Assateague Island National Seashore - Plan Your Visit

Assateague Island National Seashore by National Parks Service

Maryland District

- open year round, 24 hours a day. Barrier Island Visitor Center open 9 am - 5 pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Virginia Distric

t - January-March: 6 am - 6 pm. April: 6 am - 8 pm. May-September: 5 am - 10 pm. October: 6 am - 8 pm. November-December: 6 am - 6 pm. Visitor centers open 9 am - 4 pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pets are prohibited in the entire Virginia portion of Assateague Island, even in your car. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages nearly all of the land area on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Local Partners Information Resources

Worcester County Tourism

Chincoteague Island Chamber of Commerce

Ocean City Chamber of Commerce

Getting There

Plane

The closest airports are Ocean City Municipal Airport (410-213-2471) and Salisbury-Wicomico County Regional Airport (410-548-4827).

Car

There are two entrances to Assateague Island National Seashore. Assateague's north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, MD. The south entrance is at the end of Route 175, two miles from Chincoteague, VA. There is no vehicle access between the two entrances on Assateague Island. Vehicles must return to the mainland to access either the north or south entrance.

Public Transportation

No public transportation available.

Getting Around

n Maryland

, four miles of paved roads include an adjacent bike path. 'Life of Assateague' self-guided trails interpret three different barrier island habitats.

In Virginia

, five miles of paved roads include a bike path and fifteen miles of trails wind through refuge marshes and forests, including a path to the Assateague lighthouse.

Hikers can enjoy miles of beaches on both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the island. Search