Assateague Island National Seashore

Hands down my favorite beach. The atmosphere is very chill and even when crowded it is still relaxing. The beach is always clean and there are a few hiking trails into the marshy areas. We thoroughly enjoy seeing the horses and other wildlife. Definitely recommend for family trips, day trips or they also have overnight camping. They have changing stations and plenty of restrooms as well.

It is a lovely beach and well taken care of. The only reason that I am not giving this a five star review is because everything online seems to suggest that the horses run wild and free here. However, the (few) horses are caged up and certainly do not run free on the beach. I was really looking forward to this experience.

We were on the Maryland side and really enjoyed our time here. We didn’t bring anything for the beach and we totally should have. We did the short hikes on the island and enjoyed them. Lots of wildlife sightings. Loved all the wild horses. It was busy but not as busy as I was expecting for a weekday afternoon! Beautiful water and beaches

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by friendly and informative staff. The park is well marked and very well manicured. Horses can be seen all over. Dogs are permitted on the Maryland side of the beach but must be leashed at all times for the safety of the horses and your pets. The beach does not have pet waste stations, so please be sure to plan accordingly if traveling with pets. Beach entrances are equipped with bathroom outhouses and showers. *pictures below have been edited to remove leashes from image. Dogs must be leashed at all times*

We had a wonderful visit! The entire park is extremely well maintained & there were park rangers available to answer guest questions (and keep an eye out for people who might mess with the horses). We saw a few dozen horses spread out across the island... either on the side of the road or in a few parking lots. We saw a huge variety of wildlife & it's so much fun to be able to play in the ocean or in the marsh areas Bayside. This trip was a quick day trip, we may camp later in the season.

Assateague State Park is absolutely beautiful! We camp here every year, and it’s always an incredible experience. The beach is just a short walk from the campsites, and the views—especially at sunrise—are stunning. We love watching the wild ponies roam freely—my 4-year-old son is especially obsessed with the horses! The peaceful atmosphere makes it the perfect getaway. It’s become one of our favorite family traditions

We drove around the island asking people if they had seen any horses. We drove to the "end" where there was a nice parking lot at the beach. We first saw horse hoof prints in the sand! Amazing! There they were - 5 of them were hanging out on the beach! Just what I was hoping to see! (May 2025)

This place is amazing! We saw about 30 horses up close and personal. Most of the horses we saw were on the beach side near the campers and before noon. We could see some horses on the Bay side but they're much further away. We went in late March and the weather was in the mid 50's.and sunny.

Wild horses. Beautiful Seashore. Great camping. Cheap. Highly recommend spending some quality time here.

First thing you need to know is that there is a STATE PARK and the NATIONAL SEASHORE- very different! The State park does not allow alcohol, dogs or walking off the paths. The National Seashore you have a lot more fun! We have camped here many times- the trick is to plan out your trip 6 months in advance and reserve your sites waaaaaayyyy ahead of times. I I will say that the bathrooms are some of the nicest "porta potties" Ive seen- they are someone clean and 90% of the time have toilet paper. There are showers, but they do not have hot water- so depending on what time of year it is, you are not going to want to even rinse off. The bugs are pretty bad in the warmer months- plan ahead! We often go in the off season so it's very quiet. You can have fires actually on the beach and the wildlife is abundant. Make SURE to lock your food up- the horses are not shy and they WILL get into anything that's left on the table- even dog food (yeah we learned that the hard way). Dogs are not allowed on any of the nature trails which kinda stinks but I understand that it disrupts the quiet and peacefulness. There are so many cool things to explore out on the island- definitely a great day trip or camping spot where you can hear the waves crashing from your tent!

Very compelling place. However, there's a Maryland State Park here too. So, to be clear, there are 2 possibilities to see the wild horses on the Maryland portion of Assateague Island. One is Assateague Island National Seashore, run by the National Park Service. The second is Maryland's Assateague State Park, managed by the state of Maryland, obviously. And, yes, there are 2 separate entrances and fees. Also, the state of Virginia has a portion of Assateague Island that they call their own, further south. So, in fact, there are 3 possibilities to see the horses: 2 places in Maryland and 1 in Virginia. I know, confusing. My suggestion: Visit all 3. This protected area is wonderful. A walk on the beach is relaxing; a bike ride on the coastal trail is popular and pretty. And a drive in a vehicle to see these magnificent creatures is outstanding. The horses live all over the Island. They pop up anywhere, mostly eating grass quite vigorously. Ponies stay close to mom. Don't get too close and don't feed them. The horses aren't domesticated. But isn't that why we want to see them, in the wild? Getting here early is the way to go.

The island has beautiful pristine beaches with wild horses. The $25 fee for vehicle admission into the island's national park may seem high yet is worth it. Active duty military gets free passes. The wild horses are everywhere and great to photograph. I loved how pristine and clean the beaches were. To camp on the island is $40 a night. Vehicle permits are required to drive on the beach of the island. Strongly advise first time visitors to learn about the island and see the visitor center there to get the history and information in the island. They provide maps of trails in the park and have a gift shop, museum, and theater there to learn about the wildlife and horses in the island.

I visited Assateague Island National Seashore a few weeks ago when I was in Ocean City for a conference. I learned about Assateague after moving to Maryland a little over three years ago and immediately wanted to visit. So what is Assateague National Seashore? It's a National Park Service property. It's an island (duh) - 37 miles long - part of it is in Maryland and part of it is in Virginia. It's oceanfront on side and bay on the other (so there are areas for enjoying a beach, areas for kayaking, areas of wetlands) - it has a lot to offer. Full disclosure - I'm not really a beach person. So why was I at Assateague? THE HORSES. Bands of feral horses roam freely on Assateague Island. Local legend claims that the horses are descendants of animals that survived a shipwreck on the coast, but the theory that's preferred by historians is that he horses are descendants of domestic horses confined on the island by local residents in lieu of fencing them in on the mainland, where fences were taxed. Either way, horses roam the island. They are feral (not technically wild) because they are descendants of domesticated animals that have reverted to a wild state. It is just a cool experience to see wild/feral horses on an island. But because they're feral, you can't guarantee you'll see them. I got lucky. But I arrived prepared to not seeing any (I didn't want to be disappointed if it didn't happen). The island is big enough that you can miss them. I arrived at the island on a Saturday morning around 9:30. I stopped at the visitor center and paid for my $25 pass to get to the island. (I don't recommend this unless you're stopping at the visitor center for another reason, because I still had to stop again when I got to the gates to get into the park because none of the cars in front of me had purchased their passes yet and so were buying them at the gate. As soon I got into the park, I saw several horses in the parking lot by the entrance (including a one-week old pony). After taking lots of photographs, I drove to the trailhead for the Life of the Forest Trail and did that short "hike" (more of a boardwalk walk) - no horses but I did see lots of herons. (Other than horses and herons, I did see lots of jellyfish and got terrified by my first sighting of a horseshoe crab - we don't have those where I'm from and OMG!) After that hike, I did the Life of the Dunes Trail, which was a little bit of a hike since it was in the dunes and you sink quite a bit in the sand. After that, I did a little walk along the beach. I didn't see any horses on the beach or the Life of the Dunes Trail, but as I was leaving the park (around noon or 1pm), there were horses along the road and in the road and in the wetlands along the road. I stopped several times to take more photographs of the horses I saw along the road - and these photographs ended up being the best of the day. What you should know: in high season, GO EARLY. When I arrived around 9:30m in the morning, there were maybe 10 cars waiting to get into the park. But when I was leaving around noon or 1pm, there were maybe hundreds - and a really long wait to pay or check in with the park rangers to get onto the island. Assateague is super unique. The horses are amazing, and I'm so glad I took my real camera (I wanted more than my iPhone for this experience) - great photographs. I would love to go back in the offseason and hopefully get some pictures of horses on the beach next time. I'm not much of a camper, but I might even consider camping here to see if I can have more amazing horse sightings!

Simply fantastic. Was able to see a good amount of horses and great areas of nature. Very peaceful and NPS does a wonderful job keeping the ground clean and safe. 100% worth the trip and entrance fee.

Just a few minutes past the pay station, you'll find the dune hike and the beachfront. If you arrive early, there's plenty of parking, but if you come later, street parking might be your best bet. Similar to the OCMD beach, there's a steep drop-off to the ocean water, and the coarse sand doesn't cling too much, making cleanup easier. Conveniently, there are bathrooms and wash stations to freshen up after a day of beachside relaxation. Like others have said, it's odd that you can be close to wild horses with umbrellas & trucks. Hopefully all pick up after themselves. Think this should be a state private beach instead.

What a fantastic beach, besides the bugs that will eat you alive and the random amount of rain the views and the vibes are hard to match! If you're into beach camping this is the place to do so, granted I haven't done it anywhere else yet to make a list!

You want to go to the beach with optimum relaxation and high chill factor and zero life guard whistles? This is the place. It will cost you but worth every penny. There is also a slow drive in to avoid the ponies in the road or not so smart tourists who don't read the rules. $25 for a car for 1-7 days. Again, so worth it and the sand is clean and the water is as clear as you get in this part of the Atlantic. There are bathrooms and shower rooms. I suggest getting there before 10:00 and parking down at the farthest lot just before the off road area. Be sure to pack a lunch and make sure it's safe in your car or hard side cooler. If you want internet or cell service this is NOT the beach for you.

I love every single National Park I've been to, and this is no exception. The land is well preserved, and the wooden walkway through part of the island is well-maintained, safe, and provides excellent views of the terrain and wildlife. We met a lone egret, and I named him Derek, but he didn't respond when we called him. The camp sites are clean and provide a fun overnight experience with the island and the wildlife. I'd love to stay for longer and at different times of year to see how the island changes throughout the seasons.

A beautiful beach and marshland well worth protecting and preserving. You are going into a marsh in Maryland; there will be bugs. Pit toilets were available by the parking lot before getting onto the beach, along with a few private outdoor showers.

We visited Assetaegue while vacationing in Ocean City. It was definitely the highlight of the entire trip. There was something truly magical about seeing the wild horses just wandering around. There were also plenty of other animals and birds to see though I could have watched the horses for hours. Horses are magnificent creatures anyway but seeing them like this was really special. We were there in the fall and it wasn't that crowded. Not sure how it is in the summer or if the horses act differently with more people around. They didn't seem bothered at all when we were there. If you're in the area I'd highly recommend you take the time to stop here. 2023-8

The seashore is within Maryland and Virginia. We were on the Maryland side. The main reason why we wanted to come here was to see the wild horses. Luckily, we did. There are 3 small "hikes." We did Life of the Forest and Life of the Marsh. Both are only a half mile and on boardwalks. We spotted the horses grazing at the marsh. We didn't do Life of the Dunes due to bugs. The parking lot at South Ocean Beach was full (no lifeguards). North Ocean Beach had parking availability though (yes lifeguards).

We buy our OSV (over sand vehicle) pass every year when we stay in Delaware on vacation. Assateague is a beautiful island with lots of wildlife including wild horses! If you're looking to drive on the beach especially on weekends or when the fishing is good, make sure you arrive early as only 145 vehicles are permitted on the beach at any one time. Beaches are clean and the sand is nice. We've seen horses more times than not when we visit. There are ample air hoses at the osv exit. With only two payment booths heading into the island, you may have a while wait as the line does get long later in the day.

We backpacked down the beach and took a hike in Assateague this weekend, out to Tingles Island to back country camp, on the Sinepuxent Bay. We ran into a few wild ponies along the way. There are 300 wild ponies that roam on the island. I found a few wild ponies eating marsh and dune grass on my hike to Tingles Island. The coats on the ponies are thicker in the winter to protect them from the wind. Beautiful views of the ponies hundreds of yards out in the bay wandering the barrier islands. This is a hike to take in the cooler months stay away from May to November because the mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks, and gnats are brutal. Camp on the ocean side in the height of the season and the winds will keep the bugs at a manageable level.

This was my 1st ever time visiting here. Also my 1st time ever getting in the ocean. View: The view here was absolutely breath taking. There is so much to see. Everyone should come visit here. We saw dolphins while we were here and it was absolutely amazing. Experience: The experience of being here was absolutely amazing. The smell of the air was so refreshing and natural. The feel of the sand was so warming and an incredible feeling on the feet. The water was cold but it was such an exilerating feeling . Overall: I recommend everyone to come visit here it was absolutely an amazing experience!

This place is absolutely breathtaking. You drive down to the beach, and pass by several gorgeous wild horses along the road. There are normally supposed to be horses on the beach, but since there were a lot people on the beach I didn't get to see Amy that were on the beach.

Assateague Gone is the Assateague Island RV campground that we grew up with all our lives! Not only has some genius made the executive decision [in recent years] to REPLACE all the park's glorious sandy campsites with knee high pricker-grass...(which has NOTHING to do with preserving the dunes)...but now, they ONLY MOW their weed-filled sites once in a blue moon...and they REFUSE to mow it upon request (when you arrive at your personal, bug-infested jungle, for your 14-day vacation)...so, you can't even sit around your campfire ring or play a game of cornhole. I guess they 'have us', since they're the only oceanside State Park RV campground, around. And for what? It's not as if they can't afford to mow it. It's not as if camping/campers have declined. Now there's nowhere to camp anymore where you can gather around the campfire with your toes in the sand. Heartbreaking!

Came here to see the wild horses, but stayed for the insane amount of birds!! I had no idea this was such a birding hotspot wow! I even saw several from my "life list"!! But the wild horses were definitely the stars of the show! This national park has tons of trails to see the wildlife from too! I did 4 different trails while I was here lol! My favorite was the Life of the Forest trail - I saw the most wildlife here - numerous horses, TONS of birds, and even several muskrats!! The Life of the Marsh trail also had lots of horse activity and even several lovely birds like the Blue Grosbeak! I also saw several people kayaking the marshes! The Life of the Dunes trail was very interesting and takes you next to the ocean. It even has what's left of a road running through it with signs around telling you all about the history and wildlife etc. There's plenty of parking all around, as well as bathrooms. The trails and roads are all well maintained. The Life of the Marsh and Life of the Forest trails had lots of boardwalk areas and I'd even say these are mostly handicap accessible! It's considered a national park so there's a fee to enter - $25 for a week I believe - but I was able to use my national park pass so that's awesome! I stopped by the visitor center on the way out and it's great!! It has a small museum area that tells you all about the horses and lots of fun gifts. Highly recommend!!

Worth the time even if you have to set some time aside. Beautiful wide beaches and always a joy when the wild horses come around.

What a hidden gem! Wild horses, lots of other wildlife, beautiful scenery with unbroken views of dunes instead of hotels and boardwalks. I went in March, and loved how empty the beaches were. It felt like we'd drive to our private beach. The ability to drive your vehicle on the sand is awesome too. Someone in our group had a 5 month old so they just through their pack n play on the sand and baby napped while the rest of us hung out. We were also able to start a nice fire on the beach to keep folks warm (especially those of us who went surfing in our wetsuits in 44 degree weather!). There are also multiple campsites if you're looking for a place to spend the night. The only downside would be the fees - $25 to enter, $110 for an annual pass to drive your vehicle on the sand, $200 if you want to drive your vehicle on the sand to spend the night in the bullpen.

My friends and I had one of our most memorable trips visiting Assateague National Seashore. Always the case with the possibility of death! We visited the Maryland side of the park during Labor Day. We arrived after 1pm and were able to complete all of the trails there (most were under a mile) and relax for a bit too. There was no wait at the entrance booth. Entrance fee was $25 which will give you access for an entire week. The Life of the Dunes trail was the least favorite trail since there was a lack of shade and it was HOT. Not much wildlife, but you do see an interesting tree and an learn about an abandoned road. Life of the Forest had shade and was much cooler. It's part forest floor and part boardwalk. Good views of the marsh and waterfowl. Life of the Marsh trail is all boardwalk. It was the favorite since it included a beach that went into Sinepuxent Bay which was very shallow. The water only came up to my knees about 100 feet into the bay. Great sunset view. The Rackliffe House trail behind the visitor center was completely covered by trees, cool, but popular with mosquitoes. It led to a historic house that offered tours on Thursday & Sundays and an empty aviary. We definitely got all of the wild pony sightings we wanted and more. The first sighting was at a distance just after crossing the bridge into the island. We also spotted some at a shorter distance at the Ferry Landing. At the Life of the Marsh trail we got the best views of the ponies grazing on the grass from above the boardwalk. Also caught some views of ponies and deer on the sides of the roads. After finishing hiking we decided to rest at the beach on the Marsh trail. That's when the ponies visited us! Two were grazing on the grass by the beach and were feet away from us. After a short time a third pony charged down the boardwalk and attacked the first two ponies. After a brief fight the ponies ran around us and down the beach. We survived the pony brawl! Definitely plan to return to see more of the park in the future.

We are fans of all things National Park Service (NPS) and Assateague does not disappoint. First off the concept of a NPS location being a beach is something very different compared to the historical norms of say a Yellowstone or a Mount Rainier. Fees are Vehicle: $25.00 for 7 Days per vehicle or $45 for an annual pass. Can't say anything about the visitor centers because they were mostly closed due to COVID while we were there. Beaches are amazing. Very clean and natural. Even with the decent turnout there was plenty of room. Note there isn't much in terms of food and beverage access within the park. There are several interesting beach hiking trails. Trail maps are available online at https://www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/hiking.htm There's lots of wildlife on this island. In fact, the main reason for coming here is to see the wild horses, which evidence suggests have been here for over 300 years. We had the opportunity to see multiple horses in different spots, including a mare and foal grazing right next to a parking lot!

This is my second time coming here with my husband and two young kids. It's a quick drive from OCMD. It's $25 to drive through the park. There's plenty of places to take a walk. There's also spots to catch crabs. It's absolutely beautiful AND clean. Both times we managed to see the wild horses. Staff is always super nice! Highly recommend checking out.

This place is a must-see if you are in the area! We went on multiple days and each experience was very different. Prepare for it to feel about 10 degrees cooler on the beach, and dress accordingly. The sand is silky soft and makes you feel like you are walking on a cloud. The waves were crazy when we were there, so we only got close enough for our toes to get covered. On a sunny day we saw a ton of horses in parking lots and near the entrance to the park. On a raining day the horses were near the trees, and when we walked out on wooden pathways we were incredibly close to them! They didn't seem to notice us at all, which I found remarkable! We followed the rules to a T and made sure we didn't approach any horses. The grounds are impeccably clean and you can tell the staff cares about the animals and land they work. We paid $25 and the pass was good for 7 days.

Great day at Assateague! Saw horses, horses and more horses! That was so much fun! I took lots of photos and videos. Where else can you see wild horses walking in and out of traffic or eating grass on the side of the road? What a cool experience. The visitor center gave lots of info on the area, it's habitat and the animals that inhabit it. There was a really large traffic jam trying to get into the park, but it was Labor Day weekend...so that made sense. It was definitely worth it!!

Going here was a really need experience. It's a must see! $25 a car load was well worth it. The beaches looked great. The horses were really cool to see.

Enjoyed two beautiful days here with my sister and nieces. We saw the wild ponies, enjoyed the Bay side beauty and then beach combing. If I lived here I would be here everyday! One of my most favorite National Parks and a must see for everyone.They have camping right in the beach and the b

You are walking distance from both the bay and coast, and will encounter horses or at least an abundance of their evidence. We saw horses along the road to the ranger station, watched horses along the bay nurse their young, and twice a horse walked through our campsite. Many horses were seen along, and in, the road. Drive patiently. In Spring at least, this windy yet sunny, refreshing spot is very bike-able. The main road has a bike trail--check it out, a horse alone on the neighboring Assateauge State Park' basketball court...playing horse???--and it's a short, mostly flat mile ride to the visitor center over Verrazano bridge. Ancient crabs, a variety of water fowl, and great interpretive displays make you fall in love with this equine barrier island, and the raised boardwalk trails let you get a closer look without too much sweat. There are horse lockers at your campsite (and please use them if you aren't using a camper or vehicle), your kid can earn a Junior ranger badge, and this is a very walkable place all around. Consider bringing a small rake to clear horse droppings from your site, but enjoy the views throughout. There are pit toilets and cold water showers, but they (thankfully?) aren't turned on during mid-April. Groceries/beer/souvenirs are five minutes outside the visitor center, and private camping is over the bridge if you need more amenities. Do stay here, however, if you want that view of the stars. A world away, yet close to civilization, this is a memorable spot to stay (and likely return). Don't forget to bring your kite and camera onto that clear stretch of beach.

This is a wonderful place to visit. A weekly pass is $25. A yearly pass is $40. You can camp, take a trip to the beach or walk on the trails. The Visitor's Center is along the way. It might be useful to stop by and pick up brochures and maps. I would suggest reading about beaches or trails online to help plan your trip. You can rent an umbrella for $20 a day. Chairs are $10 a day. We brought camp chairs. Before you commit to your umbrella, you should make sure that the mafia biting bugs aren't gonna run you out of the area. There are horrible black gnat-like bugs that have have been described as "vicious" by the park service. They are hit or miss. We didn't discover them the first two days of our stay. I read everything I could find on them. They are attracted to dark colors. I brought bug spray. I kept my legs covered since I wasn't trying to get sun and that also helped prevent bites. The protocol for being around the horses is keeping a 40 foot distance. That isn't always possible when they walk right by you on the beach. Don't try to touch them or feed them. Have your camera ready as you drive to the park. The horses are easy to find on the marshes as you drive by. There are several places to pull over and not block traffic. We enjoyed the walking trails. The Marsh trail was full of horses. It was lovely watching them walk by us. The Forest trail has beautiful trees and various birds. It is easy to tell where the horses have been so watch your step! The snack bar only had ice cream. You can bring coolers and food. The larger parking areas have restrooms and showers and changing stations. The bathrooms were gross. I would bring bug spray and toilet paper. There isn't much you can do with gnats and flying creatures. There is a fishing pier across from the visitor's center. You can find adventures all around the area. It is fun horsing around.

Beautiful beach, dog friendly! There is a small shop with drinks and supplies if you forget to bring your own.

Amazing place to visit and camp!! Great access to wild ponies and a beautiful beach!!

We went camping here and had a great time. The campsites are nicely spaced out and come with a fire pit and picnic table with cabinet to store food away from the horses. I did see the wild horses in different areas of the campground and on the beach, which was pretty cool. At the campsites there are 2 chemical toilets (porta potty outhouses) and 2 shower stalls, as well as a spigot for water. Honestly, this review would have been five stars if the facilities were a little better; I could make do with the toilets, they were pretty clean overall, it was the lack of hot water for the showers that got me. I just can't take cold showers, even when it is very warm outside. The visitors center has flush toilets and a gift shop with some awesome horse-themed souvenirs. If they would just add a few shower stalls to the visitor's center bathrooms this would be a much better campground. I also found it annoying there wasn't a public WiFi network to connect to at the visitor's center, which I am sure has internet service. It is also worth noting that there is practically no cell phone service on the beach, so if you are looking for a vacation to really disconnect from your everyday, this is the place for you! We visited in May, just before the start of the summer season, and were disappointed not to be able to rent Kayaks from Assateague Outfitters on the bay-side of the park. Even more disappointing was that both the people at Assateague Outfitters and the park rangers at the information center couldn't recommend another kayak rental company in the area, even though we found one just by chance five minutes outside of the park. Aside for those few negative aspects I still had a great trip and the food in Maryland is insanely good. These camp sites are large, so grab all your friends and take a nice week away from it all at the beach.

Look up the song Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones, if you've never heard it. Why? Because you can find wild horses here just living their lives in paradise, scratching their assateagues on trees (see picture I posted). It's a national park that'll cost you some cash to enter unless there's a reason you can get in for free like being a military member. The island park is beautiful and the beaches are an inviting sandy white. I would consider spending a beach day here instead of Ocean City beach if you only have one day in the area and want to invest your beach time in only one place. The camping here looks fun too--I bet it's tough to get a reservation during peak season. Don't get to close to the horses (or just don't get caught) because the police will threaten you fine a fat fine!

Man oh man did we have the greatest time here. Initially we were going to go to VA Beach but our plans kinda fell through so we decided to go to Rehoboth Beach. After thinking it through, the Lady and I decided we wanted to do something different. We wanted incredible scenery, less crowds and less rules. I wanted to be able to grill from my beach chair while relaxing and taking the occasional dip, and that's what Assateague Island provides us. For starters, there's a wild life preserve and a trail for the hikers(me. Just not today), but what makes this place incredible(besides the clear water, beautiful sand, and peacefulness) was all of the Wild Horses roaming around. I was literally in awe. There's two beaches, lot 4 and lot number 8, with 4 being the lifeguard beach, with more of a crowd. Keena and I opted for 8, and we had a ball. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we swam, we ate some more, and most importantly, we had an incredible day. I will always come back to Assateague Island. And next time, I'm bringing friends.

People come for the horses, but even if you don't see any, you haven't wasted your day by any means. I learned on my last visit that there had been previous efforts to develop the island into a human-rather than equine-settlement. This failed, which seems for the best, as the island is narrow, swampy, and subject to storms. It makes a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. It is possible to not see horses (though you'll definitely see what they've left on the road), but I was fortunate enough to catch a team that was grazing directly under the nature trail boardwalk. They tell you to stay along way away from them due to the potential dangers, but the boardwalk was a perfect height that one could be much closer than the 40 feet they recommend if you were on solid ground, and made for great pictures. I saw a plaintive looking sika deer too. Don't skip the boardwalk is what I'm saying, though there are no guarantees. The beach on the oceanside is wide open and some of the best you'll see in the Mid-Atlantic. Australia it ain't (believe me, I know), but the sand is clean, the breeze regular, and nothing manmade can be sighted in any direction. There's a lot of general weirdness in how the whole park is set up. The initial land you reach upon driving over the bridge to the island is a state park, with separate entrance fees. The national seashore goes the length of the island, which is very long, but road access doesn't go that far. You can drive an hour inland to Chincoteague to access another stretch of the same beach. The day use fee is high, and a yearly park pass becomes a good deal. High fees are understandable though, as the big problem with Assateague is that the entire Baltimore-Washington Metro Area wants to go to this one little stretch of beach. During peak times, it's hard to get in due to the crowds. Once you're in, there's plenty of space, but I would either leave very early or go on an off-peak kind of day.

This is such a special place. These wild horses aren't like what you see at the Kentucky Derby or even at your local ranch. These scruffy guys own the lands of Assateague Island. They will keep their distance when they have ponies but otherwise aren't afraid of people. This breathtaking experience is once in a lifetime! Sandy beaches, salty marshes, unusual birding, and wild horses - what more could you want? There is a visitor center, handicapped accessibility, beach wheelchairs, beach access, and camping availability.

The ongoing pandemic has definitely taken a toll on a lot of businesses and public places since a consumer's mindset to buy anything outside of essentials or to visit a public place like a park or beach, has crippled down significantly. Now by living with what has become the new normal, it is commendable on how these businesses and public places continue to remain open and cater to the general public by following the safety standards. It is now all the more important that we as customers, support these heroes during these dark hours to mankind. We visited this place during the Labor Day weekend and was a good drive from our friend's place. We got to the entrance of the island quick enough but to get to the island took us nearly a 2 hour stop and start in our car that was in a long queue of cars lined up to get the entry ticket. It was so slow that we pulled over at a point, let the cars get past us and became a gallery for other cars on what we were having for lunch. It was quiet a sight to watch the wild horses in their natural habitat and fun to exercise my photographic skills. We gathered energy and got back in the line and finally reached the checkpoint to get the ticket. We got the 6 month ticket for $45 which we felt was cheaper compared to the daily ticket. The parking area was humongous and we luckily got a spot immediately. The beach was very clean but was hoarded by people left and right who probably forgot the fact that there was an ongoing pandemic and gave no respect for social distancing. We frolicked in the water, played ball and got back to our car. We stopped at some spots in the return to click some more horses (only ones to respect the social distance) that were grazing around. This place is a must visit just for that unique experience.

The highlight of our trip was visiting Assateague Island National Seashore MD. We saw many of the island's wild ponies. We had been here before driving from Chincoteague Island Virginia but it was after July. This is important because the Chincoteague city auctions the wild ponies and money funds their fire department. They have a event and swim the ponies from Assateague Island and sell the ponies each year. So I was very pleased to see the abundance of wild ponies everywhere! The museum in the tourist building was closed as were the restrooms due to Covid - 19.

We spent the afternoon here and had a really good time. The visitor center has exhibits and hands-in activities. We saw a lot of wild horses and sea birds. We checked out the ocean side beach and the Naturalist's cottage at the bay side. We saw the beach camping for future reference and discovered that we can buy a pass to drive our Bronco on the beach. We will definitely so that in the future. We also plan to come back and ride on the bike paths. This is a great park!

Assateague has always been on my bucket list, and I was fortunate enough to be able to take my sons for a day. Was so much worth it. We went in December, it was a bit chilly, but still so much to do. We began at the visitors center, the ranger and volunteer were great. They spent time talking to my boys and showing them the aquariums and exhibits. They also gave us our Junior Ranger books and we went on our way, across the bridge and to the Seashore. We drove the entire areas, spent several hours there. We saw 12 horses and 2 turkey. Spent a long time on the beach, looking for shells and just enjoying the day, Really just a wonderful memorable day. Stopped back at the VC to turn in the Junior Ranger booklets, the Ranger very nicely made a big deal out of giving the boys their badges, they loved it. Would love to try it here in the summer, but it was nice coming off season and having so much space.

I had never heard of Assateague Island National Seashore until I started researching things to do in the Ocean City, Maryland area. I wasn't sold upon visiting until I found out it was under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Service and there was a dedicated visitor's center. I figured I could learn more at the visitor's center before deciding to venture onto the protected barrier island since I didn't have too much time to kill before working my way north. After watching a quick 20 minute film and consulting with a ranger that I'd likely see wild horses within a few miles of venturing into the park, I decided to venture in. Sure enough, I was able to see some of the wild horses in the water within minutes if venturing in on the Maryland, which made the visit worthwhile. There's much more to the national seashore and it's ecosystem to explore, but even a quick visit on a time crunch can be worthwhile to check out this unique land and some of it's wildlife. I recommend taking the time out to see a film and/or check out the exhibits at the visitor's center before heading in. Hopefully, I can one day make it back to check out more of the Maryland side and also the Virginia side of the park which I didn't get a chance to explore at all.

In case you are trying to decide whether to go to Assateague or Chincateague, I'd say go to both if you have the time - they are only about an hour apart. Assateague has longer and better beaches with whiter sand and much less crowded, and a few trails (the half mile Life if the Forest loop trail on a boardwalk is worth taking), while Chincoteague has less beach with coarser sand but the wildlife refuge has more trails. Chincoteague Island has lots of hotels and if staying there the refuge and beach is only a few miles away, whereas Assateague is best for camping. But if you want to see wild horses, you'll have better chances in Assateague - we did see them in the marsh as well as right by the roadside and they are beautiful!

We drove to Assateague from Chincoteague (it was about a 60 minute drive from Main St in Chincoteague to the AI visitors center). We brought our dog- keep in mind that dogs are only allowed in non life guarded areas, so we went to the South Beach. We found a great spot on the beach and had an amazing day! We also saw ponies on our drive out of the park. Assateague is well with the drive from anywhere!

For some reason, I was REALLY excited to visit here. I love beaches, I love animals, I love nature, etc., so this place was really beautiful to me. The entrance fee is $20, but the pass is good for 7 days. I feel like that's a pretty good deal. We went on a Sunday evening and of course I was in search of the wild ponies. It was raining, so I really didn't think we'd get to see any. You can imagine my excitement when we saw three standing near the shore! They were just casually standing there. Another plus was that as the rain began to clear, a double rainbow appeared over the ocean. It was a BEAUTIFUL site! First time seeing a complete rainbow from end to end. As the rain started letting up, the ponies began to play and move around more. That was really cool to see as well. There were also some horseshoe crab shells scattered everywhere, as well as plenty of other sea shells. I was so glad we got to stop here. I can't wait to go back!

The horses are beautiful and its great to get photos of these wild animals. My concern is the bacteria of the sand and water from all the poop that is left around. I had to walk around a lot of poop and before I layed my blanket down I had to watch to see that I was not placing it on horse poop. There were a lot of flys and stinging bugs, I got bit on the ankle. It was nice to see people on surf boards but this made it unsafe for the regular swimmers to swim or stand in the water. The bathrooms were discusting and not maintained at all . Piss and toilet paper on the floor. The toilet was an endless hole to the ground with a seat, and lots of flys flying around. Completely discusting ! For twenty dollar entry someone should be picking up the poop in the sand and maintaining the bathrooms. I will never return to this beautiful but dirty bateria filled beach.

Theres a state park and a national park area. The nstional park area is more expensive. I think $20/car for nromal beach access. There is access for vehicles to drive on the beach that is a separte fee. There are 3 cute short hiking trails. We didnt see any horses on them but there is a audio tour that goes with them (on your phone) that was educational and made it neat. We saw most horses actually near the entrance pulling on to the island right over the bridge. A few while entering around 10am and many more when leaving around 1pm. We did see several groupinsg crossing roads near the beaches but none on the beach near the ocean. I cant imagine there is anyway not to see horses. I absolutely loved it. Such a neat experience.

We came to Assateague from OC, to see the wild horses and just get away from the busy scenery of OC. The distance is 19 miles from OC. Entrance fee is $25/ vehicle and the ticket is valid for 7 days. We had a relaxing time at the beach and we enjoyed watching the wild horses.

A must see if you are visiting Ocean City. There's 3 trails, the dunes, wet lands and forest. There's a really nice boardwalk for 2 of the trails, all 3 are also fairly easy, which is great if you're with seniors, or children that can't hike very far. The wet lands ends at beach you can sit at, we watched the sunset while we were there. Camping on the beach is also allowed and I would love to do someday. And the best part about this island is the mini horses that roam around free! The only down side is mosquitoes, bring your bug spray!!!