National Park Service · Maryland
The barrier island famous for its wild horses, with NPS Oceanside and Bayside campgrounds on Recreation.gov, an over-sand vehicle zone, and miles of open Atlantic beach. This is the NPS seashore, distinct from neighboring Assateague State Park.
Field briefing
Assateague Island National Seashore changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
The important distinction: this is the NPS seashore on the Maryland end, with its own $25 vehicle fee and Oceanside and Bayside campgrounds reserved on Recreation.gov. It is separate from the adjacent Assateague State Park, which Maryland runs with its own fees and reservations. Book camping early, bring serious insect protection in summer, and decide whether you want an over-sand vehicle permit.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Mild and breezy, with cool water and a good window before peak insect season.
Pack Wind layer, insect protection, and footwear for soft sand.
Hot, humid, crowded, and buggy, with strong sun and frequent mosquitoes and flies.
Pack Sun protection, strong insect repellent, water, and an early-arrival plan.
Warm water, thinning crowds, and easing insects make early fall one of the best windows.
Pack Layers, a wind shell, and a flexible plan around coastal weather.
Cold, windy, and quiet, with the wild horses and empty beaches but limited services.
Pack Insulation, wind protection, and a plan for limited services.
Wild horses of Assateague
The free-roaming horses are the icon of the island. Keep at least the required distance: they are wild, they bite and kick, and feeding them is illegal.
Life of the Dunes, Forest, and Marsh trails
Three short interpretive trails near the Maryland entrance that sample the island's main habitats in under a mile each.
Over-sand vehicle (OSV) beach driving
A permitted zone lets you drive the open beach to reach quieter sand and surf-fishing spots. The permit is separate from the entrance fee.
Bayside paddling
Calm water on the bay side is ideal for kayaks and canoes, with marsh, birds, and a gentler experience than the open Atlantic.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Assateague Island National Seashore, make Wild horses of Assateague the non-negotiable, add Life of the Dunes, Forest, and Marsh trails only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Over-sand vehicle (OSV) beach driving as the flexible finish.
Turn Assateague Island's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Assateague Island National Seashore. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Assateague Island National Seashore packing list
0 of 19 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
19 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Assateague Island asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Camp inside the NPS seashore at the Oceanside or Bayside campgrounds, both reserved on Recreation.gov. The adjacent Assateague State Park is a separate Maryland-run option with its own reservation system. For hotels, restaurants, and the broadest lodging, base in Ocean City, Maryland, about a 20-minute drive north.
Camping reservations
The national seashore has its own NPS campgrounds (Oceanside and Bayside) reserved on Recreation.gov. The neighboring Assateague State Park is a separate Maryland campground with its own booking. Make sure you book the one you mean.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
NPS sites are reserved on Recreation.gov up to six months ahead, and weekend sites often go the day they open. Bayside drive-in, the Oceanside group site, and the equestrian sites require reservations year-round; Oceanside drive-in requires reservations roughly March 15 through November 15.
Where to book or verify
Official NPS page for the Oceanside and Bayside campgrounds.
Recreation.gov listing for the national seashore campground.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
The standard OSV permit is about $110 and a Bullpen overnight-camper permit about $200. The OSV permit is not valid for park entry; you still pay the $25 entrance fee.
Required for the island's backcountry sites.
Campgrounds to know
Build the arrival around the reservation.
Entry windows, permit pickups, and drive time should be checked before the itinerary gets crowded.
Getting there
Car strategy
From the Maryland side, drive from Ocean City or the Salisbury area onto the island via the Verrazano Bridge on Route 611.
Car strategy
A car is essential, and beach driving requires an over-sand vehicle permit.
Local movement
Note that the Virginia end of the island (Chincoteague) is reached separately and is managed largely as a wildlife refuge.
Pair this with lodging: choose the base that keeps the reservation or permit pickup from becoming the hardest part of the day.
They sit side by side on the same Maryland island but are run by different agencies. The national seashore is NPS, with a $25 vehicle fee and Oceanside and Bayside campgrounds reserved on Recreation.gov. Assateague State Park is run by Maryland, with its own fees and its own reservation system. Make sure you book the one you intend to visit.
Yes. The NPS seashore has Oceanside and Bayside drive-in campgrounds, plus walk-to, group, equestrian, and backcountry sites, all reserved on Recreation.gov. Individual sites run about $40 per night. Reserve early; weekend sites often go the day they open.
The standard entrance fee is $25 per vehicle, valid for seven days. Camping and over-sand vehicle permits are charged separately on top of the entrance fee.
No. The horses are genuinely wild. They bite, kick, and have injured visitors. The NPS requires you to keep a set distance, and feeding or touching them is illegal. Watch from a distance and store food securely.