Assateague Island National Park gives you the opportunity to set up a tent on the beach or in the backcountry. It is also one of the few places where you can observe wild horses in the United States. Enjoy a relaxing, outdoor weekend in Maryland while boating, hiking and exploring.
Camping Overview
Assateague Island National Park offers oceanside, bayside and backcountry camping. Set up a tent on the beach, just feet away from the water. Picnic tables and grills are provided and showers and water are nearby. Wild horses occasionally get past the fences and may come near your tent. Make sure to keep all food away from your tent, or else they may destroy it in search of a meal. Depending on the weather and the time of year, the oceanside or the bayside may have a lot of bugs, including mosquitoes. Reservations are recommended. Backcountry camping requires a permit. You must camp at one of the designated campsites.
Swimming and Surfing
Since you will be camping on the beach, you may as well hop in the ocean waters. You can choose to wade in the water or swim. You might also try surfing. Bring your own board or rentals are available outside of the park. Look a little farther out and you might see people kite surfing. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months inside the park.
Biking and Hiking
After sunbathing on the beach, take a bike ride around Assateague Island National Park. Start on the Maryland side of the park and ride around the four miles of trails. You can also exit and enter the park by bike over the pedestrian bridge. Then take a ride across the state line to the Virginia side of the park. There is a paved path that goes out of Assateague to Chincoteague, or follow one of the four trails in this part of the park. You can also choose to hike around the island, either on the beaches or through the forests. Both paved and unpaved trails exist in the park.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Go to one of the designated areas of Assateague National Park and launch a kayak or canoe into the water. The weather changes often and quickly, so ensure you are safe, prepared and close to land. There are no routes for boating around the island, so feel free to explore. Boat rentals are available through the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
Observing Wildlife
Assateague Island National Park is known for its wild horses. The legend of the horses is that they survived a shipwreck centuries ago and swam to shore. So while they are now "wild," in reality the proper term would be feral because they were once domesticated and now have gone back to the wild. Fences separate the horses at the Maryland-Virginia state line. There are also fences keeping them away from the beaches, though they sometimes get through. Keep your distance and do not try to pet the horses, but enjoy their beauty and grace as the roam the island.
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