assateague island national seashore or state park

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE OR STATE PARK MOVIE
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE OR STATE PARK FULL

(Hard to see but shaded in grey in top right section) This is not the place to see wild horses but is Maryland’s only oceanfront park.

Also, right next to the National Park is Assateague State Park which is operated by the state of Maryland.

More below all on where in the park we saw them! (Shaded in green on the NPS map below)

The north half of the island is Assateague National Seashore National Park and in my opinion, the best spot to go to see the wild horses.

The island is 37 miles long and very narrow so it can get confusing! There are also lots of horse ranches on Chincoteague and boat tours that depart from Chincoteague to see the horses on Assateague.Īssateague Island is uninhabited unless you are camping there! There are 3 main areas of Assateague Island to see the wild horses. The wild horses are actually all on the Assateague Island but many people stay in the town of Chincoteague while they visit. The most probable theory is that they survived a shipwreck of a Spanish ship, the La Galga in 1750.Ĭhincoteague Island is smaller at 7 miles wide with a town, hotels, and restaurants. The wild horses (also called wild ponies) are technically “feral” as they are the descendants of domesticated horses that arrived on the islands. Chincoteague or Assateague?Ĭhincoteague and Assateague are barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean protecting Maryland and Virginia. This means that if you make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE OR STATE PARK MOVIE

My daughter read the Newberry-winning book Misty of Chincoteague before our trip and was thrilled to see them up close! (TIP: Watch the 1961 movie is on Amazon Prime Video before your trip.) This website uses affiliate links for Amazon Associates and. Cancellations do happen, and you just may get lucky if you keep checking availability.Below are our experiences with some tips from our trip. Don’t get discouraged if you find it difficult to find an open site. The campground fills fast, so book early if you can. No matter when you go, you are sure to have an amazing experience. There were no crowds, just miles of sandy beach for the kids to run free. It was a great spot just over the dunes from the ocean. We were lucky to score site 104 in loop I. If your heart and soul is at the beach like mine is, there is nothing better than having the sand between your toes at your own campsite.

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE OR STATE PARK FULL

We happened to catch a full moon and crystal clear skies during our stay. We did not feel crowded and the kids loved playing in the sand with their toys. The sites are fairly spacious and there is plenty of room for tent camping. We watched in awe as the horses casually strolled around our camper and ate their morning breakfast.Įach site has a concrete pad for ease of parking your camper, a picnic table, and a fire ring. We woke up to a visitor early one morning who was busy using our camper as a scratching post! The horses generally leave you alone, however, they are used to people, so they will not shy away from you or your campsite.

This includes taking in dog food dishes if you have them out.

You should never approach them, never feed them, as well as never leave food unattended or out in the open. After all, you are a guest at their home. Wild horses should always be given a respectful distance. Both campgrounds are home to beautiful wild horses that roam along the beaches and through out the campgrounds.Ĭamping among beautiful wild horses is as magical as it sounds, but there are of course some very important safety guidelines to follow. Since we have only stayed at Assateague Island State Park, I cannot speak to the National Seashore, although it is on our wish list.

If traveling with your dog like we do, keep in mind that only loops G, H and I, allow pets at the State Park. The state park has two loops that offer electric hook-ups Loop G, and some sites in Loop I. However, the National Seashore campground is primitive camping and offers no hook-ups. When planning your camping trip to Assateague Island, how do you decide between the two? Both are similar in their beauty, access to the beach on the other side of the dunes, and the wild horses that roam about. The first thing you should know is that there are two different campgrounds in Assateague Island: Assateague Island State Park which is part of the Maryland State Park System and Assateague Island National Seashore, which is part of the National Park System. Although we have explored many amazing places, there is one place that tops my list and has remained #1: Assateague Island State Park. I am often asked where my favorite place to camp is.

Assateague island national seashore or state park