Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — 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.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
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 Loop B. Reservations are required from March 15 through November 15, and are available for November 16 through March 14.
Reservations: National Park Service Reservation System Reservations are required from March 15 through November 15. Campsite reservations are available six months in advance. Be aware that nearly all reservations for weekends are filled the first day that they become available. Call the toll-free reservation line: 1-877-444-6777 (10:00 AM - 10:00 PM EST) or visit http://www.recreation.gov
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: RV, Trailer and tents allowed NPS lists an RV maximum of 45 feet. Trailer maximum: 45 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Campers may not bring firewood from out of state. Firewood must be purchased locally.
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 6 people and 6 horses. Up to six vehicles or trailers. Reservations are required 10/16 - 4/14.
Reservations: Reservations are required from October 16 through April 14. Campsite reservations are available six months in advance. Be aware that nearly all reservations for weekends are filled the first day that they become available. Reserve online at Recreation.gov or by calling the toll-free reservation line: 1-877-444-6777. REMINDER: Horse Campers must bring their own horses.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Rvs, Trailers and Tents allowed NPS lists an RV maximum of 45 feet. Trailer maximum: 45 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Campers may not bring firewood from out of state. Firewood must be purchased locally.
Site rules: Each campsite will accommodate up to six people and six horses. Campsites include hitching posts, fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms and potable water. Do not leave your horse unattended. Wild horses are present in all areas of the park and may frighten your animals. Use processed feed to eliminate introducing weed seeds into the park. Never leave feed where wildlife can get it. Only tie horses to the hitching posts. Campers are allowed to bring portable corrals. Remove all manure piles within the campsite
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 March 15 through November 15. Loop 1 sites are closed from November 16 through March 14. Loop 2 sites are First Come/First Serve from November 16 through March 14.
Reservations: National Park Service Reservation System Reservations are required from March 15 through November 15. Campsite reservations are available six months in advance. Be aware that nearly all reservations for weekends are filled the first day that they become available. Call the toll-free reservation line: 1-877-444-6777 (10:00 AM - 10:00 PM EST) or visit http://www.recreation.gov
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: RV and Trailers allowed NPS lists an RV maximum of 45 feet. Trailer maximum: 45 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Campers may not bring firewood from out of state. Firewood must be purchased locally.
Back Country Camping - Green Run ↗
Bayside back country site
Reservations: Reservations are not accepted due to changing weather conditions.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Not allowed Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: No Roads.
Fires: Campers may not bring firewood from out of state. Firewood must be purchased locally.
Site rules: Pets are not allowed in the back country sites. Permits will not be issued until all parties are present. Transportation of campers or any of their equipment by motorized boat or vehicles (including vehicles with Over-Sand Permits) is strictly prohibited. Only dead and down wood may be collected for burning. You must pack all your trash out with you. Glass bottles and containers are prohibited in the back country campsites. Entering or approaching any buildings or closed areas is prohibited. Please see the back country brochure for additional information
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
NPS lists RV access at Bayside Drive-in Campground. RV, Trailer and tents allowed
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Hiking, Backcountry Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Off-Trail Permitted Hiking. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Arts and Culture, Auto and ATV, Auto Off-Roading, Astronomy, Stargazing, Biking, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use), Group Camping, RV Camping, Compass and GPS, Geocaching, Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Guided Tours, Hiking, Backcountry Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Off-Trail Permitted Hiking, Horse Trekking, Horse Camping (see also camping), Horseback Riding, Hunting and Gathering, Hunting, Paddling, Canoeing, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Junior Ranger Program, Surfing, Swimming, Saltwater Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching, Park Film, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
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. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
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 20's, highs in the 40's.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Wild Horses on the dunes at Assateague
There are few places in the United States where you can view wild horses.Take advantage of the opportunity to view these horses in a natural habitat.
Credit: NPS Photo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Wild horses in the salt marshes on Assateague Island
Assateague's wild horses can often be found grazing in salt marshes.
Credit: NPS Photo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.