Assateague Island National Seashore Campground

Great park. Great rangers

Camping like I've never experienced! Being so close to the ocean was magnificent and we got to see the wild horses up close (but not too close!). This was my six-year-old niece's first time camping and seeing the ocean, and a truly unforgettable experience for us all. We stayed on Oceanside Loop 2 Site 30 during the first week of June and didn't have any issue with mosquitos, which we had been warned about. Locals said that time of year tends to be less buggy than later in the summer. We also enjoyed coffee and breakfast at "5 Tides" one morning-- only a ten minute drive from the site. There was a huge storm one night and our tents stayed up despite the heavy wind. We didn't have any special stakes for camping on sand.

The washroom facilities are in desperate need of an upgrade. The horse droppings in the camp areas generate flies. Depends on your tolerance for flies. I booked our campsites for June the previous February. I could only get 3 consecutive nights (Tuesday to Thursday) and we had to change sites every night, so it was very frustrating to see all the no-shows every night. I would say that 15% - 20% of the sites were empty overnight, despite the camp ground being fully booked. Not sure what you can do about that, just saying that it was very frustrating. Other than that we enjoyed ourselves, it is a very special place.

Always a great place to stay when you can get a spot!

I l am an avid camper and love the outdoors, I go camping around once a month, sometime more. When I tell you this campground was borderline hell, I mean it. We camped before the dunes, in the brush. The biting flies and mosquitoes were so bad I was convinced I was being punished for sins in a past life. They were immune to citronella, bug spray, deet, nothing worked. My guess is that camping spots on the dunes had less bugs, but the downside to th dune locations was no wind shelter. We saw an entire family of 5+ struggling to keep a tent up in the wind for hours, they eventually gave up and only used one tent. Don’t get me started about the horses. I love them; they were beautiful. When they say do not keep food out this doesn’t just mean when you’re not eating, it means literally be on guard ALWAYS. We were actively eating s’mores around 11pm at our campsite (so obviously all the s’mores ingredients were out and in use) and a whole GAGGLE of horses pulled up on us and tried to steal our marshmallows. There was 5 and they came in FAST. I was able to defend our s’mores and get all the food away from the horses, so in protest they hung out around our tent for two hours. After we finally reclaimed our campsite and went to bed, I hear the most terrible gremlin noises next to my head outside the tent. I hear the unknown gremlin(s) somehow pull out my toiletries from the locked table and drag them through the grass. I investigate, and there are two raccoons smug as can be with my toothpaste. Even the items in your locked table are not safe !!

I’m not saying this place is terrible, I’m just saying it’s not for the faint of heart. Your limits and sanity will be tested. A gang of horses WILL pull up on you in the middle of the night. You WILL be bit through the thickest clothing and strongest bug spray. You have been warned.

The best time ever! We were there during a rainstorm but I still would do it over again! I’ve been coming here for 15 years now and it’s never a bad time. Couldn’t recommend enough. Definitely will say the horses have become a lot more bold so definitely lock up your food/garbage. Sometimes they even know how to open the locks under the tables so coolers with locks and just storing in tents/car is probably a better option. Definitely recommend a campfire on the beach! And loved bringing a canopy tent.

Our stay was for one night at Bayside A20. We enjoyed our short visit. We arrived greeted along side the road by the ponies we had come to see. That evening we set off to the Life of The Marsh Trail. The boardwalk view of the marsh was magical. At one end the trail comes to a small beach. More ponies sighted. The following morning before departing we walked to the beach area beyond the Oceanside campground enjoying the white sand and dunes. No ponies visited our campsite, we did have bunnies visit. Our cat who travels with us was fascinated by them. My only reservation about the campsite was the cold showers. The cold shower was refreshing after a very hot evening and morning walk. We would camp again at Assateague Island campground in a heartbeat.

Great for walking, biking, beach going. Love it.

Absolutely beautiful! Nice, private sites. Couldn’t ask for any closer to the beach. Showers and pit towels were clean. We’ll be visiting again!

Our stay was just excellent, no complaints.