horses are free roaming and spend time in the…
See the Wild Horses in the Virginia District
Assateague Island is well known for the famous wild horses who call the island home. In the Virginia district, the…
Crabbing at Assateague Island
Who doesn’t love to eat a blue crab? After all, the literal translation of this Latin name (Callinectes sapidus) is…
Visitor Centers
Assateague Island Visitor Center
The Assateague Island Visitor Center is located in the Maryland District of Assateague Island before the Verrazzano Bridge entrance into the park. The Assateague Island…
Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center
The Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center is located in the Virginia District within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Maryland District Ranger Contact Station & Campground Office
Offers campground information and registration, backcountry camping permits, hunting information, entrance passes and over-sand vehicle permits.
Campgrounds
Oceanside Drive-in Campground
Tents, trailers and recreational vehicles (no hookups). Sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. Sites are $40 per night. Reservations are required from…
Bayside Drive-in Campground
Tents, trailers and recreational vehicles (no hookups). Sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. Sites are $40 per night. No generators allowed in…
Oceanside Walk-in campground
Tent only sites. Sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. Sites are $40 per night. Reservations are required from March 15 through November…
Oceanside Group Campground
Organized clubs and affiliated groups must use group campsites. Tent-only sites, located 100-200 feet from centralized parking area. Sites have multiple picnic tables and fire…
Horse camping
Horse campers must bring their own horses. Sites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and hitching posts. Sites are $80 per night. Maximum…
Back Country Camping - Pine Tree
Bay side back country campsite
Back Country Camping - Tingles Island
Bayside back country site
Back Country Camping - Green Run
Bayside back country site
Back Country Camping - Pope Bay
Bay side back country campsite
Back Country Camping - Little Levels
Back Country Camping, bayside
Back Country Camping - State Line
Back Country Camping; ocean side
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
🗺️ Guided Tours & Experiences
Discover Assateague Island National Seashore with expert-led tours
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
🏨 Search Lodging for Assateague Island National Seashore
Review lodging results matching this park or site name
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.