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[13] There is no camping available from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The piping plover is a threatened species that nests on Assateague.

(For now!) Whether you’re going as a couple, with friends or as a family, camping on Assateague Island is a truly unique experience for everyone. The Maryland section contains the majority of Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park. Last edited on 21 September 2020, at 18:21, Mackintosh, Barry.

Of course the driving times below are approximate and don’t account for stops or traffic. Enter your email below to be notified when we get access. This herd consists of more than 150 horses owned and managed by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Personally, we didn’t see any horses on our campsite, we saw them closer to the other beach we visited that was open to daily visitors. I am a Baltimore based graphic designer, mom-to-be, pastel lover and curious traveler. But every July, Chincoteague’s “salt-water cowboys” round up the horses and put a number up of them up for auction in order to control the population. After Congressional efforts did not produce final legislation in 1964, new legislation in 1965 was successful and Assateague Island National Seashore was formed. Camping is allowed in both areas but there are slight differences in pricing, amenities, and rules: For all the rules and regulations as well as health and safety updates for each park, check out the links above. Due to park regulations, all firewood must be purchased in the state of Maryland.

Made famous by Marguerite Henry in her children's book Misty of Chincoteague, the animals are popular tourist attractions and subjects for photography. Still, Assateague Island remains one of the few places in the United States where you can see wild horses roam freely.

However, the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane created an inlet south of Ocean City, Maryland. Assateague Island is a haven for natural beauty. Personally, we did not have a big problem with them, and I think it’s because we got a beach/shoreside campsite in the National Park. (The term “feral” refers to formerly domesticated animals that have reverted to a “wild” state. On the Virginia side of the state line, the resident wild horses are known as the “Chincoteague” ponies. For other uses, see. Guy, Chris. [6] While this process has benefitted Ocean City, creating wider beaches and better fishing access,[8] it caused erosion problems on Assateague. Regardless, make sure you bring good quality, strong bug repellant to ward off the pesky mosquitos and horseflies, should they be a bother. The park is open year-round, but the best and most popular time to go camping on Assateague Island is summer, to utilize the beautiful beach.

The horses you will see on Assateague Island are feral and have been inhabiting the island since the 1600s. Still, Assateague Island remains one of the few places in the United States where you can see wild horses roam freely. This is particular to camping in the National Park (no electric sites) or a non-electric site in the State Park. It’s possible that we just got lucky. Turn off your mind and travel to a more secluded location on Assateague Island National Seashore for a relaxing experience at the beach.

While summer is the most popular time, early fall can also be nice with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.

Most of the water around the island is within the boundaries of the national seashore. The National Park Service provides information about these animals through brochures and the internet.[16]. The National Park Service allows off-road vehicles with permits in certain areas. To keep their numbers under control on the Maryland side, a federal contraceptive program has been in place since 1994.

The state park is the most developed area on the island with 350 campsites. For most of the year, the horses are free to graze the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge through a permit from the U.S. The Maryland and Virginia horses are kept apart by fencing at the border between the two states. The Assateague horses typically divide themselves into groups of 2 to 12, and each band occupies a distinct “home range,” according to the NPS, which handles the Maryland herd. The best times to backcountry camp are in the spring and fall.

The island is located in a major bird migration route. A tiny strip of land that runs along the coast of Maryland and Virginia, Assateague Island is a unique destination that is easily drivable from the Baltimore/DC area, and an accessible summer road trip destination for most East Coasters.

This distinction, made both on per-breed and per-individual basis, is sometimes a matter of disagreement.

Another theory is that these horses are the descendants of the horses of early settlers that were allowed to run freely. There are a few legends about how the horses ended up calling Assateague their home, the most popular one being that they came ashore when a Spanish Cargo Ship sank. [4] However, after the storm, between 1933 and 1935 a permanent system of artificial jetties was built to preserve the inlet as a navigation channel.