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Assateague Island National Seashore

Operating Hours & Seasons

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 District - 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. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times in the Maryland portion of the National Seashore. Please manage your pets! The hot sand and sun can be harder on them than it is on you. Unattended and unrestrained animals can disturb and harm island wildlife and impact fellow park visitors. Pets are completely prohibited in the following areas: all backcountry campsites, nature trails, lifeguard-protected beach, the State Park, north of the State Park to the Ocean City inlet and the entire Virginia portion of Assateague Island.
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

In 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.