![]() ![]() The island consists of three public areas Assateague Island National Seashore (managed by the National Park Service), Assateague State Park (managed by the Maryland Park Service of the Department of Natural Resources) and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (managed by the U.S. 41,346 acres of land and water are within the seashore’s boundaries. ![]() The stated mission of the park is to preserve and protect “unique coastal resources and the natural ecosystem conditions and processes upon which they depend, provide high-quality resource-based recreational opportunities compatible with resource protection and educate the public as to the values and significance of the area”.Īssateague Island encompasses a 37-mile-long barrier island, adjacent marsh islands and waters in Maryland and Virginia, and the Assateague Island Visitor Center on the Maryland mainland. The National Seashore offers a setting in which to experience a dynamic barrier island and to pursue a multitude of recreational opportunities. Located within a three-hour drive to the east and south of Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia major metropolitan areas plus north of the several clustered smaller cities around Hampton Roads harbor of Virginia with Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. Located on the East Coast along the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland and Virginia, Assateague Island is the largest natural barrier island ecosystem in the Middle Atlantic states region that remains predominantly unaffected by human development. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.Īssateague Island National Seashore is a unit of the National Park Service system of the U.S. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Department of the Interior.Located on the East Coast along the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland and Virginia, Assateague Island is the largest natural barrier island ecosystem in the Middle Atlantic states region that remains predominantly unaffected by human development. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Established in 1962 to protect this unique coastal environment, this park is a fascinating destination with miles of white sand beaches, wild horse herds and a. Assateague Island National Seashore is a unit of the National Park Service system of the U.S. The park is open year-round.Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. There is a small fee to enter the park and further fees for vehicles. The Verrazano Bridge is 9.1 miles (14.6 kilometers) from Ocean City in Maryland. The Virginia District has a visitor center and a lifeguard-patrolled beach. It is not possible to cross the state line on the island by car. The Maryland side of Assateague Island National Seashore stretches from the Ocean City Inlet to the Virginia state line and is accessible over the Verrazano Bridge. While it is uncertain how the ponies got on the island, many believe they swam to shore from a sinking Spanish galleon cargo ship. ![]() You might also see wild ponies frolicking in the shallows from a boat cruise or kayaking trip. Be alert for peregrine falcons, egrets, sand pipers and osprey. Look for different seashells, go four-wheel driving or try clamming and surf fishing on the shore.īirdwatchers will love spotting the different species that use the barrier island to rest and feed. Choose from several nature trails and take in stunning views of the ocean, salt marshes, pine forests and the distinctive red-and-white Assateague Lighthouse. Play in the shallows or watch the waves curling in from the Atlantic Ocean. With so much beautiful coastline, you won’t have trouble finding your own patch of white-sand beach to relax. There is also a campground, a network of nature trails and a lifeguard-patrolled beach. Head to the Maryland side for the visitor center where you can learn about the island’s fascinating ecology, flora and fauna. Wild beaches and beaches with amenities all on a barrier. The park is split into the Maryland District to the north and the Virginia District to the south, and contains the Assateague State Park. 198 reviews of Assateague Island National Seashore The best beach within a days drive of DC. Go kayaking or boating in the Atlantic Ocean or in the calm waters of Chincoteague Bay. Its seashore is a magnificent area for hiking, camping, crabbing, fishing and viewing birdlife and wild ponies. The 37-mile (60-kilometer) long island is less than a mile wide. Spot wild ponies and diverse bird species while exploring this white-sand barrier island by four-wheel drive, boat, kayak or on foot.Īssateague Island National Seashore is a long and narrow barrier island of protected park off Maryland’s eastern shore.
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