Assateague State Park Reviews

This is one of our favorite place to camp. Sites are reasonably far apart. Staff is friendly. Camp hosts clean the loops from horse poop in a timely manner. Beach is awesome. Some camp hosts need to police quiet hours with more vigor on the weekends with big groups. Some go overboard policing alcohol while ignoring other rule breaking like pets and noise. Love seeing the ponies in the loops and on the beach.

Have visited this magnificent park three our four times now, and still find it pleasurable each time. April is extremely quiet and relatively chilly due to colder water temperature this time of year. The cost to enter is $20 per car, and in my opinion is well worth it. Normally you aren't allowed to go into the campsites unless you're a camper, but this time of year, you're free to roam. The pictures that I am attaching show empty spaces and beaches, quite the contrast when the warm weather arrives.
When we first arrived there were signs of ponies in the area (road apples all over the place). There are supposed to be nearly 100 horses in the park, but the day we were there, they must have been sheltering from the cold. We did manage to finally see them wandering among the campsites, as well a couple of the native deer. great time of year to visit, avoiding the large crowds that will soon be here. A note of caution...give the horses plenty of room. They have been know to bite or kick. You will see the warning signs. Enjoy!

If you don’t want to spend $20 to get the the National Shoreline just stop by this State Park which is located next door. It will cost you much less but experience will be almost similar since the wild ponies don’t know/ don’t have borders.

We go to Assateague every year. Hit the Federal park as opposed to the Maryland state park. Clean beaches, small snack bar at north beach. This beach also has lifeguards. South beach less populated but swim at your own risk. Changing area and primitive toilets and showers at both.

My wife and I stopped here when we were going to the 28th annual Bath Tub Race in Berlin, MD. Unfortunately, we got a late start that day and did not allow enough time to visit. We did get to ride the perimeter road without going into either the state park or the national park and did see some horses although they were plenty far away grazing. It took all of my 300-600 lens to capture them. We did stop at their visitor center before heading over the bridge. They have a small gift shop and some displays of the various eco systems. A nice stop for families. We will plan a full day there in the near future and will bring our other car so that we can ride on the beach.

It is a coastal park with lots of wildlife. We drove through the park and spotted a couple of horses. Then we decided to walk out on the beach and there were horses along the shore line and in the water. It was so cool 😎 there were probably 30 or 40 horses and they were just hangout and didn’t seem alarmed by all the people around. Great experience I definitely recommend it

Always great to see the wild ponies allowed to roam in their natural state. You don't get to see that too often in today's world. We have been to see the ponies many times throughtout our children's lives, since they were very small to now in their late teens both from Maryland and from Virginia and it is always a special treat to see the horses. Definitely worth the trip!

Very pretty peaceful place. Beaches are nice and we even got to see a large herd of the wild ponies up close.

Went to Rehobeth this past weekend and took the short trip down to Assateague State Park. Spent the good part of the day walking the many trails and beach area. Saw quite a few ponies as well as other wildlife. Packed a picnic lunch and ate on a bay side beach equipped with picnic benches. Just a great day

Beautiful park, beautiful beaches. Was a good day to see the wild horses as several small herds were traveling about. Nice area for those who enjoy kayaking or just taking a walk.

What a nice beach. Perfect for long walks or sun bathing and swimming. Saw some wild horses and deer and enjoyed a walk on a boardwalk trail.

This park is fantastic! A pristine beach within 150 miles of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md! You will likely se wild ponies, small deer, and shore birds. Worth a visit

After a lot of research I decided to RV camp
at the State Park instead of the National Seashore Campground. All the reviews are correct, it’s beautiful! You can hear the ocean at night and see the ponies. They visited our campsite each night we stayed in the B and C loop. Bathhouses were really clean. You can social distance at the beach! It’s so nice. It’s also close to Ocean City and the cute town of Berlin.

Also, bring mosquito repellant. Thanks to the @funchasers for the recommendation.

Assateague State Park is an awesome location for the family that wants to beach camp (not in some wooded canopy miles from a beach), is happy using lovely, clean common bath houses for showering and dish washing, and loves being surrounded by wildlife including horses. You can catch your own dinner easily enough in the neighboring National Park (clams and crabs with basic tools and knowledge) and explore a beautiful island all day long by water, foot, or bike.

Make sure tu visit the nature center. Your little one will be amazed! He learned about our rich environment and sea life!

My dad had a site there on the campground part. It was the most beautiful place I’ve seen in a while. I’ve seen quite a few wild horses and some sand crabs. At night we went into the beach as the site was directly across the beach and saw thousands of Crabs and jelly fish that don’t sting.. It was super hot though. My daughter enjoyed her time there with family and my boyfriend was able to have fun with my family as well.the beaches are beautiful and clean! I 100% recommend going there next summer. Just a warning service on cell phones are not great! So it’s perfect for quality time without any phones.

We have visited the beach several times but on this cold windy day we just took the grandchildren to the visitor center. We spent more than an hour here looking and touching the sea creatures in the inside pond. There are maps and all kinds of things to see and read about the beaches and horses. We watched a movie about how the horses got there and how they are controlled. It was very interesting, even to our 7 year old grandchildren.

We have been coming to this park every October for the past eight years. The crowds of summer are gone and it's not unusual to walk down to the beach and see less than a dozen people on the beach between you and Ocean City that's ten miles away. All but one loop is for "dry camping". The one loop has electric service only for 30 amp. The staff here is top notch and are more than willing to lend a hand or answer your questions. Note! The ponies that reside here do not operate on any schedule. You may see them every day or maybe just once during a week's stay. If the tide's out and the wind is just right, this is a great place to fly single line or stunt kites. Water temperatures will be in the low 70s, but there are no lifeguards. Don't be surprised to see dolphins swimming just beyond the breaks. So kick back, relax and recharge your batteries.

We took a day trip to Assateague. Its a fairly short drive through the country from the southern end of Ocean City and is a very pleasant contrast to the hyperactive, densely packed OC boardwalk scene.

The Visitor's Center, run by the Park Service, is a first stop. This is a new venue with moderl exhibits and a book/gift store. There were two free short movies available to watch: one on attempts to build housing on Assateague (which failed) and another on the Assateague horses. Both are excellent and worth watching.

We got maps and some tips from the Rangers and drove down to the park. Assateague is over 30 miles long, but only the first few miles are available to street vehicles (you can get a permit to drive over the sand if you want to explore further. Even so, there are glimpses of how beautiful the island is, access to beaches (also beautiful), and parking lots where its possible to park and walk a little bit over the beach or along walk ways and piers. There is fishing and crabbing allowed and the day we were there (a weekend) there were families tending crab lines and poles all over.

The horses on the Maryland side (the island is in both Maryland and Virginia) are wild and unrestricted so seeing them is up to the whims of the horses (horses in Virginia live in large pastures. Those are the horses herded to the shore once yearly and auctioned off to private bidders). We saw many horses both right beside the road and further off across the fields. Although the horses are not managed (in the sense that they are fed or cared for) rangers do monitor human/horse interactions through patrols to ensure people do not attempt to feed or touch the horses.

There are portable restrooms throughout the Park near the road as well as several exhibits. Traffic was quite heavy on this weekend summer day and there are long lines in some places getting to and from the beach areas. Allowing sufficient time to travel is a good idea.

Came here like most people to see the wild ponies. It took awhile, but we did get to see a few small herds (five to eight per herd). Judging by the amounts of manure on the roadway, I would've thought there were hundreds more somewhere close by. You can do the entire park including a visit to the welcome center in an hour in the "off season". I thought the $20 entrance fee was excessive. I subsequently went to the VA part of the park and they only charge $8.

Wish people followed the rules. Do NOT touch them, feed them or approach them. They are friendly and looking for food but they are and should remain wild!! Beautiful. .. and the beach wasn't bad either!

We drove to the State Park after the Seashore. $6.00 per person for parking and beach access. We are not "sit on the beach" people but we enjoyed the views from the boardwalk path along with the gift shop and food shop (best hot dog ever!). Small education booth at the entrance to the beach. Ladies were very friendly there. No horses there on the day we went.

No traffic, easy to find, peaceful and solitary, sufficient parking to walk and explore. A warm winter day makes for a terrific outing and then you can visit Berlin or Ocean City for more charm and dining specials. If you are about an hour away, it's a pleasant drive, not necessarily a long day, and you can take your time to enjoy wherever you want to go. No tolls, and no fees in the winter. It is a National Park and there is a welcome center but I didn't visit it so I can't say if it was open. No open rest stations in the park at this time. Park Rangers patrol so that it is safe for visitors and wildlife but be careful on the frozen waters.

Hate to recommend this park as it is priceless and everybody will want to go. Right on the Atlantic, you hear the waves all the time. The park is immaculate. The horses are beautiful. Yes lots of rules regarding them but it is for their and your protection. Clean sights and well maintained dump stations. The beaches are clean and gorgeous. Fell in love with this park.

We had gone to assateaque state park for the day. The trails and beaches are beautiful. It's a hidden gem. The wild horses are all over the place. We returned there 2 additional days because our entry fee that we purchased was good for a week. We spend the 2 days on the beach. There is lots of parking. If like like to walk, run or bike this is the place for you. Stop by the assateaque visitor's center too. Lots of info there, and it also has restrooms. Worth the visit. Highly recommended.

It was our firs visit. Unfotunatelly it was our last planned summer trip.... if taken the trip earlier we would have visited many more! amazing place for kids. Restrooms is the only service that might need help with large number of visitors. Maybe making more available on peak dates. A visit during the day is great and you can really enjoy the beach, nature, etc keeping away from multitudes (good during COVID). We are in for an overnight experience as soon as the weather allows!

Camped here in a rented trailer. Beautiful park with great facilities and access to the beach with wild horses everywhere! The National Park is next door with trails and an excellent outfitter.

On my bucket list as a horse lover - I loved it and saw on of the stallions in the parking lot and then saw a foal along the side of the road. - just beautiful! It was a great place to camp, bike, and swim too. Highly recommend

Especially off-season, when there are fewer people and mosquitos. Bring your patience and your camera. The rare Sika deer roam as do the wild horses. Great feeling to see them. Take a walk on the nature boardwalks and if you go in the summer, take out a canoe or go clamming in the bay. Bring water shoes as the bottom can get sharp.

I stayed closing week Fall 2016 but forgot to update my earlier review. Renovations are now complete and the park was quiet with updated and clean facilities. Great place to stay off season when you have the beach to yourself. Caught a few fish and had a great time. The National Park also has a campground a mile further down the beach but the state park has electricity to many of the sites.

Nice November afternoon watching the ponies walk up and down the beach. There is an honor box ($5) to park that goes toward maintenance of facilities. I want to come back in summer!!

very nice beach area - love the "bring it in - pack it out" signs - and believe it or not - most adhered to it.

We rented a camping spot in section J, which is the farthest from the entrance. The beach access was easy to find and the beach was gorgeous- reminded me of the Outer Banks, with plenty of seashells. The bath houses were immaculate and close to our spot. Best of all, three horses stood right outside our tent for over an hour- it was pretty amazing! We did NOT feed them, but they refused to leave anyway and we went to bed with them still standing right outside. OUr kids will definitely never forget this trip!

Beautiful park! Friendly staff. I can't wait to come back next year. The lots are mostly level and there is plenty of room between spaces.

This place has many ways to kick your butt. Biting Flys mosquitoes wind rain heat wild horses loud neighbors. On the other hand we love it. You just have to be flexible and calm. If the wind comes from the west (any angle) it will blow in biting blood sucking tiny little evil things. Any angle wind with east in it will be much much better. Stay away from the horses, secure your food preferably in a vehicle or camper or your car don't leave things sitting out don't have food in your tent don't leave food in the screen house. If you do any of those things you might get away with it once or twice but eventually there will be consequences. Check your kids for ticks especially if they've been in the high weeds.

New rule this year only quiet generators. What an improvement.

Have fun

We went here on one of the days we were staying in Berlin hoping to see some of the wild horses on the beach. The drive from Berlin to Assateague was an easy one. Maybe 15 minutes away if that. We paid $5 to get into the parking lot at the beach. Got out and walked down to the beach but there weren't any horses. We left and turned down this one road right outside of the parking lot and saw 4 or 5 horses walking along and grazing along the side of the road. Mission accomplished. That's all we wanted was to see some wild horses. If that's your thing, check it out.

The wild horses are the main attraction, but the beach is wonderful too. The day use area has bath houses with showers, regular flush toilets and a concession stand.

It's tempting to want to approach and pet the horses but DON'T. They are known to bite and kick.

The campground is great. Each camping loop has bath houses, and some sites have electric hookups. All sites are very close to the ocean. Beware: The bugs can be brutal at times and there is very little shade.

A blessing to have such a beautiful beach protected from commercial exploitation. Even the ponies rejoice. Just the right amount of amenities to be accommodating but not intrusive on the natural beauty. A pleasant alternative to the VA end of the island. Granddaughter loved that ponies welcomed her visit last summer.

Made two trips on consecutive days but only saw a handful of horses. Felt that I was on a sand farm viewing the equine livestock.

Beautiful park, unique views with wild horses on the beach and inlets. We went kayaking on the shallow bay, had a Wawa picnic, just really enjoyed the day. This whole Chesapeake area is gorgeous! The nearby piers for fishing are just outside the park (free) and nice for sitting with your feet in the water, picnicking, photography.

Wow! great trip - we went mid-May and the weather was amazing. No bugs - zero. We stayed on a camping spot that was right next to the beach and enjoyed a steady ocean breeze and waves crashing all day long.

Worth mentioning: the bathrooms! Incredible - they might be the cleanest camp bathrooms in the world. They were large, clean, well-supplied, and with plenty of hot water for showers.

Each loop has a friendly 'loop host' who picks up, answers questions, and wishes you well for the day.

Don't miss the nearby town of Berlin - very cute with little shops and restaurants.

And yes, wild horses! We had one run through our campsite one evening, stop and sniff around, and then continue on its way. That was our close up experience. You could also see plenty of them grazing here and there around the grounds.

If you go, make sure you also get a $25 week pass for the national park. Lots to see over there, also, and more hiking trails.

Horses, horses ,horses❤️❤️❤️We just loved that we saw the horses already when we crossed the bridge. Had wanted to go there for a while.

I came here yesterday not really knowing what I was going to find. I didn’t go to camp I went to the beach area you have the option of paying the $20 for a pass for 7days or pay $40 for the whole year. You go to the parking lot and you might not see the horses right away on the beach but they were walk around the whole parking lot. It was so much fun I went a little late around 3pm I bet if you go early you’ll see them more around the water! It was fun and I highly recommend your gonna see a lot of horse poop but didn’t bother me! Bring blanket to lay on the sand!

Stopped there to see wild ponies. It's better to go right at dusk. We saw them in the road and in the marsh.

4 short days in this nice park. We were here years ago and in most ways it is much better now. The showers and facilities for sure. Nice beach we stayed in B loop. The sites were clean and a couple came by and cleaned when people left also shoveled up after the horses several times a day not 1 or 2 but 6 or 7. Our grandkids stayed 2 nights and the bike situation seem dangerous people constantly riding the wrong way on the road???? It's partially due to poor designed road and bike path. The path is not used hardly at all.

The bad is the bottle neck getting into the 3 parks. State and Federal and day use state. Federal turn is 40 feet before the state turn and it is poorly marked. Confusion rules in that area till you get to the Ranger station. BTW the registering could be better too. Not real professional or friendly. In the day there seems to be an abundance of people ridding around constantly on 4 wheelers from 1 end of the park to the other. We rode down there and still can imagine what they are doing. They could make some better signs for the 3 split at the enterrnce that causes so much confusion. Lol
Also we stayed a 4 day weekend. At the time we couldn't get more yet Tuesday the sites were not full and we could have extended, mmmm????

I find the price of admittance a bit high. I think this is the most we ever paid for an entrance to a park. It is a beautiful place and worth the money but a deterrent to low income families to visit. The place is well taken care of but we did see some trash.

Took the family here on July 4th we all had a blast. Nice beach and the ponies/ horses we saw was amazing to see them wild.

Very unique park! We visited two days and saw wild horses both times. We also saw crabs coming out of the sand and birds trying to eat them. Shells were washed up on the shore. The waves were intense for little kids and there was a riptide warning. Great showers available. The sand was soft but hot!

Assateague never fails to satisfy. The weather, the ponies and the flying bugs all behaved themselves and we extended our stay a couple of days.
We have a 28’ class C RV, and we needed to change sites a few times because contiguous site reservations were not available. You can reserve specific sites 12 months in advance.

I mean, there's not much to say. It's a beautiful park with the chance to encounter some wild ponies. People of all ages will enjoy that.

Beautifully kept park, many trails to walk. It is $20 to enter the national side, and there are additional fees to enter the state side beach area (charged per person). Didn’t get to see too many of the ponies until we were headed out; there were a group of them walking around one of the parking lots near the entrance of the national side. The park rangers also monitor where the horses are to keep people from getting too close (they remind you consistently to stay 40 feet away).
It really is a beautiful park and beach. I recommend visiting!

Assateague is a beautiful park. You can see the horses and spend a great day at the beach. You can avoid the crowds of Ocean City and relax in peace. Bring your cooler and kick back.

I have been enjoying Assateague Island for about 30 years now, with traditional yearly visits to the island to enjoy the most precious wild ponies ever, running freely all over the island! It is the most charming, heart warming experience that will bring pure joy to you, your family and friends every time! :) Be sure to stop in at the Visitor Center right before going over the towering bridge that takes you onto the island. The Visitor Center has interesting FREE films that the whole family will surely love and lots of hand on items that your children will enjoy picking up and looking at! They also have a very nice gift shop with tasteful items you'll surely want to take home with you! If you are a tight budget but would like to see the ponies, know that you can for FREE! There's a nice slow drive along part of the island where you can experience many lovely views, where ponies will often walk right by or in front of your car! For a fee you can enjoy the most unspoiled and breathe taking beaches ever! It's a place you might want to stay for hours! They have a massive camping area that is extremely popular! One Important tip IF you plan to camp here.....bring the BUG REPELENT! I cannot stress that enough!! For some reason winds bring in the bugs from time to time and you want that repellent.....I promise you! Other than that this park is absolutely PERFECT and its a place you will most likely want to return to again and again!!

Great place... Although unfortunately it was raining a little when we arrived I think the beach and place is a great time for children and family... Just in general.. Didn't see too many horses until we left the bridge but overall great place.

I've been to both sides of the island and each has benefits. Honestly, I found the MD side to be more natural and accessible. GO! You won't regret it.

This is one of the best Federal Parks I have ever been to. You can relax and enjoy the beach, ride bikes, walk, run and just have fun. The horses are beautiful but visitors have to understand these are wild horses, keep your distance. If you decide to bring your lunch make sure all food is secured these horses are smart and can open coolers, bags of chips what ever you leave out. Sometimes we leave the cooler in the car until we are ready to leave. Enjoy the beautiful Eastern Shore.

This is close to Ocean City, but seems so far away from the action. The state park has basically everything the National Park has (except the OSV area) and is just a little smaller. Best to get here early in the summer.

Been camping here for almost 25 years. It is an awesome place for friends and family to get together every year. The horses are incredible and the little
deer but people need to be respectful to the animals and nature. You need to remember that we are visiting them on their territory so be respectful and give them space. And camping you need to remember to keep your food away from the animals,they are so smart and they can open Tupperware!They are renovating
the campgrounds and the bathrooms. It is very difficult to get a space. You need to reserve a year in advance if we want to be guaranteed. But then we’ve been going there 25 years and next year we cannot get a space because the renovating and only a small portion of the campsites are left.... we are very disappointed.

We visited day one, went to visitors center, beach, drove around, no horses in sight! Went to the Assateague Surf shop decided to look again, drove down to the state park, on the way back the horses were off the shoulder eating grass. I encourage you to go look at these beautiful horses! Glad I went back on day 2!

Unfortunately we went when it was drizzling. Our quest to see the wild horses was almost for naught. We saw one just as we were exciting the park.

Where to start... campers are welcome (RV and tent sites) If your coming to the beach for the day come early. Once parking lot fills, there is no admission. Great facilities to shower, change, and refresh. The pony express cafe has great food and ice cream. There is also a little general store for camping needs and souvenirs. The beach is with lifeguards and is clean. Mosquitoes and flies can be an issue in the campgrounds which are located behind the dunes. Wild ponies roam the island and add to the beauty of this park. There is a large educational information center which is totally worth seeing. There are also trails to walk and bike paths. We come as a family at least once a year in August.

We visited the island knowing we might not see ponies, but were thrilled to see them almost immediately after arriving, plus at least 6 other times, including swimming across a marsh, standing beside the road, and even walking down the road in front of us! I do wish there was a cheaper one day parking option instead of the $25 weekly pass. The beach was a little crowded, but not bad for a Saturday. If you have small children, the bay side is great because they can go in the water without the waves and it's only a few feet deep 20 feet from shore.

I can't think of a time where we went and did not see at least one of the ponies. There is a nice park that is open year around with a snack shop in the summer season. There are picnic tables and plenty of parking. Take a short drive from the activity in Ocean City and RELAX. A great place to see wildlife and enjoy a less crowded beach.

You need just $4/person(MD resident/if you come from out of MD:$6/person).
You can see wild horse everywhere in the park.
The beach is clean and has perfectly white sands.
Shower and Changing space are available with no fee!

if you like to see wild life this is the place the biggest thing you will see is the wild horses. they are free to go where they like there are birds and small animals but you will have to stop and look to see them the visitors center is a must stop before you go on the island the center will show you what to look for so you can get the most out of your time their.

Well kept ammenities,and a beautiful sandy beach. We were lucky enough to see 2 horses and a foal during our visit. The ranger in the station, was very informative and helpful, and gave us hints on where our best chances were of seeing horses,with foals.

Caveat: I'm NOT a fan of Ocean City..which is too crowded and NOT dog friendly. If I'm going to the beach in this region, it's usually to Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. This year, we bought a Maryland State Park pass and figured that we'd try Assateague on a day trip. We weren't disappointed.

We practically had the beach to ourselves, so we could let the dogs run (yes, there are leash laws but when nobody is out there....) The beaches were wide, clean sand....out there you felt like you were in your own little slice of heaven. Then, hiking through the island we saw several wild ponies.

It's too bad this park isn't dog-friendly during the summer months...we'd come here regularly.

Four stars only because it's not dog-friendly during the summer and because I've visited better beaches in other states.

We didn't pay to enter either the state park or the national park, but drove for a couple of minutes along the entrance route. Pulled over at a scenic overlook, and there they were, a herd of horses off in the distance on the beach. Finally got too check off that childhood goal from my bucket list.

The beach is great, the horses are worth seeing for all ages. Good facilities. So much less crowded than OC!

Beautiful walk on the beach. Didn’t think I was going to see any horses and then there they were. Only two but I was super excited to see them just roaming free. Totally worth the trip. Only did the Maryland end this time. Will head to the VA end on Saturday.

After touring Chicoteague National Park, and seeing the ponies from a distance, on a whim we decided to head to Assateague to see if my six and eight year old and I could get a closer look. We did not. But what we found was a really amazing state and national park that sat side by side with some of the nicest camping grounds I have ever seen. I can't wait to return.

It was so nice seeing the horses running wild. There is a fee to get in $25 for car load. There are a good amount of beaches and a campground once you pay the $25 fee which is good for 7 days.

This was our second trip within 3 months since we missed seeing any ponies on our first trip, but this time we didn't even have to go inside the park (although we did) to see them. There was a group of them along the road leading into the park, just before the fee station, and then another group just as you got inside the park. Truly our lucky day and the highlight of our repeat trip to the shore. Ironically, we stopped at the visitor center to see if they had any reported sightings of the ponies that day and where and they hadn't, but they did tell us that they probably wouldn't be on the beach because there were too many people and activity-and they were right. We did stop at the beach and it was packed, so we decided to spend the day walking some of the trails and enjoying the scent of the pine trees and it was a wonderful way to spend a few hours.

Great place to visit to see the wild horses and make sure you kayak at Super Fun Eco Tours! Also, had a great time on the beautiful beach.

I like to get up early in the morning when the dew is still on the leaves and walk the trails and see all the wildlife.

We came here as a side trip to our Ocean City trip. We didn't stay on the island (you can only camp there), but we went on a days pass. It's only about 20 minutes from Ocean City if you are driving and I would definitely recommend making the trip there if you are in the area. We had heard about the wild ponies but nothing could prepare us for how beautiful and amazing it would be. We were there in May, so it wasn't crowded at all. We paid $20 per vehicle as an admission fee but that is good for one week, so you can go back as many times as you want during that time. Definitely stop at the visitors center before going, they offered great tips on where you had the best chance of seeing the famous wild horses. We followed their advice and spotted horses right away. They came super close to us and seemed friendly but we had been warned not to let them or feed them or the could become aggressive. But they were beautiful to watch! There are also nice and short walking trails there and they also rent canoes and kayaks that you can use to explore the wildlife around the bay and inlets. The beach there is also beautiful, but watch out for horse poop!

This was our second visit to this park and we were delighted once again. We got to the Visitor's Center as it opened at 9am and had a nice chat with a volunteer. Be sure to watch the movie about the horses before you go out exploring. We were then rewarded with seeing 7 horses and 2 deer right next to the road in several different spots.(even though other people said they hadn't seen any horses that morning) We took all three of the short hikes in the park and enjoyed them. This is definitely the park to visit if you want to see the wild horses up close and personal. We went to Chincoteague that same afternoon and it was much less fulfilling to watch horses from very far away.

Assateague state park is a nice Beach because it's small and fairly Limited. The amenities are excellent. They have a nice snack bar and locker room facilities with showers. It's best to get there early to be sure of parking and a place on the beach.

I'm in love with anything related to horses. An equestrian girl all the way...! Imagine my excitement reading about the wild ponies in Assateague State Park. As soon as we drove in we came across 4 beautiful horses, literally footsteps away from our car. We also saw one or two grazing further down the horizon. I wish I can be a horse whisperer like Amy Fleming in "Heartland," but for now, this is definitely a fair alternative. A unique place for horse lovers and wildlife lovers to feel one with nature, beauty, and the innocence of animals not held down by restraints or in barns. So charming and sexy, I definitely fell in love with this place and will go again...!

We took a family group from Ocean City to Assateague tp see the horses. It took a while to locate them, although we did see some out in the distance in the marshes. Finally found a couple at the swimming area. Just have to remember what the park staff tells us about not getting close to them, risking getting hurt or bit. They seem friendly but are wild. Look but don't touch!

we go here every day when we camp at Fort Whaley , the beach is amazing and of course love the ponies.

We wandered around the beach here and there, then, headed out to leave. My husband noticed a few ponies getting ready to cross the road. I took out my camera and have a lot of great photos.

The road is small and you aren't supposed to block traffic. We pulled off to the side near the water and just sat there for about 45 minutes. The traffic was backed up twice, including when we left.

Excellent campground, super nice staff. Sites are nice, but if you are tenting please note that the pads are all asphalt and not crushed gravel like most other Maryland State Park Campgrounds. This was my mistake for not calling first and inquiring. The wind picked up this weekend incredibly, an old 6 man tent is not really designed for sustained 25 mph winds with gust above 40. We doubled staked and set up with the narrow side into the wind and that worked well until the wind shifted and we were taking it full broadside. The stakes kept pulling out all night. The next day, the wind was blowing so hard that even with shielding, our stove would not stay lit. We packed up in the morning and then took a 5 mile bike ride over to the national park.

This experience gave us something to think about- how can we camp in winds like this, we researched and will be making sand/snow anchors. This may not be the solution for this tent, but maybe it will help.

This is a cool state park and campground to explore, camp, and visit. I cannot wait to go back when the weather is a bit more cooperative. My girls and I liked seeing the horses, which were really easy to find. Enjoy your visit, and check the weather forecast before you head out.

Just a beautiful peaceful drive through the State Park! We saw some of the wild horses right away and later a small deer - right by the side of the road. They weren't on the beach at all but we parked and walked to the beach. Being there in the off season made for a quiet walk around the park - but it was lovely and undisturbed natural beauty.

The visitors station is worth going to before driving to the island. It was great fun to see the horses and if you want to understand what global warming will do in a few years, then look at the sea level and how quickly this barrier island will vanish.

While Ocean City is a hyper tourist town with tens of thousands of visitors at one time Assateague Island is vast land ruled by nature and little civilization around. Huge fields of plant life cover much of the island and much of the ground is sand. This is the place to go to enjoy peace and quiet. Almost everyone on the island was at the beach. While it's a fine looking beach I wouldn't say anything huge stood out. I didn't see any horses while walking around the island but saw several by the bridge that connects the island to the main land. The views of the water are as stunning as the horses.

I will definitely be going back to see it again. I was by myself and on my Harley so I did not give it enough time. You have to pay to get in to the park. You can also camp there. However, If you are just going in to see the wild horses then give yourself enough time. I would like to take my wife back for an entire day to explore the beaches and actually find some of the horses. It's all about timing and location as there are no guarantees that you will see the horses. I rode around for about an hour and only saw three. Give yourself time.

Assateaque Island is under the operation of both State of Maryland and the U.S. Park Service. The State Park is located at the north end of the Island and the Assateague Island National Seashore which is under the U.S. Park Service is located at south end of the Island. If you just want to go to the beach and maybe seeing some wild horses for a quick day, the State Park is plenty but it tends to be more crowded. Good things, the shower house is big and closer to the beach and the parking lot and the fee is lower than the National Park. Beware of the mosquitoes especially when walking through the camping area. If you have time and want to enjoy more, I recommend the National Seashore.

As a tradition, I like to make my 6 hour trip from PA to OCMD as early morning as possible. Typically we roll in and stop at the Decatur Diner for breakfast and then enjoy Assateague's beach until a 3pm check in. Perhaps I don't recall previous years, but I thought the fee was per car, not per person. Not that I mind, just so you are aware. $6/person to get in. The sand crabs were plentiful this year! Unfortunately there was thunder shortly after we arrived this year and the lifeguards had to clear the beach. I look forward to going back!

Chilly day so we mainly drove. Enjoyed seeing the horses up close. Camping areas looked nice. Large beach for summertime enjoyment. Did walk the boardwalk over the wetlands.

Beautiful beaches and well kept dunes. Wild horses roaming and just beautiful scenery. This is a Must Go To destination.

Was pleasantly surprised when visiting here for the day. It was very pretty, the beach was nice and it was wonderful to see the natural beauty of the Island which included spots of natural horses playing.
Will go again for sure.

Great quick drive through to see some ponies while visiting Berlin. Looks like they are working on some improvements. Lots of cuteness!

We were on a bus tour with an excellent tour guide, Very attractive area with history especialy the wild ponies. Large beach on the ocean plus biking trails make this a good family destination

The truth is, i want to keep this place a secret. I dont want to spoil the peace and serenity i get from here. There really is no place like an ungroomed, natural beach. There are very few around here. Assateague is one of the places you can go to relax. Weather you want to people watch or be COMPLETELY alone. This is the beach. Wear what you want and do what you want, this is the place. Dont go tellin a bunch of people about it. I want it all to myself.

We loved seeing the wild ponies and were lucky enough to see some of the newborn colts too! There are many great walking trails If you don’t want to walk the driving loop offers many great views and chances to see the horses. We’ve seen many of them just walking around the parking lots to the trails. All in all, don’t miss a trip to Assateague when visiting Ocean City!

The park was great! NOTE parking is very limited so if you're in good health and athletic you may just want to park at the visitors area and then walk up/down to the park. I loved every bit of it I'm a nature person so I did a lot of walking found the horses and took great photos. I really enjoyed myself and definitely be returning.

this is a great place to go and enjoy the beach and mother nature, been coming here for a few years until last week, I had a bad experience with the flies it looks the the place was infested you could see flies on the walls at the bath house, if the state park could do something with the flies it will be awesome. I still recommend it but bring repellents to help you.

What is not to love? Beach, birds, ponies, water, blue skies. Just lovely. Start at the visitor's center and then soak up the beauty of the Eastern Shore.

We very much enjoyed this park. It was rainy and cold so we drove all around the campsites and parking lots till we found some horses. The rangers were very informative and nice. We learned about the tribes of horses and their typical routines. They had a count of 90 when we visited and they strive to maintain the population between 80-100 to keep them in balance with the food sources and each other. You could camp or just go to walk the beaches. It is a must do if you are in the Ocean City area.

It was a beautiful day at Assateague State Park this weekend. The beach wasn't crowded. We had lunch from the Pony Express . Great Italian cold cut sub- fries are a bit limp. I like them a bit crispier. (But I ate them!).

Excellent beaches all the way around. Without the distractions and crowds of the Boardwalk, but decent amenities, so you don't have to bring lots of food and drinks. It costs more than the federal park, which is even more pared down, but if you've got small children, the convenience of clean bathrooms, a store for all your needs, and fresh food may be worth it. If you're more into "less" and you're looking to save $ and see some ponies, pack a cooler and go down the road a mile or two to the federal beach. If you want convenience, stick with the state beach.

We stayed in Ocean City Maryland well worth the drive. It was a rainy day as the hurricane was just reaching us along the coast. The weather was cold so we thought we would go looking for the wild pony island. What a great day! They were beyond beautiful! We spotted several as me came into the park. Then as we were driving they were right alongside the road not even bothered by our truck as we stopped to enjoy the beauty! A must do!!

love seeing the horse, you know we have buffalos that roam in one of our state parks. love the sand beaches and dunes.

WOW

Although it wasn't hot enough on a cold rainy April weekend for the horses to run on the beach we did see them while driving in the park and very close up too.

My wife, daughter and I spent a week at Assateague Island State Park and had a great time. The weather was perfect. The ocean was a bit heavy on surf but we like it that way! The facilities at loop F were very nice.

We were sooooo glad we had a National Parks pass and did not pay a $25 admission fee.

How lucky we were to spot about a half dozen horses on the way in at about 9:30 am. From reading other reviews, I now know that spot is one where they are seen. Didn't see any more horses, but my husband read there are only about 79 on that end of the island.

We were not going to the beach. The 2 main activities seemed to be bicycle riding and the beach.

The three mini trails totalled 2 miles of walking. Sand dunes trail was slightly interesting due to the remnants of the Baltimore Boulevard, macadam destroyed by a 1962 storm. Pine trail was totally unremarkable.

Toilets were standard national national Park cesspool toilets.

We're done. No need to drive to Chincoteague.

The beach was great, very clean and nice. The kids had a blast playing in the water and digging in the sand. We even spent some time geocaching. We love the park educator was on the boardwalk to show us some bones and even a fox pelt. Great time!

The visitors' enter has a great film explaining the history of the famous ponies, and also has some great maps. The beach is gorgeous and has lots of facilities. Camping is available, as well as kayaking, canoeing and hiking. I'm definitely going back.

Amazing beach! A must visit while in ocean city! You can do the state park or the national park! Got to see the wild horses.

Saw so many horses and wildlife. I could spend hours there without losing interest. The beach is amazing, soft sand and gentle waves. Few trails with planks to walk on and see so much. BE CAREFUL FOR HORSE POOP. Definitely go to the visitor center before you cross the bridge to get a map. $20 for the National Park entry but worth it!

Assateague is MUCH less crowded than the beach on OC (which is also great!) This is a more relaxed beach. We live it!

Have been here many times over the years and this time, the ponies were everywhere! They blocked us on two different roads in the park, twice when we were biking with the kids, and again at the beach.

The bike paths aren't too long--about 4.5 miles roundtrip from the parking lot inside the park--and our little kids were able to ride without a problem. The bayside beach was very clean and in good shape. It's super shallow--150 yards from the beach and it's still only knee-deep--and great for the kids after biking around the park.

We love coming here and will be back again.

It was a very cold winter day when we decided to take a ride over and check out the free ranging horses. We nearly spotted a group of 6 right away grazing near the road we were on. Much to our delight we moved slowly and spotted a small herd of deer as well. There were at least 2 bucks, 3 does and several fawns!! A peaceful way to view animals in there habitat!

It was the surprising feeling of 2 experiences all in 1!.On white sand completely under the sun,dunes with vegetation that resembled sage brush,wind so mighty that it created an overall feel of out west in wide open spaces but creating another feeling of freedom.then strait way beside us across large dunes so well kept was the most beautiful ocean and much was guarded by lifeguards that clearly were well trained,for we watched them practice their runs and actually saw a rescue to an 11 year old boy that had gotten too far out and in distress but all the lifeguards reacted pronto and took care of the case to the end.
So impressed just can not wait to go back!

The campsites were clean, flat, and on the other side of the dunes from the beach. But the campsites had no privacy at all. Clean, large bathhouses.

I live on Cape Cod, so a beach vacation isn't something I ever go on. We came here specifically for the ponies. We saw about 12 ponies during our 2-day stay, mostly near the side of the road when you first drive in. I think my expectations were too high, expecting them to be all over the beach and campsites like people's pictures online.

All-in-all, relaxing vacation that cured my curiosity about the wild ponies... But I wouldn't come back.

We first pull up and there standing at the entrance to greet us was a young Sitka buck. We paid a minimal amount of money to access the Parks beach. Beach was great, clean and area was loaded with shells. There is a gift shop and grill alongside the shower houses. Parking is a short walk to the beach itself. As we were leaving the State Park on way to the Federal Park there were quite a few horses along the road.

On a recent visit to Chincoteague Island, my wife and I had the opportunity to explore the shops, restaurants, and souvenir venues to also visit the wildlife refuge and National Seashore on Assateaque Island. The island of Assateaque lies between Chincoteague and the ocean and you get there by driving over a causeway and bridge from Chincoteague then through a park entrance Ranger station where you pay an entrance fee.

The drive from the park entrance to the ocean is scenic with great views of the wildlife refuge. The beach is enjoyable as it remains undeveloped and clean. There’s a visitor center just before you get to the beach with interesting exhibits and helpful staff. The trip and entrance fee is well worth the drive through a pristine environment and clean beach. On the day of our visit the temperatures were hovering around 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the water around 55 degrees. Not exactly swim friendly however definitely worth checking out.

Assateague is the best. The only problem is how packed it gets on weekends in summer - you must go early or late if you want to park or get a spot on the beach or drive on the sand. The restaurant on the MD state side has the BEST cheeseburgers!

It is a beautiful park with wonderful scenery. The horse are hard to locate and it's either hit or miss on seeing them. If you plan to camp or use the beach then the fee is worth it. If not just stick to the free areas.

this was good fun , good beaches , good trails, lots of natue, sting rays, fish, crabs, birds, horses, turtles, sea shells and calming, back riding, and kayaking. we had good fun . we were only going to go for one day but went three days in a row.

We loved the island: beautiful beaches, beautiful horses beautiful place. The Virginia side was equally nice, albeit getting built up which is not so nice.

The hidden gem of Maryland's eastern shore. The beach has fine sand and the waves are strong but not violent which is perfect. The I loop has electric hookups and has clean bathroom facilities. Each campsite has a fire ring and grill. Firewood can be bought outside the state park. Bring a lot of bug spray and make sure you don't leave your food unattended and if leaving your campsite, make sure you put all food inside your vehicle or camper. If you're using tents, it's going to be hot during the day but will cool down and will be comfortable around 8 p.m.

We are local on the Delmarva Peninsula so this is usually an off season activity for us. It would take us twice as long to get here on a summer weekend but if you are in the area than it is worth the short side trip drive. Now that we have gone so many times we usually stop in at the visitors center first and touch what's in the touch tank, see what's changed and what we can find in the beautiful aquarium stocked with local marine fish and watch the free short film about the wild ponies titled "Back to the Wild". My kids and I can spend a few hours here but we are probably the exception. There is a lot of information to learn all about the surrounding environment and how it is constantly changing(free of charge). The rocking chairs are quite relaxing and the view from them displays the true natural beauty that is Delmarva. Just out side the visitors center there is a trail that leads to a historic farm house. The trail is best experienced with a child's imagination in tacked or borrowed for the day. In the right frame of mind and with the right weather this can be a fun side adventure just to see what's at the end of the trail. On the other side of the road there is a boat launch and fishing pier(make sure you have a fishing license if you plan on crabbing)! At this same location you can find a couple of picnic tables shaded by a few trees but still able to feel the coastal breeze. There is not a more perfect spot than this for having a packed lunch. Then if you continue over the bridge you can try to catch a glimpse of the ponies. It all depends on the day but there are quite a few out there so keep you eyes open. Over the bridge, straight ahead is the entrance to the Maryland state park portion of the island(entrance fee required). If you make your first right you have some more road you can drive down to see the wild ponies before arriving at the National Park entrance (entrance fee required). Overall a great unique experience.

While some times we see then, and sometimes we don't. It is still a beautiful and peaceful place.
The grounds are clean, beaches are not crowded, and beautiful.
Many places to picnic, and explore.

Our camp site was in loop C. It was a beautiful place. It rained our first tonight there and everything flooded. We ended up moving our tent on to the concrete where you park. Had a great time after everything dried out. The horses are everywhere. We even had a young deer wander into our camp. It beach is beautiful. The bath house was even impressively clean. Looking forward to visiting again

I was on a girls trip and we visited Assateague twice on our stay. If you like nature and horses, this is for you. If you are staying in Ocean City for a few days it pays to get the 7 day pass. It is worth. I got alot of nice pictures of the horses and got to see alot more. This is also a good learning experience for kids.

Open all year. Late spring through early fall provides visitors full services including top notch ocean safety crew (lifeguards and more).
And modern hot showers, changing room, lavatories, and food services.
Relatively small parking lot, so beaches can be full but not overcrowded.
The famous wild ponies are usually present, and even on the beach. But be extremely cautious! They are wild and can kick and bite if approached.
The water is safer than many other nearby beach areas, but it goes from shallow to deep quickly with riptides possible. Always check with lifeguard on conditions. The community of local Surfers are generally knowledgeable and friendly, so if no lifeguard is available it's advisable to ask an adult surfer on the beach to describe the conditions and level of safety concerns. The State Park is fantastic. Respect the beauty of the beach, and pick up trash (not just your own). Respect the power of the ocean, be cautious and look out for others who may be in trouble.

Today was the first sunny day in a couple of days and we think it might rain tomorrow so we took a chance that the ponies would be out and about looking for food, and we were right!!! PONIES LEFT AND RIGHT!!! We saw a couple of babies too! There wasn't a lot of people and some of the ponies were sleeping so it was easy to take pictures! The beaches were closed due to the hurricane but that's okay, you can't predict the weather! Seeing the ponies is always a treat!

We picked up a beach vehicle pass to go on the Federal Park beach again this year. The area can be accessed on foot from several parking lots but driving your 4WD car with dog (leashed at all times), fishing rod, cooler, chairs, etc is so much easier. We were also dealing with a strong southeasterly breeze which made it feel much cooler than the 65 degree temperature. We set up the blanket behind the 4Runner to block the wind. I note that it was 80 degrees just about 15 miles inland, the ocean can cool things down! The puppy loved playing in the fairly mild temperature surf edges (yes, still on a leash by park regulations). This beach can be used by a maximum of 145 vehicles, who can sit and watch, fish, swim, etc. If the park is full, you must wait for a vehicle to leave for you to go on. The daytime pass is from 5AM until midnight. Overnight passes are additional cost, but no sleeping is allowed, you must be fishing overnight. The pretty ponies were seen around the area, as was other wildlife. Being early May there was no one near us for about half a mile up or down the beach from us. Note, even early season you can burn quickly, be protected! The Senior Park Pass for me to enter the Federal park can also be used at other Federal parks, at $20/year, a true bargain. A couple of years ago we had stiff winds that were perfect for kite surfing and we had a load of kite surfers to entertain us. Those folks really speed along! Sometimes we will see pods of dolphins cruising just past the surf line too. The fishing is typically hit or miss, and local tackle shops should be consulted for best baits and where to fish. Campsites are also available for those so inclined. Watching a full moon rise over the ocean can be a great experience too. Restroom facilities where we accessed were clean and usable, but basic. The rangers recommend that if one of the wild ponies gets into your stuff, to just let them have it. Better than getting kicked!

Assateague is perfect beach. It's crowded, but not as much so as the public beaches in Ocean City. If you walk a bit away from the ramps, it's much less so. It's got great dunes and looks very natural/ remote, but also has life guards stationed. A nice gift shop and bathroom set up with showers. Lots of parking close to the beach. Entrance fees are very reasonable. You can rent umbrellas, but it's not too far of a walk to a good spot, so bringing your own is fine. Plus-- ponies!! How cool is that? They know how to defend themselves, though-- so don't touch them!

Amazing place very close to OC Maryland!! Go early.. Bring bikes, dogs welcome, picnic food, bathing suits. We only went 1x but for our $25 could have gone back for 6 more days.
Bathrooms but just open pit.
You can also camp but reservation’s are needed.
If you want to see the wild horses, go into the campground.

My family and I visit Assateague frequently, all year round, as we are lucky enough to live in the area. We love the beauty of the beach and the laid-back atmosphere, as compared to the more commercial Ocean City beaches. If seeing the wild ponies is important to you, it's been our experience that they come out consistently in the late afternoon.

We mostly rode bikes on the trails and enjoyed nature and different scenery. We were privileged to see the ponies at a distance and we found a more secluded beach with not so many people.

We camped here in a travel trailer with no hook ups and were very comfortable with the ocean breezes. The shower houses were very nice and well kept. There were plenty of horses in the campground but if you give them room it isn't a problem - it was actually really cool. The beach was gorgeous and the water comfortable. We were able to boogie and skim board. We especially enjoyed going on the beach at night looking for ghost crabs. We also took part in the kayak tour they provide which was $15 a person. It was a good value but I feel our guides were new to leading tours so not as informative as we would have hoped and some of the group was unable to keep up so that made it difficult for them as well. We wished we had our bikes with to use in this beautiful park. This is a beautiful place and a true treasure. We can't wait to come back here again.

Was able to see the wild horses from a distance. some of the area we could not get to as it was reserved for campers

Beautiful beach, very clean and taken care of.
We did not see any horses.
But I’ve heard from others visitors that they come
On the beach frequently.
I only hope that people listen and follow the rules.
They are wild horses, do not feed them so they can stay that way.
Hopefully next time we will see them.

Naturally beautiful sand surf and shells. The day we spent at the beach was the highlight of our camping trip.

We did visit at a good time. It was not too hot and there were not too many bugs. Fellow campers were very friendly and considerate. The beach was very clean, except for horse poop, but it did not bother any of us. Beautiful scenery and clean. The H loop is reportedly where the college students congregate. There is a no alcohol policy, so discretion was obvious. There were no overt signs of partying but everyone seemed in a happy mood. Lots of families there and people of all ages. There are powered sites, and nonpowered sites. People rent Assateague Cottages to place on their sites if they want a little more structure than a tent. Had a wonderful weekend there.

A great day viewing ponies, beach and a really interesting formation center. Watching the 20 min show on ponies was very interesting for all ages.

Awesome experience. Staff was great. Nature center was amazing. We saw over 30 horses. Outpost was very education. Beach - learned to cast and fish from staff. Hung out at marina. All in all a great day !

This beautiful area is less than a half hour south of Ocean City, MD and has beautiful beaches and wildlife. We were fortunate to see many deer and horses roaming the park, horseshoe crabs on the beach, and blue crabs off the pier. The beach was beautiful with soft sand and diligent lifeguards. A must do when in the area!

This is an incredible treasure so close to the hustle and bustle of Ocean City. To really appreciate the full scope of the beauty, park at the welcome center/museum and take a long walk (Short Hike) across the bridge and to the beach. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed!

The island has great walking paths, watch your step. Beaches are exquisite. I was there in the off season end of March so no issues with traffic.

This is not a place for novice campers it can kick your butt. It is a campground of extremes. Heat wind mosquitoes biting flys destructive and mean horses.

Don't come here with a Walmart tent for you first or second adventure in camping. This place can get horrendous amounts of rain and wind in a very short time. Totally swamping you and your family at 2am.

Did I say ticks no shade and strong burning sun?

I've been coming here for years and have seen it all.

Now for the beach access is $6 per person unless you are a Maryland resident then it's $4 per. I find that abusive. On hot summer days this place is packed. Come early. There is a snack shop so there is some food available. There are showers.

This is a bring it in you take it out. No dumpster.
What that means is 20% of the people throw and leave full diapers to beer bottles. Pack in pack out is nice and theory It don't really work though. At what they charge and how many people they get on this beach you would think they could afford some garbage cans. Too much do gooder useless logic.

All that said I rate it a 4 if you're ready for it.

Beach area is nice! Bay Area is where the horses are. They are so cool to look at the kids really loved it. This place was on my bucket list. So happy we were able to go! Def a must see!

This national park is a true national treasure. It is amazing to be able to walk on the beach with wild horses

Choice experiences. Fun. Sun. Swimming. Wife. Oldest son. Bike ride. Priceless. Warm. Safe. Social distancing.

We've been here before but first time bringing our 8yr old twins. They loved it!!! Imagine horses roaming wild- they couldn't believe it! Beaches are amazing-not crowded, clean, restroom facilities, snack bar, everything you need. Easy walk up the boards to the sand and then not far to the beach. Probably one of my favorite beaches. The boardwalk beaches are fine but when you want relax and enjoy the view, listen to the waves and soak it all in, this is the place!

We loved the clean beach and how the park service limits the amount of people on the beach. We didn't see any horses, but
It was solar eclipse Monday, so maybe they were able n hiding anticipating the Apocalypse! Definitely will return to try and see them.

Asseteague Island is absolutely lovely. The long and wide white sand beach is a national treasure. The wild ponies, deer and other critters add to the magic. It’s a great family vacation destination.

The weather was unusually warm but making it a lovley beach day in Assateague. We did see 7 horses on the beach but they are harder to stop this time of year as they travel south. There are about 88 horses on the island total. If you can get a tour by Ben the forest ranger I would set that up!

Love going to AI Beach. If you go, go early to beat the lines. Watch out for the "Wild Horses" they cause traffic jams on the road getting there.

Decent sites, dry camping most sites, water available at entry and dump station, weather very variable, tables and fire rings at every sites. Lower number sites have more space.Bathrooms and showers close by. Horses roam freely on occasions.

My family rented bikes for a lovely bike ride through thre island. Beaches and ponies were beautiful, and the staff ay the visitor center and bike rental place were very knowledgeable and pleasant. I'll gioagain.

If you are in Ocean City please visit this park. We saw so many wild horses . We were able to walk around the park . I hated that horse poop was all over the place. I was surprised that we had to pay 20.00 to go into the park. One side you have to pay 20.00 and the other side you have to pay 5.00. I believe each side should be 5.00.

We visit this place every year because they have the best beach and the wild horses is a bonus to see them.

Although off season and very cold the day we visited it was lovely day walking on beach, visiting the visitors center.
Definitely wish to come back and camp. There are a variety of walk in sites and sites that accommodate drive through.
Seeing the horses was interesting and informative with the film we saw about them at the visitors center.
A variety of walks for any level, including wooden walkways.
There is a fee, but if you have your national parks pass, it's free!
All age appropriate😎

Informative and fun. My wife and I were amazed by the amount of wildlife and natural beauty. Everyone was very friendly.

We love visiting assateague every year. The visitors center is interactive and gives the kids fun stuff to do, including a video to watch on the history and current upkeep of the island. You can camp out and use the beaches here for a fee, but there are places you can drive through without a fee and we always see horses in the main area. Beautiful.

We camped in our RV for the first time at this amazing place. We were there mid April and it was windy but the park was quiet and I liked it a lot. The horses are beautiful and every park ranger there is enthusiastic about encouraging families to explore and view the horses in their element. The bathhouses were immaculate I was surprised for being a state park it was cleaner than some campgrounds double their price. The beach was beautiful we already booked our site for next April I can’t wait to go back!

Majority of bike trails are paved. Nice flat writing surface. The beach is very clean. Porta potties, shower, changing areas available. Lots of parking. Always remember to park facing in. Don't back your vehicle in. These instructions are posted everywhere. There are lifeguard stations but they are not manned in the offseason.

We always go here when we are on the east coast. It's such a quit an beautiful beach. The horses are gorgeous if you get a chance to go when they swim the ponies across its definitely a site to see

If you want to spend a great ocean beach experience with young children, this is it. 1) gently sloping and deep beautiful sand beaches. 2) waves are there but not too rough 3). Nice board walk that takes you at least 1/2 way to site. 4). Other children all around making sand castles and running in waves. 5) very nice restrooms, changing areas and showers 6) beach shop and snack bar and 7). Even though there are lots of people you have plenty of room to set up. This time s not a secluded beach but that is not what you want for children. Sand is perfect for building sand castles. We spent 6 plus hours there and could have done more.

You can see the ponies up close and personal. You can usually find them on the sides of the road. But, remember, these are still wild ponies.

We had such a nice visit here. I had only read about the ponies, and kind of thought we wouldn't see any, but they were everywhere. It was pretty amazing and a bit scary how close they came to us while we were trying to take a walk on the road. We tried our best to stay out of their way...they definately own the area.
Although we did not visit the beach part, it looked beautiful, and the bathrooms were large and clean. It's a great place for a walk, especially if you like sand and sea grass and ocean views.

We visit Assateague frequently, especially when we have visitors in town. Our grandchildren love it and particularly enjoy looking for the ponies. We've found multiple ponies on every visit - as few as 6, and as many as 50. They wander all over the park so it's important to drive around every road.

Pretty shoreline, sandy beach, get there early in warm weather if you want to get a parking spot. Small camping area was reserved for pre-registered camp groups. Don't get the kids all hyped about seeing wild horses...some days you will, some days you won't. Keep it as a surprise if they show up.

Loved it here! Got to see the wild ponies, take pics too. The beach and Atlantic Ocean beachfront was beautiful and clean, well maintained boardwalks take you from the parking lot right to the beach, even a place to rinse the sand off before your vehicle.
Downfall, their gift shoppe/snack bar said it was open but it was not? Was really looking forward to lunch at the beach here.

Wow! Finally got to see these beauties running around! Saw a group of them grazing amongst some campers! Rode throughout the park looking for other sightings and saw some more here and there. Wonderful experience to see them up "rather" close. What amazes me the most is that Assateague wild ponies have roamed the beaches, pine forest, and salt marsh of Assateague Island since the 1600's. Such a treat to see!

We drove both ends of the island. Maryland and Virginia. Not connected anymore due to hurricane erosion but worth the drive to reach both. Saw many wild horses and a few deer. Waterfowl are everywhere. This is our third or fourth trip

This is a review of the National (NOT State) Park section of the Island. The National Park has far less facilities- porta-potties, small shower area. There is a small concession area on the bay side that rents kayaks, etc and has a few picnic tables. This is the area to enjoy quieter activities and while in the summer there are many more people with their umbrellas, it is far, far less than the Ocean City MD scene. Be aware that there are no lifeguards in this section. There are usually people surf fishing so caution for that activity if swimming. The famous feral ponies often come down to the beach AND nose into people lunches and coolers if they are open so keep things CLOSED up- you are not allowed to harass or touch the ponies to move them off. The park rangers often keep an eye on things but are not always around. The volunteer PONY PATROL in golf carts keep an eye to keep visitors and the ponies safe from each other. I have been coming here for at least 50 years and it remains a peaceful haven and special place.

We have been coming here for 10 years. The National Park is joined at the hip to the state park, but with fewer sites, only cold showers and pit toilets- but bayside kayaking. The state park has a camp store, wonderful shower/bathhouses, and sites only a short walk to the ocean. While the entire set of camping loops are being redesigned this coming fall (2018), the new map does not look to upset the small loops, close to water appeal of the camp sites. Camp hosts are in each loop and are consistently useful, informative, and kind. The State Police control the park- so people bent on drinking (no alcohol allowed), carousing after quiet hours, or making problems should go to Chincoteague (Assateague island down on the VA end). The ponies are big pests, so beware. They will stealthily sneak up and steal food, and know how to bully campers who are too meek to rattle empty water jugs at them and shoo them out of a site. STAY AWAY from them- not only because you'll be fined, but the ponies will bite, kick, and shove; but don't be afraid to spread your arms wide, rattle a couple empty jugs at them (put small stones in the jugs for extra noise) and firmly say SHOO. The rabbits, birds, small deer and other wildlife are not pests, and fun to spot. The ocean is always there making a beautiful sound all night. We love this place, and are very grateful that the state of MD is so good at keeping it small, clean, safe, and very worth visiting. Clamming and crabbing can be done on the bayside, as well as kayaking. Biking around the island is fun, and over the bridge to the National Seashore Visitors center is very family friendly and informative. Pick up tide charts and weather reports, ice and fire wood at the ranger station, or grab a burger at the camp store with a small day beach. Beach fishing can be done, and the best red drum we ever had was a gift from a beach fisherman one year. Watch for rip tides, and bring binoculars to spot the porpoise pods swimming past, and pelicans fishing off shore. Tents can suffer in the near constant wind, so be prepared. It is a beautiful, peaceful place- one of the last beaches with superior water quality left on the East Coast. Fair warning- reservations for sites usually have to be made a year in advance if you want to stay more than a few days during high season. For groceries and other supplies, a short jog into West Ocean City or Berlin, MD is worth the trip. But avoid Ocean City proper- it's the worst of over priced, blaring, cheap, crowded college type tourists and venues. Laundry can be done in Berlin at two local laundromats for a reasonable set of quarters. Multiple business rent kayaks (but the best is the shack on the National Park side), RV's, and tents. Plan ahead. Have fun!

This is a very special park because it is located in a thin and long island between the sea and the bay, with a long beach and full of marshes and quiet waterways where you can practice kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, or biking in land if you prefer. All this in an environment where wild horses move around undisturbed. It is better to visit in the spring or fall, because in summer it is too hot and crowded.

Excellent place to go swimming and see horses and look for crabs in the holes in the sand. Perfect for going with the family 30 minutes from Ocean City

I've stayed in a lot of state parks all over the country.This is one of the best. The staff are competent, knowledgeable, and decent in terms of customer service. It is a well managed, clean, quiet, and family friendly park. The prices are decent, especially considering that you are on the ocean (see California State Parks for an example of non-affordable ocean camping). There are hot showers, flushing toilets, and a concession stand (they call it a restaurant/grill, but that's not appropriate).

Don't expect much privacy between sites, since this is really beach camping just slightly hind the beach berm.

They have a day access area that is available for a fee and a separate area available for those who are camping. The two areas a separated and you need a code to access the camping area.

The non-camping, fee area is very nice, with bath houses and a beach access. This area also has life guards while the camping area portion of the beach does not.

It is surreal to see horses walking through your camping area. Very cool and the park does a great job of informing people how to behave in relation to the wildlife

Overall a great State Park in a beautiful area. Highly recommended.

We saw horses on the drive in. The beach is absolutely gorgeous. We really enjoyed our visit. It costs $4 for Maryland residents, but my husband got in free because he is a veteran.

Upon arrival, we saw several of the wild ponies grazing happily nearby. There were lots of song bird flitting around. On the beach we found pretty shells. The beach was super-clean. We walked toward Ocean City- the view was great! There was an east wind so no problem with bugs. 'Cant wait to return when the gift store/snack bar is open!

I the park seem nice. It was a cost to go to the beach. I only wanted to get the park stamp for my National Park book, but due to COVID-19 the visitor center was closed. We did see some of the wild horses .

We prefer the beaches of Assateague to OC because it's laid back. The park has hiking & biking trails, kayak & canoe access points & rentals. Go clamming in the bay, fishing is on the beach, in designated areas, as well as camping & bonfires. You may, also, drive your vehicles onto the beach, but check with the park office for details. There are no stores, rides or noise, just the sound of the ocean and the occasional ponies (hide the chips!) Note: DO NOT attempt to pet or get close to the ponies, they will bite and kick. If you forget something, there is a store, as well as bathrooms and showers. The parking lot gets crowded, but there are always people coming and going, so spots do open up regularly. The cost to get into the park is $22 a car load, but if you are a Senior, by all means, buy the National Park Pass for $10. The Pass will give you free entrance to all National Parks. As long as there is a Senior with a Pass in each car, the carload gets in for free. Assateague is a nice place to visit any time of year. Stop at the visitors center, while you're there, to learn the history of the island, and the ponies. Buy some nice items at the gift shop, and you can even "adopt" a pony. Proceeds support the park.

My boyfriend and I love the beach and we figured what’s cooler than falling asleep to ocean waves AND wild horses running around. This spot did not disappoint. The second we got over the bridge we saw our first set of horses and continued to see them in that spot only, the rest of the trip. We paid only $30 a night and a $20 island fee to come and go for 7 days which was amazing price. The camp spots were clean and nicely sized. The spots around us were full but you still didn’t feel on top of people. This was our first real camping and if we loved camping we’d be back again but for us Assateague will be a day trip from now on LOL. We really enjoyed camping here and the whole experience. The bathrooms and showers were clean and close to camp, lit at night for accessibility. There is a walmart within 20 minutes and a camp store within 5 minutes. I totally recommend this to everyone now and cannot say enough how much we enjoyed this trip.

my daughter like this beach better than ocean city beach she is 9 and she said the waves are much calmer it does cost $20 for a 7 day pass but it is worth it just to see the wild horses which are cool

After seeing the great reviews on Trip Advisor, we decided to give this place a visit. Staying in Ocean City for vacation, this was about 20 minutes away. The beaches were clean, beautiful, quiet. Softer sand and more shells than OC. Wild horses were fun to see roaming the island. Was a great day trip. Cost us $5/family member. We agreed was worth the $. We visited the state park beach. The other entrance was @$25/car, offered weekly rates. Had to choose one or the other, fee not applicable to both parks. Was fun to watch the horses come to the beach for an unknowing families snacks and food to eat! Great experience!

Very beautiful. We found the pony's in the camp grounds. Also a lot of birds travel through the area so really good birding during the migratory times. There were ton's of mosquitos so be prepared with bug spray.

Assateague Is brimming with stunning wildlife, wild ponies and the ocean. What a great way to spend the day!

I guess it is neat to see wild horses wandering in the park, but the poor beasts have been so exposed to humans that they didn't seem wild to me. I think the horses have been desensitized to human encounters. We did see a mare with a new foal, and we had enough good sense to stay away from the foal...maternal instinct being what it is. Since you were really not permitted to feed not pet the animals, the event was like a giant 3D video game. However, the visitors center was informative and worth the trip. I would recommend going there first.

The best part of an adult family trip. Thought it was going to be a buck list trip and now it’s going to be a yearly visit.

Ponies everywhere, great beaches and 4x4’s allowed on the beach. That’s something we will do next time.

Worth the effort and glad to have seen it. Better next year.

Pretty cool huge clean beaches, not very fun or cool on overcast day. Saw three horses that were laying down. Definitely make sure weather is nice if your coming.

We were lucky enough to see the ponies - 7 in total all together with a foul. We also stopped and took a 4 mile walk - there were flies that kept buzzing our heads so wear a hat if possible and load up on bug spray. We were there on a cooler day "60" so I can imagine it being quite a bit buggier on a warmer day with no wind.

We also stopped and took the short walk up to the lighthouse which is very pretty - it is not open to walk into but nice spot for pictures.

It was $10 to get in.

My husband and I and 2 daughters (2 & 4) enjoyed a day at a beach on Assateague State Park. My daughters would not stop talking about the ponies on the beach. While they weren't exactly on the beach, they were on the sides of the road as we drove through and a short distance away in the salt marshes. It is so neat to see these types of animals in an environment that you wouldn't normally see them in. The visitor center was helpful in providing information about the beaches and the fees and gave us maps and brochures which had a lot of great information about the ecosystems on the island. We spent the afternoon at one of the beaches that had bathrooms, changing stalls and outside showers to rinse off. The beach had lifeguards which is always great to see when you have children. We all enjoyed such a nice day swimming and building sand castles and seeing the ponies was an added perk. This is a place you have to see if you are in the area.

Have lived on the Shore for over 50 years and have never walked through the information center. I was so impressed and can’t wait to go back. Got to see several horses, deer and heron.

What a mesmerizing park. We were welcomed by the beautiful horses. The beach was so beautiful.
Don’t forget to stop at each lookout. You will be happily surprised to see so many places.
Personally one of my favorite beach.
It is only half an hour drive from Ocean city. If you are somebody like me who likes nature and calmness you rather prefer this park over Ocean city.
I was completely in Zen!!
A must if you are around Ocean city!

Went to park to see the horses we were luckily they were drinking from the showers great to see them up close
Beach was lovely glad we did not have to walk it to see horses
I thought the cost a bit expensive for the short time we spend there

Another great visit to the beach!!! We visited the State beach this time, as there were no lifeguards at the national park beach 2 miles south. As we visited during labor day holiday (3 days), the weather was nice, swells were manageable and no horses, except on the roads.

Depending on which way the wind was blowing, the sand flies weren’t biting til the wind came from the west!

I must say their New Gift Shop and Snack Bar was really nice!!! The construction crew was still building the restrooms, so the prive’s were the only thing available.

Surfs Up!

We stopped at the visitors center and was pleased with the information and displays. This is the first time I've visited since they rebuilt the visitors center. We enjoyed reading about the island and seeing the information available. The gift shop was nice and had a lot of little things to pick up as gifts.

This is my favorite beach. It usually is not crowded and when the Assateague wild ponies visits, it can be fun. It is not unusual to sit on the beach with a pony or two lying next to you. Watch out for any food brought to the beach! The horses even know how to open coolers.

We are going to this beach from last 3 years regularly and always something new to explore. State park is well managed as compared to the national park with great amenities like hot shower with well-lit bathrooms.

Best site to book will be on the sand. But be prepared to have extra long pegs if you haven't camped on sand before

What an amazing day. What a beautiful beach and the water was astonishing. Bought a park pass for the week and going to go back a few more times

Drove down from Bethany Beach. Spotted a herd of horses as soon as we crossed the bridge. Saw many more in the marshes, on the road, by the beach. Beaches are outstanding, clean, not many people, very well kept. Have shower facilities close by. Worth the trip

This was our second camping experience there in 2 years, and similar experiences. Our campsite was E108, right at the foot of the dune where people walk over the dune to access the beach. The site was clean and accommodated our truck and 28 foot trailer. The site had a paved driveway, and a good sized area of deep, soft sand.
Womens bathroom was 'okay', men's bathroom (per hubby) was 'good'. Our biggest concern was the lack of obeying the speed limit within the camping loop. There were many people walking, on bikes/skateboards, etc., and the horses, and many drivers were going way too fast around the loops. Again, as our site was right next to the beach, we had several days of high wind, yet when we walked around the loop away from the beach, it was more protected/not as windy.

We loved it here! We drove all around every nook and cranny. Hiked in the woods, had some beach time, and of course the wild ponies!!!! It was peaceful, clean, and just a great place for the soul. Can't wait to go back!!

Lots of horses were out to be seen as well as enjoying the water - Little to no wind and warm spring weather made for a great time

I usually come in the summer but we decided to stop by here today. It was actually really nice. It was empty and we saw so many horses.
In the summer I've never really seen it crowded. You just have to be careful you have all your food closed. I've seen horses go into bags and help themselves.

A great place to take pictures!

The wild horses are fun to watch. We saw one steal oreo cookies out of a beach bag. Although it was pretty funny they should not be fed by the public. A few patrons of the park insist on petting them and usually get nipped. The different sea birds and sika deer are pretty interesting as well. The only bad thing is the mosquitos are the size of a small plane. Wear bug spray during spring through the fall.

This is a nice place to visit with your family, or solo visit or with a group of friends. I enjoy seeing all sorts of wildlife over here. There are lots of wild ponies and during the summer months you can see brown pelicans. You can go camping here, surf fishing, surfing,paddle boarding, kayaking. If you decide to go on the other side of Assateague off of Bayberry Drive you can build a campfire on the beach and also on a clear moonless night you can see the Milky Way. It cost $20 to go on the other side and once you get that pass from the park ranger it’s good for five days.

With very nice weather in the winter, we could walk along the beach area. However, we did not see wild horses in the state park. Maybe they all went to the national park next door.

Beautiful park. Camping area looks to be a great place to stay. The wild horses were beautiful to watch. Letting air out of tires and driving on the beach was fun to do and finding a good spot to park and set up beach for the day was easy to do. Beautiful beach and the water was just as nice. The pull off area to walk out on a bridge was a lot of fun. People were crabbing. The horses roam pretty freely near people and cars. Fun day for all.

Assateague is a wonderful park on the Ocean. A relaxing getaway from the large crowds in Ocean City. Scenic and rustic, it is a beautiful setting. If you are there long enough you will see all kinds of wildlife including the famed Assateague ponies.

It was an overcast day and chilly--- but thankfully not raining -- like the previous few days of our trip---- we had a great few hours interacting with the beautiful horses --- that roam freely on the island Hope to come back here again --on a warmer sunny day to enjoy the beach as well !

Beautiful peaceful trip to watch the wild horses .. Perfect photo opportunity to be one with nature. Great for families to visit beach, clamming , bird watching to bike riding, kayaking something for everyone to do .. The admission to park was good for five days which gave ample time to explore and enjoy ..

We have Day visited the State Park and National Park for 40 plus years and saw an open camp spot so we jumped on the opportunity.... so glad we did!!! We stayed in loop H site 28 and it was amazing! So relaxed, clean and peaceful. The bath house was superior to most any campground we have ever stayed at, wonderful hot showers and clean,clean, clean. The bathhouse we used was between loop G and H 2nd shower stall was by far the most powerful 😊. Remember your bug spray and camera!! Enjoy the ponies from a distance, drive slow and take your trash to the convenient dumpsters right beside the bath house for your safety and the ponies. There is not a lifeguard on duty, the beach is not crowded..almost like a private beach because only the campers seemed to be in the area. Store seemed overpriced but they do offer food, drinks and coffee.

The Assateague Parks are a wonderful place to visit. Bring the whole family. Where else can you go to see horses that live on the beach and run free. I would recommend this to anyone..........but please don't feed the horses. Great photo opportunity too.

I love going to Assateague island, not only is the beach beautiful, but you get a nature show. The wild ponies are amazing and the sitka deer are beautiful. Not far from the beach is a kayak launch, where you can explore the bay. The fees are 25 dollars for the week. Or if your a senior, you can buy a National State park pass, and it is free to enter any National park in the USA.
So get away from the hustle and bustle of Ocean City, and come spend time in Assateague Island.

Lived in Maryland, have gone to a Ocean City for years, and had never been to Assateague! It is like no other, with wild ponies and a nice beach! Ponies were crossing the road and a few even stopped to have their picture taken!! Everyone should visit at least once in their life, and not wait till they are in their 70’s!
When we were visiting a Ocean City this last summer, we took the Assateaque boat tour which really helped us know a little more about the island!

Had not been to Assateague since I was a child, this trip brought back memories, seeing the horses wandering free around the island was awesome. There were lots of campers using tents on the dunes and the beach was really clean and beautiful. I highly recommend this park, great back to nature visit.

We always spend a majority of our time on vacation at Assateague. We love all of our wild horse experiences, the beautiful sunsets, and the quiet beaches. We'll see you again next year.

Nice state park, merges with the national park system as you go through the area. The beach environment is different is best I can say. You need to experience it, it's refreshing, makes you feel a bit better inside. The only real downside is you need to be careful because it's a park and the ponies deposit as they will.

Nice place to visit if your staying in Ocean City. About a 8 mile drive to Assateague State to see the ponies grazing or drinking from ponds. It's $20 for car to get in and they have a really nice beach to swim in also. The ponies can be seen on the road to the Park without even entering for the $20. Then there's even more ponies in the Park. However my best pictures were on the way in and out of the $20 fee park.

I've been to what I believe is this park from the Chincoteague side before twice and I never saw wild horses while I was there. From this side though, I passed three wild horses just driving up to be able to pay. So this side definitely seemed to have more of that (from my experience). Be ready to pay $25 to get in. I didn't realize it was that much. But it's a really nice experience. I spent a lot of time on the beach. Even though it was spring, there were still a decent amount of people hanging out on the beach and I even saw a couple surfers. It's a nice park that I would recommend you visit.

Came here for a day trip and a bike ride in late September. Wasn't crowded at all. Saw a few horses. Pretty beaches. Enjoyable outing.

Our second time to Assateague, first to the state park (other was the national seashore). We couldn't get an electric site, bummer. but what we did get was right over the dunes from the ocean. I will not mention the bad weather, as I don't believe that should have any baring on a park review. There are things I like about this state park more than the national seashore. I like the bath houses more ( seriously, try the outdoor showers on the back of the bath house!) I like the camp store and concession stand more. Finally, although we're not traveling with kids, I liked that they have plenty of activities for kids ( they had an outdoor movie night)

Camping here is tuff. Only a few camp site with electic. NO WATER or SEWER. dump station and water refill only one on island. reservation system is a mess to fight through. When you do get ther and set up, JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUITE, BEAUTIFUL SUN RISES AND SUN SETS, ENJOY NATURE'S BEAUTY.

Such a beautiful peaceful place. We were lucky enough to see the horses as soon as we drove in. Beautiful creatures. Beach is much quieter for walking than the crowded ones north.

Whether you walk, camp or just drive through this amazing local gem, this is Aniston-see for all nature lovers.

We spent four afternoons and evenings here during this stay. We saw a plethora of wildlife--Shore birds, deer, rabbits and, of course, the wild horses. Please notice the WILD qualifier. Do not get too close to, or attempt to feed, the horses. But bring your camera. This is a must-see.

awesome! saw ponies up close and they chased each other past us. plan to spend the whole day or more to thoroughly see and enjoy everything after April 26 when more events available

My grand daughter loves the horses. You can get close enough to take pictures, but don't touch or feed! Beach is a lot less crowded than Ocean City boardwalk.

We sayed here in July. We had heard so many good things about it. We waited a year for reservations. Most things people said were true but several important to us things were very bad.
The park had a lot of rules but everyone don't have to obey them. This made for problems for us. 1 was generators. Loud commercial generators are allowed to run from 7am till 10pm. You can complain and the Rangers talk to them but when they don't comply with the noise warnings nothing happens to them. 2 is dogs the loop we were in there was not suppose to be dogs. There was 2 and they were left in the camper most if the day alone. They barked for hours. The owners were on the beach. We complained to the Ranger. The owners insisted that they were servce Dogs. I saw nothing to indcate they were. Not behaved left alone never saw them do anything but be carried around like babies. They were spoiled little ankle biters.
3 The showers were unclean. There are cleaners assigned to them all day but some areas were never touched. There was stuff growing. Some black colored mold. Some green algae or mold. (See pics) There was a cleaning supervisor driving around but it is obvious he is not supervising. A supervisor would look once in awhile and if they saw this filth make them clean it. 8 hours a day to clean 2 restrooms and a couple showers. This is horrific. We drove to to shower to several bath houses and all were pretty much the same.

Certain things were fine and you can read reviews on here about them. Like we did.

I think I know a little bit about cleaning, this did not happen in a day or in 30. It's just incompetents and negligence.

We have small kids and and with all the horror stories about infections now if it was just these showers alone they are too big of a problem to have us ever come back.

It is just a beautiful place! You have the ocean, beach, marshes, and pine forest. Then add the ponies and their amazing history and you have a wonderful spot to visit, unwind and enjoy

Beautiful, uncrowded beach, can walk for miles. We were here on a sunny, windy day and it was the perfect time to be there.

Traveled there hoping to get a glimpse of the ponies to no avail. Some of the ponies came down with the rare tropical disease - oomycete Pythium insidiosum that causes lesions that can cause amputations. They get it from the swampy water. Hoping that the disease can be stopped soon and the animals returned to their island.

What's not to love about driving and walking around on this Island with horses roaming freely! Even in winter time!! We saw lots of horses. We heeded the posted advice of NOT trying to get close and NOT trying to feed them anything. We felt safe. We also enjoyed walking on the Dunes path out to the Dunes and beach. The Park Ranger at the gate was very helpful and friendly and took his time with us even though there there a couple of cars in line behind us. We were grateful for his advice and help. GREAT place to visit.

We saw horses! We played in the waves and sand! And then we packed up quickly when a storm was rolling in. All in all, it was a great, memorable visit.

I love this place, but the black flies will drive you away even if you use bug spray. Fortunately, we got to see the horses before that. Come prepared. Wrap yourself in a mosquito net--it's that bad. Draws blood. The dressing room is something from a horror movie with flies covering the walls. Terrible.

Assateague Island is a must-do visit in this area. We prefer the National Park end. We have never failed to find some wild horses here, as sometimes happens on Chincoteague. Great beach, ocean and bay views and of course the horses. Nice!

Although the thunderstorms cut our day short, we always love to go to Assateague. The beach is easy to access and the lifeguards are diligently on watch. Of course I'd like to see more wild ponies than a few in the marsh or getting herded across the street by the rangers. Unfortunately the rangers were not allowing anyone to stop and get any pictures of the only five horses in sight. We go to this beach every year just about and have no problem paying $18 to enjoy the sun, sand and beautiful landscapes.

We went over for the day while in the area. It was beautiful! Loved the marsh, the beach and of course the wild horses.
The visitor center is very nice and informative. A great place to drive, bike or hike. You can rent bikes and kayaks on the island as well.

Highlight of my vacation! Highly recommended, one of the best places I have ever visited. Stop in the visitor's center first to ask questions, staff/rangers are very informative. There is also a gift shop and educational center. There are 2 section to the beach, state and federal. State is $5 pp per day, Federal is $25 but you can come back for an entire week. (TIP: if you are a senior and have a discount card, admission to the Federal side is free!) All in all, the beach areas are continuous and the horses roam freely back and forth all day long. We did not see horses on the beach when we went because it was very hot, they tend to me inland but you can see them from the roadways, bike paths, walkways, etc. We stayed on the federal beach section 4 (You can get a map inside the visitors center). Perfect location as suggested by the rangers. There are life guards, restrooms and snack shops on both beaches. The water was perfect with beautiful waves. I will DEFINITELY be back.

We tried a Trail walk that started out ice , then we got destroyed by huge mosquitoes . They attacked 6 at a time . They were hige and left huge bite marks . The kids and I ran back to escape the swarm of blood suckers .
Once we got pack to parking lot No more issues .we saw plenty of ponies Ali the road and beach and Very beautiful

We brought my out of town sister and brother-in-law this summer (July) for their first visit to AI and they thoroughly enjoyed it and got to see at least a dozen of the wild horses just driving and walking along! We stopped at the Information Center first to take in the video for the history, highly recommended! There's a public pier and terraced walking trail where you can drop crab traps or just walk and get a better view of the marshlands. We have an annual pass and like to bring our bikes in the off season. Don't forget to bring your National Parks' Passports!

Beautiful state park with many things to do. Beaches, trails, and wildlife everywhere. The views are stunning. There were many horses throughout the park. Drive past the main parking lots loaded with cars and people. There are many little side lots and places to explore. Keep going into the park, lots of out of the way beaches and picnic areas. Pack your gear and food since there really isn't anywhere to buy it here. Lots of exploring or just sit and read a book. Great place

Camped there for the last three years and love it..talk about back to nature. Wild horses come right into the camp grounds to say hello everyday..it is only camping though..be it tent, camper, or motor home..no motels here. Nothing like cooking over a camp fire for all your meals and snacks..a stones throw from a beach where very few people are, because the beach is so long and the camp sites are spread out. Very nice bath facilities, which were just redone. Take your bikes and enjoy the bike trails for miles..Make your reservations..go and enjoy..

We did the hiking trails to see if we could fine the horses. It was cold and windy but the kids enjoyed walking on the beach. The trails are on the federal park which is a $20 fee for 7 days. We enjoy visiting.

There’s no charge to visit; the wild horses are allowed to freely wander the island; the beach was deserted and the marshes looked prehistoric.

Off season is a great time to visit. Crowds are gone. Seasons are changing. Just a few people and the horses.

Re-started an old family tradition of coming down right before Thanksgiving. First time visit for my 3 yr old and 1 yr old grandchildren. They loved seeing the many wild horses and enjoyed walking on the beach collecting shells.

We took our bikes to the park on a sunny Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the bike paths, nature and saw only one wild horse. We renewed our annual pass for $40 for future visits and when we have out of town friends. There were still lots of campers and people enjoying the beaches on this Sunfest weekend.

We visited Assateague as part of our annual anniversary trip. It is absolutely wild and beautiful! The ponies are magnificent and very photogenic. The Visitor Center has excellent introductory films and the staff is friendly and helpful. They have a great history and nature display, as well as a large gift shop.

We had an absolutely wonderful time in Assateague State Park. I was thrilled to see the horses up close,near the road & so lovely. Next trip we will spend more time investigating the history of the area & the plantation.

Assateague is a barrier island that has a state and federal park, both are top notch, the fed side has a wonderful visitor center, the state side has a giftshop/resteraunt, the beaches allow campfires, fishing, and off road vechicals in specific locations... wild horses are the prime attraction, GREAT PLACE!!

We drove through the park and could not get over the number of horses, deer, and shorebirds you could see from the road. Even though our time was limited, the number of sights made the trip more than worth while. A great way to escape the hustle of Ocean City for a while.

Nice beach water nice and clear. We traveled here for the day while camping at Cape Henlopen it’s definitely a nice spot to see wild horses just roaming

When you are tired of the hustle and bustle of life or the noise of Ocean City's boardwalk this place will restore your inner peace. As a bonus you may see deer or the ponies. We have gone several times and have seen just one or on other days as many as 35 ponies. Even when we see only one we enjoy the quiet beauty and vistas of this place.

Pretty place. The beach was nice. Did not see many horses. The bathrooms at the beach are glorified port a potties.

We were lucky enough to see the horses in the parking lot. They were raiding a families car for food or something. They warn you to stay 40 feet away from them. But just keep in mind this doesn't work if they stick there heads inside your car which is what we saw happen. There are 85 horses on this side. We saw 11. Really cool for the kids to see. Watch the speed bumps on the way in. You can bottom put.

We visited in the hope of seeing some of the wild horses and we were not disappointed! Visit the information center first & watch the movies. Firstly it gives you a great understanding of the Park and the staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The scenery is beautiful and the horses are all they say ... just keep your distance.

We got the OSV pass and were able to take our truck on the beaches. There is not an option for a daily pass so we had to pay $110 for the annual pass. There were horses all over the park, including when we first entered in the parking lots, walking down the road, and on the beaches. The beaches are clean, the water is clear, and there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy privacy. We saw foxes, different species of birds, dolphins, horses, etc. It was an excellent experience and a must do!

After being disappointed on the Virginia side of Assateague and Chincoteague we finally got to see our ponies! My eleven-year-old daughter was ecstatic. We had a military park pass which was free but normally I think you have to pay something like $20 to get into the state park. Once in there are several different places you can head but we took the first left and round around to the camping area. It was drizzling and cold so we weren't really thrilled about hiking so much. Right away off the road we saw a couple of ponies grazing and thought jackpot. If we don't see anymore at least we saw these guys. We kept going around the campgrounds and we actually found a whole herd of about five or six ponies. The whole place was deserted of cars and camper so we just park wherever we wanted and got out and wandered up to them. There's signs everywhere that say to stay 10 feet away and not feed them and we obeyed this but that's still got us really close! After we got our fill and took a bajillion pictures, we got back in our van and pulled around and through which took us right back by the herd we slow down and rolled down their Windows to get a better View and two of the ponies actually started coming right up to her van. I'm pretty sure they've been fed out of cars before to be this comfortable. We partially rolled up our Windows admired this super close up of the beautiful ponies. It was a great trip.

Great family beach. Nature at its best. On a clear day you can see north to Ocean City, MD. Been coming here since 1992.

This was my first time visiting the island. It is a very well kept, nature minded park. The beach was full, but the crowd was filled with families and had a very zen vibe. There were a lot of cigarette butts on the beach, due to people just throwing them down, but we didn't see anyone throwing them down while there. If the beach is full, you won't see horses, but will have many chances to while driving through the park, or hiking on one of many trails. There is also a nice little shower station to rinse before going to your car. So far, nothing beats the environment at this park.

Assateague is divided between the state park and the national park. The state park is fantastic for beach goers. I spent a windy afternoon as the only one on the beach. I walked for miles, enjoying the beauty of an unspoiled beach. Highly recommend.

We stayed at the camp ground (go D loop!) for two days and two nights. Bring your own wood, and make sure you have all the right camping gear because the store is expensive. The horses are cool, but you have to be careful because they WILL bite or charge you. Also, it gets very hot at night in July so I suggest a tent fan.

While the sunrise proposal on the beach surrounded by wild horses was incredible - being woken up in the middle of the night because a mob of hungry ponies wanted to eat grass next to your tent while you are sleeping on the ground and their gnawing teeth and hooves are mere inches away from your face and the only thing separating you is a few millimeters of tent canvas WAS TERRIFYING. I guess we made it out alive but still I guess if it happens to you don't move or anything because you could be trampled.

The place was very clean and well looked after. It was great to see the horses just doing their thing and it was nice to see everybody respecting the rules with distance etc.
There was a few nice walks and the beach was very clean. We had a great time there.

There was on thing that bugged me. When out with my camera trying to take photos of animals, there were signs warning people who were not hunters not to enter certain zones! Now... that tells me that I shouldn't go places in order to take photos of animals with my camera, yet if I could be go and shoot them if I wanted to... I know I'm a Brit, but I really don't understand the way people's minds work - cowardly shooting things which will never shoot back. Very odd.

Not the experience I was expecting. Not many ponies nor horses in the island. Plus we saw there few ponies in the free area before paying. Then once we were in the park (and paid $25) we only saw maybe one more. But the beach access was nice and not crowded.

Wildlife, camping and beaches. It doesn't get any better than this for wide open spaces, nature, beach and access. We didn't camp - but if I was a camper this is where I would want to spend time. Wild ponies are a bonus. Beautiful drive.

Our Girl Scout troop camped on the beach in tents...J Loop to be specific. If camping in J Loop, be prepared to have to walk all of your gear and such from the parking spaces outside of the J Loop. This was not clear when we made reservation. Carrying big totes of kitchen and camping gear thru the sand was not easy...but we made it. Mosquitoes were everywhere...even in the bath house -- getting bit while you are trying to shower and a bit defenseless...well, let's just say I came home with bites where I've never had them before! Really bad thunder and lightning storms came thru the one night with winds gusting up to 40MPH...we slept in our cars that night to be safe...it was extremely hot and uncomfortable, but at least we felt safer than sleeping in tents on the beach with the lightning all around us! Bath house was extremely clean. I've experienced tent camping on the beach now...no need for me to do it ever again. LOL But the park itself is beautiful and well maintained facilities.

I was at this beautiful place on Saturday with my children it was very nice sunny day my son had so much fun I love this place.I love to come here often I want to come back soon maybe I’m lucky and can see the guy that make my heart beeps 😍omg he is so handsome he is a white guy with his 2 children I’m in love 😍 with him 😅

This area is so nice. We only had a short time to tour the island and we can’t wait to go back and explore. You can rent kayaks, canoes and crabbing gear. We easily could have spent the entire day here and still not had enough time to explore the whole island. So happy to see the horses close up.

No traffic or parking nightmares. $3/$5 to get in for a whole car load. Clean, family friendly beach. Calm/relaxing, not overcrowded with obnoxious people. Wild horses came within feet of us and laid down for a nap, a young deer came up close for pictures, we saw lots of sharks/dolphins out a ways in the ocean, a couple horseshoe crabs. Great place for kids.

It is absolutely one of the best campgrounds I have ever been to . Where else can you go and camp 50 yards plus(depending on your site) from the beach? The park is run pretty good to try to make everyone's camping experience a positive one. There are rules set in place to insure that everyone enjoys themselves, It's unfortunate that some people don't think the rules apply to them and spoil the adventure that is Assateague Island for those around them.

My sister and her family come here all the time to go,to,the beach, they have wild horses running around. Lots of trails and places to walk.

When you enter, you can access the Visitor's Center at no charge, and there is an oceanside beach just past the Visitor's Center. The Visitor's Center contains a small "museum" of information and facts about Assateague and the displays are well curated and interesting. However, to really see the wild horses and to access another oceanside beach or the bay beach, you have to pay $20 to enter the park. We were not camping, but the camping areas seemed very nice. The horses are pretty amazing - you are not to touch them, or even get near them, or feed them, and they are pretty comfortable getting close to humanity so you get that up close and personal experience. The children (3, 4 and 5 years old) loved seeing the horses. We opted for the bayside beach which is pretty shallow and good for littles, but it is extremely dirty and doesn't seem to be maintained very regularly. Lots of bottle caps that can rip your foot open, a few syringes, litter, and, should the horses visit, lots of horse poop. There are picnic tables and a few grills which is very nice. There was ample parking. The port-a-potties are beyond disgusting so better to use facilities at the Visitor's Center than even think of using one of them. Even with all the negatives, it was a nice, calm experience in a really pretty environment. The oceanside beach looked cleaner and very nice.

We spent 4 days here in our motor home. Sites are kind of close together, but not too bad. Hot showers (free) and flush toilets. Some electric sites, but they fill up early.

Beautiful place , would definitely go back. $20 to get on and the pass is good for 7 days. My son and I went for the day .

If you love nature, you will love the park. The wold horses come right up on the beach but be careful they are relentless at taking your food!! We have have the best of luck clamming there and enjoying them for dinner. There is also a couple of nature trails but sometimes the mosquitoes and horse flies are overbearing. There is plenty of activities to do there including camping, kayaking, hiking, bike riding and of course swimming.

Didn’t realize that there were two different parks. Had read a review that said to take the first right after the bridge - which we did. Saw many horses at the corner. Glad we took that right - it lead us to the federal park which we then saw more horses. The entry fee is higher for federal than the state but the land seems bigger. We later heard that others didn’t see horses on a different day so we felt fortunate to have seem them. Glad we went.

You have to check this place out. Wild horses (92 of them) roam free and there are deer all over as well. Block out a few hours as you will want to walk along the beach and trails as the beauty is something else. You can even go crabbing as there are guides that will provide you with a net and bait and show you how to catch a crab. Bring your camera as you will want to snap photos. Stay clear of the horses--fines will be levied if the horses don't get you. Great family spot.

**Only bad thing about this park is they charge you $20 bucks to get in. That's a bit steep.

The beaches here are nice & there is plenty to space to enjoy the ocean. If you are lucky, you will also see some wild horses.

Stopped by to get a taste of future visits this summer with the family. In laws live 20 min away so had to stop by and revisit our favorite beach. Saw the horses on the way there and a couple flying unusually cool kites. My father in law had a senior pass so we got in for free but it $20/week so take advantage of the time you spend there.

We felt so lucky today on our first time visit. Paid $20 for car for 7 days. I really thought we wouldn't see the horses but OMG they were so many today and so beautiful to see them in natural habitat. We even seen a baby foal... The beach was so beautiful with the white sand. The current was strong today but water was 72 degrees. We had such a peaceful day away from ocean city going back tomorrow. Unfortunately a thunder storm came and we had to leave early but seriously it was a beautiful day in a hidden gem ..... dont think about it just go it's so incredibly beautiful there ... we are scottish visiting for first time xox oh and we never got any bugs around us ....

The beach is wonderful and not too crowded for us but the winds were from the West and the biting flies were too much to deal with for long. Some friends who’ve lived there a long time say they generally don’t even go out there unless the winds are from the North or East.

Wild Horses? You bet. White sandy beaches and lots of walking. Don't expect the horses to be roaming on the beach next to you but they can be seen from the road.

Four adults and we immediately came upon three ponies on the side of the road. I U-turned and stopped right beside them. Big mistake. A wildlife officer in a white SUV saw the whole thing and stopped in front of us, blue and red lights flashing. A really good guy, a true professional and he warned us of a $300.00 fine. We had not seen the "they bite, they kick and stay 40 feet away" sign(s). One of the ponies stuck his head through the passenger window and as we petted his nose, the wildlife officer responded. Two veterans in our group and we understand and obey rules and regulations. We simply missed the sign and we all appreciated the officer's response.

The HORSES are always a favorite with us every time we visit Assateague. The are so rambunctious and comical! We follow the same camping rules that we use for camping in "bear country:" Be aware of odors and fragrances, never eat in the tent, never leave food or trash lying about, clean up immediately after cooking and eating, and store all food and coolers in the LOCKED vehicle. I would also add, if you are eating on the beach, finish your meal completely and securely stow all trash. If you strictly follow all of these rules, you will avoid a campsite or beach blanket raid by the horses. You can simply sit back and enjoy them as they saunter on past.

We last visited in mid-Spetember 2020, and the weather, though a bit windy, was good. I did get bitten by biting flies, but it wasn't too bad because of the stiff ocean breeze which tended to blow them away. The state of Maryland is doing an EXCELLENT job with maintaining and caring for this lovely state park. The bathhouses were very clean and MODERN, with HOT SHOWERS. The campsites are very clean, and free of horse manure (a big problem on the Federal side). I highly recommend this place.

We have been here in the summer, the last visit it was 100 degrees. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day it was around 18 degrees with strong winds. We saw more horses in the winter then at any time in the summer. Also, the scenery was so dramatically different, it made the visit seem like we had never been there before. The fee for the National Park is $20 but access to the park is good for one week. If you love beautiful animals in a wild, natural setting, Assateague will not disappoint you.

We've been there many times and each time it's a new adventure. Just seeing the wildlife in it's own environment and living wild and free is a great experience. Early morning and late afternoon is when the wildlife move around the most. I really enjoy the off season when there are not lots of people and the animals respond to the cooler temps and are more active. A great place to visit and bring children. The bay and ocean are beautiful.

It was a cloudy, rainy day when we visited but the museum was very interesting. They have live presentations- we were the only ones there at the time so it was one on one. The water display was very interesting. They told us the horses weren't really around today but we drove a little bit up the road and there was a pull over spot you could see the horses out on the beach. Friends of ours went the day before when it was nice and they said the horses walked right passed you.

Assateague State Park is a beautiful beach side nature reserve with unspoiled beaches, sand dunes, and lovely camping and picnic areas. Unique to this park is a herd of wild horses that roams the park. There are also numerous native animal species of birds and other wildlife to be observed. Bring your binoculars.

The visit to this park is worth the $25 entrance fee (valid for 7 days).
Totally free-ranging horses live and walk as they please, whether on roads, wild camping or beautiful white sandy beaches.
Beautiful bike and pedestrian paths.
This absolutely unique and wonderful site is definitely worth a visit, even if it is only for 1-2 hours.
I saw at least thirty horses in less than 2 hours! Do it again!

So unique. Adjacent to Assateaque Seashore National Park, so the beach, ocean, and wooded areas all combine. Camping with permits. Home of the famous Assateaque wild horses. They are beautiful and if you are lucky, you will catch the Mommas with their new babies. They are wild animals and you MUST respect the wildlife. You are prohibited from being closer than 40 feet to the horses and the park rangers will politely move you away from getting closer to the horses. They are still wild and unpredictable. Enjoy them from a respectable distance. You can hike, bike, and kayak in the park.

So neat to see all the wild horses. Beaches were clean and had bathrooms/store. Saw alot of people petting the horses (even though you're technically not allowed to)

This is your average state park. For horse lovers I'm sure it's a must but if your not into horses it's average.

I come here every year in September to camp. I feel like my camping season is not complete without a visit...I travel about 6 hours from upstate NY.
This is true beach camping with most sites having few trees or or barriers between sites. Worth it to be steps from the beach and hearing the waves at night.
Each site in the main loops have a driveway and plenty of room whether in a tent or RV. Just remember to bring the big plastic tent stakes because the regular metal ones do not hold in the sand.
The beach is clean and uncrowned and there are always pods of dolphins swimming just offshore. The horses do come down to the beach to hang out, stand in the ocean, or just walk around. They walk throughout the campground and have no problem going into your coolers and food, so keep them secured. The waves are not huge, but plenty big for body surfing, boogie boarding, or sit on top kayaks.
The bathrooms are large, modern, clean, and have free hot showers.
I always stay in the first few U shaped loops, but farther in, there are sites with hookups, more shaded sites not as close to the ocean, and walk in tent sites on the shore.

Each loop has a host and they are there to answer questions, offer advice and give local recommendations. Ocean City is about 10 minutes away and offers a typical resort/ boardwalk experience, though not quite as touristy as many other ocean front towns.
It's nice to visit and then get back to the star attraction which is the uncrowned beach at Assateague. You can also visit the National park which is right next door and also has camping. Pay one time and you have access for a week to the National Park. It has bay access, and that's where I like to put in the kayaks to paddle the bay and go fishing.

Come here once and it is so amazing that you will come back over and over!

My husband and I took a day trip to see the wild horses of Assateague Island. When we got to the Visitors Center, we were greeted by Dan. He was a a wealth of information about the island for both the Maryland and Virginia side. He told us about the walkway and bridge to the island and that the island had about 71 horses that could be seen if we are lucky. Which my husband was really excited about. He said it is about a 4 mile walk to the National Seashore checkpoint and that at the end it is off-road vehicles only to the state line. Just remember, If you walk 20 miles out, it is 20 miles back. During our walk we did not see a lot of people walking or biking on the multi-purpose road, but we did have a chance to see the pull over areas that the horses could be viewed. We did see some from a distance on the bay side. Once we crossed into the National Seashore (free for walkers and bikes, $20 per vehicle) we got caught in a rain storm. There are not many shelters to protect you when you are that far out or away from any parking areas.
Before we left to return home, we thought we would drive through the park (we got a pass when we were on the Virginia side). We did not see any horses when we drove in but on the way out before we crossed the bridge, about 8 horses were on either side of the road. We even saw them cross in front of us. That was a very amazing thing to see them so close. We could have spent the whole day watching them. Well worth the trip.

The State Park offers a wonderful beach where wild ponies walk/run about. Perhaps the ocean is not your thing. On a warm summer's day one can find people fishing, crabbing paddling a boat or canoe in/on Sinepuxtent Bay.

Nice ocean views and a chance to see the wild horses from the roadway. Lots of camping areas in the area.

We've camped at both parks and the two best things about at the State Park is that it's closer to shopping/town and HOT SHOWERS. The beaches are comparable; both better and less crowded than the beach at Ocean City. I like OC like a second home, but I don't like the crowds.

Mixed feelings about this place. If you are honestly coming to bike ride or camp it’s looks to be great, but camping overnight & days on end on the beach itself is just very odd. Looked like a homeless community with laundry, sheets etc stretched & hanging here & there along with tents stretching a good ways. Too many coming through to see the horses… myself included. I did NOT get out of my vehicle until we were down by the beach area & no horses in sight just to walk on the beach. Water was freezing, even in August. Too many ignore the warning signs & infringe on the welfare of the horses in the parking areas & along the road. The park needs to be more visible & enforcing the restrictions. Glad to have seen the few horses, they are kept at a minimum to protect the island. The horses are on the rough looking side .. add in people who don’t understand respect & distance. Great Visitors center ..it was really good. Lots of island information, hands on with a guide on some aquatic animals. Information on the horses & their history.

Just a quick drive around the park to look for the ponies. They were visible from the road - off in the marsh - and along Bayberry Drive, where they created a bit of traffic jam. The park is a gem, and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of nearby Ocean City.

I decided to make a last minute weekend escape to Assateague and drove about 3 hours to the shore. I was able to drive up and get a campsite at the state park for one night for about $35. While the campground seemed almost filled to capacity on this cool May weekend, it was still peaceful. As soon as I entered the campground, I spotted a group of ponies nibbling on the grass among the tents. I realized that they were actually right in front of my spot and I was able to park and watch them for a while, as I unwinded from the drive. Later I walked a couple miles down the beach on the cool white sand and then walked back via the path in the campground (since the wind on the beach was a bit too cold to go back up that way). It was perfectly serene and so cool to see the "Misty" ponies that you grow up hearing about. As a single woman, I felt perfectly safe here. I can't wait to go back.

We did not see any horses while here, just a pile of horse poop.

The beach was really nice. They have a snack bar & bathhouse which were good. It is a great beach to spend the day at.