Spot wild ponies and diverse bird species while exploring this white-sand barrier island by four-wheel drive, boat, kayak or on foot.
Assateague Island National Seashore is a long and narrow barrier island of protected park off Maryland’s eastern shore. The 37-mile (60-kilometer) long island is less than a mile wide. Its seashore is a magnificent area for hiking, camping, crabbing, fishing and viewing birdlife and wild ponies. Go kayaking or boating in the Atlantic Ocean or in the calm waters of Chincoteague Bay.
The park is split into the Maryland District to the north and the Virginia District to the south, and contains the Assateague State Park. Head to the Maryland side for the visitor center where you can learn about the island’s fascinating ecology, flora and fauna. There is also a campground, a network of nature trails and a lifeguard-patrolled beach.
With so much beautiful coastline, you won’t have trouble finding your own patch of white-sand beach to relax. Play in the shallows or watch the waves curling in from the Atlantic Ocean. Choose from several nature trails and take in stunning views of the ocean, salt marshes, pine forests and the distinctive red-and-white Assateague Lighthouse. Look for different seashells, go four-wheel driving or try clamming and surf fishing on the shore.
Birdwatchers will love spotting the different species that use the barrier island to rest and feed. Be alert for peregrine falcons, egrets, sand pipers and osprey. You might also see wild ponies frolicking in the shallows from a boat cruise or kayaking trip. While it is uncertain how the ponies got on the island, many believe they swam to shore from a sinking Spanish galleon cargo ship.
The Maryland side of Assateague Island National Seashore stretches from the Ocean City Inlet to the Virginia state line and is accessible over the Verrazano Bridge. It is not possible to cross the state line on the island by car. The Virginia District has a visitor center and a lifeguard-patrolled beach.
The Verrazano Bridge is 9.1 miles (14.6 kilometers) from Ocean City in Maryland. There is a small fee to enter the park and further fees for vehicles. The park is open year-round.