For others, you will pay a “day rate” or buy an annual pass.

Holders of the Parks and US Forest systems “Golden Eagle” pass get unrestricted access to the national park. Expect lines during the summer so it is best to get there early in the morning for a day of fun.Īssateague Island Entrance Fees National Park Fees There is ample parking throughout the national park starting with the large lot just to the left (ocean side) as you enter the park. The office for the national park is located just inside the entrance gates to the right and offers campground information and registration, back-country camping permits, hunting information and over-sand vehicle permits. You can even camp with your horses in the off-season! There are entrance fees to enter the park, but a pass to the National Seashore also gets you into Chincoteague, the national park on the southern end of Assateague Island. The National Park on Assateague is much larger than the state park and offers wilderness camping opportunities as well as regular tent and RV camping, OSV (over sand vehicle) access to the beach for fishing, kayak rentals on the bayside from Assateague Island Outfitters, and miles of marsh and beach ideal for beach going, birding, and looking for the ponies. In addition to camping, fishing, and beach-going, there are a myriad of activities run by the Assateague park systems and their vendors to keep all guests well entertained and in awe during a visit. Camping of all types is available at both parks. You can opt for the National park which offers less amenities, but has outside showers, toilet facilities, and boardwalks crossing the dunes to the wide sandy beaches and the Atlantic Ocean. You can choose the State park where you can buy food and drinks and enjoy the comfort of shower houses with changing facilities, rest rooms, and hot showers. If you like the solitude and natural beauty of the Outer Banks, then Assateague is a closer option. You can visit yourself, or go by water as part of a tour from Ocean City. If you are lucky, you might even see a whale coming up for air between the waves and the horizon in the late summer. Large schools of fish can be seen offshore and dolphins play just outside the breakers. Wild ponies wander the marshes, birds chase the waves in search of clams and crabs exposed by the waves, and brown pelicans skim the surface of the Atlantic. With miles of beaches, bike paths, and and acres of undeveloped natural habitats, Assateague is a wonderful place to spend a day or your entire vacation. Here, you’ll find information about Assateague’s history, parking and entrance fees, the wild ponies and other wildlife, camping, recreational activities, pet policies, Chincoteague, articles, tours, photos, and more. Located just 8 miles south of Ocean City, Maryland, Assateague Island National Seashore is a 37 mile long gem in the national and state park systems.

Assateague island maps