Plan Your Visit

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Planning Your Visit Something for Everyone Assateague offers opportunities to experience wilderness solitude, nature exploration and wildlife viewing. For more information: • Assateague Island Visitor Center, mailing address: 7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD 21811, (410) 641-1441 (press 1), GPS address: 11800 Marsh View Lane, Berlin, MD 21811 • Toms Cove Visitor Center, 8586 Beach Road, Chincoteague, VA 23336, (410) 641-1441 (press 2) • www.nps.gov/asis Maryland District Camping National Seashore campgrounds and offices are open year round. • www.nps.gov/asis/camping.htm or (410) 641-1441 (press 3) Reservations are recommended March 15 - November 15 and sites are $30 per night. November 16 - March 14 sites are first come first served and $30 per night. Organizations may reserve group campsites year round for $50 per night. Equestrian campsites are available by reservation October 16 - April 14. • www.recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777 for reservations Backcountry Camping Hike-in sites and paddle-in sites are available on a first come first serve basis. A backcountry camping permit ($10 per person, age 16 years and older, valid for up to 7 days) is required and several restrictions apply. • www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm or (410) 641-1441 (press 3) Area Campgrounds Assateague State Park, open April-October, (410) 641-2120 or (410) 641-2918 • www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/assateague.asp Private • www.gocampingamerica.com Area Lodging Ocean City Chamber of Commerce • www.oceancity.org or (888)-OCMD-FUN Worcester County, Maryland tourism office • www.visitworcester.org or (800) 852-0335 Virginia District National Park Service The National Park Service assists the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in managing recreation and education in the Toms Cove portion of Assateague Island. • www.nps.gov/asis or (410) 641-1441 (press 2) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Nearly all of the land area of the Virginia portion of Assateague Island is managed as a National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is open year round. • www.fws.gov/northeast/chinco or (757) 336-6122 Chincoteague, Virginia Located near Assateague Island, Chincoteague offers shopping, restaurants, camping and lodging. • www.chincoteaguechamber.com or (757) 336-6161 • www.chincoteague.com For Your Information In the Virginia portion of Assateague Island: • Pets are prohibited even in your car. • There is no camping. Accommodations are available in nearby Chincoteague, VA. Wildlife Your actions have consequences long after you leave. Feeding or touching wildlife is illegal. Respect all wildlife and observe from a distance. Assateague’s horses are special because they are wild. Assateague Island is an oasis of habitat in this world of ever-shrinking natural places. Your decisions and actions will make the difference in protecting this special place. Pets Pets are permitted only in specific areas of the Maryland portion of the National Seashore. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times! Please pick up after your pet. Pets are prohibited in the following areas to protect wildlife, habitat and visitors: • The entire Virginia portion of Assateague Island • All backcountry campsites • Nature trails • Lifeguard-protected beach • Portions of Assateague State Park • North of the State Park to the Ocean City inlet Entrance Fees and Permits All passes and permits are valid at both Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Type of pass Where valid Where to purchase cost Assateague 7 day motorcycle pass In MD and VA MD $15 Assateague 7 day vehicle pass In MD and VA MD $20 Assateague Annual Entrance Pass In MD and VA MD $40 Interagency Annual Pass Federal recreation lands MD and VA $80 Interagency Senior Pass Federal recreation lands MD and VA $80 life $20 year Interagency Access Pass Federal recreation lands MD and VA Free Interagency Military Pass Federal recreation lands MD and VA Free Chincoteague NWR 7 day pass In VA and MD VA $20 Chincoteague NWR Annual Pass In VA and MD VA $40 Over Sand Permits When valid Where to purchase cost VA Only Oversand Vehicle Day Use Permit 1 year from purchase, Refuge hours, No summer access MD and VA $70 Island-wide (MD & VA) Oversand Vehicle Day Use Permit 1 year from purchase 5 AM – Midnight (MD only) MD and VA $90 Overnight Oversand Vehicle Permit Must be awake/no camping 1 year from purchase 24hrs/day except in Refuge MD and VA $110 (valid1 year from purchase) (valid1 year from purchase) (U.S. citizens 62 yrs & older, valid 1 year or lifetime) (U.S. citizens w/permanent disability, valid for lifetime) (valid1 year from purchase) (valid1 year from purchase) (Includes Island-wide Day Use) 1 year from purchase MD $150 24hrs/day except in Refuge For more information and regulations contact the Maryland District Ranger Station at (410) 641-1441 (press 3), the Toms Cove Visitor Center in Virginia at (410) 641-1441 (press 2) or visit www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/osv.htm. Bull Pen Overnight Parking Permit (Includes Island-wide Day Use and Overnight) Over Sand Vehicle Use Experience Your America