Camping at Assateague Island National Seashore

Camping at Assateague Island National Seashore should be on your camping bucket list. After a recent trip, it has become one of our favorite places to go camping. I was nervous because Kris isn’t a big fan of the beach. We all had a great time and can’t wait to go back! 

Earlier this year I made reservations for us to camp at Assateague Island National Seashore. We got lucky and enjoyed beautiful weather. It honestly couldn’t have been better. Assateague is such an interesting place to visit. It provides the chance to get up close with wildlife. It also allows you to explore the various habitats that become part of a barrier island. These areas are the coastal bays, salt marshes, forests, dunes, and ocean. As a parent you want your children to learn as much as possible. However, it’s easy to understand why school and homework might not be the most appealing things to kids. Coming to places like this allows them to learn while they’re having fun! There is an entrance fee into the park. It is $20 and good for seven consecutive days. We used our annual park pass and avoided any immediate costs.

The campsite

There are two campgrounds on Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland. The first is the Bayside campground and the second is the Oceanside campground. I would describe the Oceanside campground as having two portions. One part is equipped for trailers and campers (no hookups) while the other part consists of walk-in sites for tents. We were worried about selecting a walk-in site because they are in a more exposed portion of the beach where it is much more windy. In the end we selected site 25. Sites book quickly. Go to ReserveAmerica.com to make your reservations. Reservations are available six months in advance.

We quickly realized this site was perfect for us. Unlike some of the other sites in our loop we had a completely sandy site (minus the part to park the car) and had some brush that provided shelter from the wind. There was a sturdy picnic table and fire ring. The bathroom facilities include vault toilets and cold-water showers. Drinking water is available here as well. The mornings were pretty chilly so we never took a shower. Instead we just used washcloths to wash up a little back at the campsite.

Important Camping Tips

• Protect yourself from the sun with shelters, sunscreen and proper clothing.
• Protect yourself from biting insects with repellent, protective clothing and/or screen tents.
• Thunderstorms can develop quickly in the summer months. Stay out of the water and leave the beach during lightning.
• You must completely extinguish campfires with water.
• Do not approach, pet, or feed wildlife including horses. Wild horses are unpredictable and may carry diseases.
• Long tent stakes designed for sand are necessary to anchor tents. We used these from REI.
• The park sells firewood and ice.

Trails

There are three main trails in Assateague. They’re more like leisurely walks. The first is Life of the Marsh. This was our favorite of the three. The trail is 0.5 mile long and wheelchair accessible as it is basically an elevated boardwalk. We saw lots of crabs and fish from the boardwalk. Plus, we saw three ponies and got to see them closely from above.

The second trail is Life of the Forest. This trail is also 0.5 mile long and wheelchair accessible. This was probably our least favorite, but I’m not sure why. Maybe the marsh and dunes were just more exciting.

The last is Life of the Dunes. This trail is not wheelchair accessible and is a little longer at 0.75 mile. Also, there are lots of signs along this trail warning of poison ivy and ticks. The parking lot for this trail fills quickly as it is also the parking lot for the South Ocean Beach.

Horses

You will see lots of horses! It is important to observe them from a safe distance, at least 10 feet or more. Assateague horses have bitten and kicked visitors in the past. They are wild animals and unpredictable. A group of horses walked from the beach through the neighboring campsite one afternoon. We just continually backed up as necessary and had the option to get in our car if we needed to. Also, do not open food or coolers when horses are nearby. The horses have grabbed food from visitors and bit at hands. With all of that said, it’s easy to enjoy the horses at Assateague as long as you follow the rules.

Ranger Programs

One of the best parts of visiting a National Park site is the educational value. Be sure to ask for a calendar of the ranger programs or view online here. We were lucky enough to attend two programs as some were only scheduled once during the week. It’s possible they happen more frequently in the summer months. The two ranger programs we attended are detailed below. Others include: learning to surf fish, clamming, yoga on the beach, creature feature, bay discovery and the Rackliffe House. The park also offers a kayak trip. However, you must make reservations in person at the Visitor Center, and the cost is $20/person. Call or stop by the visitor center for details.

United States Life-Saving Service Boathouse Museum

First, we stopped by the United States Life-Saving Service Boathouse Museum. Here Ranger Rob taught us about the brave men who trained for and performed heroic rescues with limited equipment. The United States Life-Saving Service was established in 1871 to prevent ship disasters along the shores and to rescue victims of shipwrecks. Interestingly, the Life-Saving Service eventually merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to become what is now known as the U.S. Coast Guard. The Boathouse Museum is located across the street from Old Ferry Landing.

Crabbing

Prior to leaving on Sunday we attended one more ranger program. We attended the crabbing program with Ranger Susan. Here we listened to a short lesson on crabbing in the area as well as learning about the basic anatomy of a crab. Ranger Susan provided the kids with nets, spool and line and raw chicken to use as bait. After about 15 minutes with three impatient girls, the crabs started going for the chicken. In the end we caught five crabs and got some good pictures. I did end up getting pinched once, but it didn’t make me “crabby.” I just washed my hands well with soap and water. We had fun, and the girls all said this was one of their favorite parts of the trip.

Observing the Night Sky

One of the things Kris and I enjoyed most was observing the night sky. Despite having nearly a full moon we were able to enjoy a dark sky prior to the moon rising. We’ve always wanted to see the Milky Way and this was a great place for that. On our last night we used our leftover firewood to build a fire on the beach. Despite being a little chilly at first this was probably my favorite part of the whole weekend. There was just something really cool about digging my feet in the sand, listening to the waves crashing, and looking up at the stars all while staying warm near the fire. We brought a snack with us and set down a large blanket. Beach campfires are going to be a must from now on.

Shell Collecting

Shell collecting is encouraged along Assateague Island National Seashore. The best times to look for shells are after a storm or at sunrise. Only unoccupied shells may be kept. However, you are  limited to keeping one gallon or less on any one visit. We found a horseshoe crab and lots of clam shells. Also, the girls found lots of clam shells near the end of the Life of the Marsh trail in the bay. Both mornings we woke early to watch the sunrise. Kris and I got to enjoy relaxing on the sand while the kids looked for treasures.

Assateague – Virginia District

We ended up driving down to the Virginia portion of Assateague Island. Mostly because we wanted to see the Assateague Lighthouse. Climbing the lighthouse stairs is free of charge, but they accept donations.

We also drove the Wildlife Loop around Snow Goose Pool. The road is only open to vehicles from 3:00 p.m. to dusk. We got a few nice pictures of birds. However, we stayed in the car as the bugs were horrendous. I don’t think I’d go back to this portion of the island on a return visit. Our favorite part was probably the stop for ice cream at the Island Creamery. Overall, we had a good time but enjoyed just relaxing near our campsite more.

What to Remember

• Avoid walking on sand dunes as this can kill the plants that hold them together. This eventually leads to dune destruction.
• Stay clear of nesting sites. Recently a Loggerhead sea turtle nest successfully hatched on Assateague Island National Seashore. Read about it here.
• Respect wildlife. Keep a safe distance from wild horses.
• Ticks, mosquitoes, biting flies and poison ivy are prevalent on the island.
• Make your camping reservations early through ReserveAmerica.com.
• Do you have kids? Consider picking up a Junior Ranger packet at the Visitor Center.