Assateague State Park

[MagicalMom]

Have you ever been there? I would like to go camping there in a couple of weeks, but DH says the bugs are really bad there. Does anyone have experience camping there? Is the beach nice? Did you see many horses? Any tips for when I get my way, because I always do!

 

[tmt martins]

Yes big flies that bite and hurt .Heavy on the Deet and you should be fine.Misquitoes as well are heavy.

Beach is nice nothing out of the normal.

Horses don't leave any food in your tent or camper open they will invite themselves in.

I like the Federal side as opposed to the state side but thats just me.

It is bare necessitiy camping at best but if you like that kind of thing and close to the beach it's great.I camped in a tent once and only once but I do visit everytime I go down to OC.

I've camped many times both tent and pop-up at frontiertown and campwally .Just a much better place and still close to the beach and attractions.

 

[SillyMe]

I've never stayed there, but last year we drove over from the main strip just to see the beach and the horses. There were several wild horses along the road. We stopped and took some pictures. The kids loved it. The beach was empty at the time. It was early evening and pretty cool out, so, I'm not sure how crowded it gets.

Oh, and I just have to say that the kids loved driving over the little bridge.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We go to Chincoteague, VA every fall and see the VA side of Assateague. I've never been to the MD side of it. It's a great place, but the bugs can be brutal! Bring some bug spray. Unless it's really hot, wear long sleeves and pants.

The bugs never bother us on the beach. They are bad on the hiking trails on the island.

 

[MagicalMom]

Hmmmm, the bugs are worrying me a little. Maybe we should just make it a day trip. I thought about Fronteirtown & camp Wally but they both req. a 2 night stay & we only have 1 free night.

Gosh, hated when DH is right!

 

[tkd lisa]

Bugs Bugs Bugs! I camped here with my Girl Scouts. The group camping is directly on the beach, which is much better bug wise. You definitely need heavy duty bug spray.

In fact, I took the girls on a couple of the hiking trails, and even with bug spray, we couldn't do it! The bugs were buzzing around so thickly we could hardly breathe. Stay away from the marshy areas, use bug spray and it's tolerable.

The beach is fairly nice. It's a Chesapeake Bay beach, not the ocean, but it's still fairly nice. And not at all crowded compared to Ocean City! eta: I'm not positive that it's the Bay, but I think it is!

You WILL see the horses! They are everywhere! And lock your food in your vehicle, or they'll get at it. They nosed open a rubbermaid container trying to get at our food. Luckily we were there, so we just put it in the back of the truck and closed it up.

Lots of sunscreen is a must too. A couple of my girls got too much sun, even with sunscreen. I think it was a combination of windburn and sunburn (always a nice breeze going), but it was painful.

Enjoy the trip, but plan for the bugs!

 

[tmt martins]

Hmmmm, the bugs are worrying me a little. Maybe we should just make it a day trip. I thought about Fronteirtown & camp Wally but they both req. a 2 night stay & we only have 1 free night.

Gosh, hated when DH is right!

Oh if it's only 1 night then I say go for it you will heal. But do bring the spray.

And yes on the Beach the bugs are not bad at all ,it's the trails and the bay side that are bad.

Oh and watchout for the snakes as well they like to move around at Dusk and dawn.

 

[Rain4Sasha]

The beach is fairly nice. It's a Chesapeake Bay beach, not the ocean, but it's still fairly nice. And not at all crowded compared to Ocean City! eta: I'm not positive that it's the Bay, but I think it is!

Assateague is definitely on the Atlantic Ocean. The bugs can be bad but I am very succeptible to mosquitos and did fine by using bug spray. We went to the Chincotegue portion in August 2004. The beach got very hot and crowded and we ended up going back to the hotel pool. I think camping would be brutal. Of course, this from a non-camper.

And remember the pony swim is in the end of July.

ETA, this is really breezy_carol posting. Didn't realize DD was signed on.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

When I started reading this thread I thought "Wow, that sounds like a really nice place for camping. We should look into it."

But now.......bugs, mosquitos and snakes! Oh My!

 

[tmt martins]

The beach is fairly nice. It's a Chesapeake Bay beach, not the ocean, but it's still fairly nice. And not at all crowded compared to Ocean City! eta: I'm not positive that it's the Bay, but I think it is!

!

No it's not really the Ches Bay it is the Ocean .

At one time it was connected to OC but a storm cut right through it.

You can walk up to the end and still see OC and the rides.

They have from going from OC

The state side of the park ,Then the Federal side ,Then the VA side on the bottom end.

If you have a 4 wheel drive you can get a permit to drive on the beach from the FEd side.You need other things like a jack, peice of wood ,tow strap.

You can find that on the web-sight

 

[tkd lisa]

Oops, my mistake. That's why I went back and edited.

It is a nice sandy beach. There's a pretty good dune built up. The group camps are on the backside of that dune. So my girls just walked over there.

Comfort stations were port a potties, with cold water showers (stalls with walls from about 2 feet off the ground to about 6 feet off the ground). Needless to say, I saved my shower for home, but my co-leader has to shower every day, so she used it.

I didn't see any snakes, but I did see lots of little deer (key deer maybe?), and a fox if I remember right. The horses walked up and down the beach all the time.

 

[MagicalMom]

And remember the pony swim is in the end of July.

I was thinking July 20th. I bet it will be too packed then too. I'll have to check the dates of the swim.

 

[jennobrn01]

Hi from another First State girl!
We go to Assaateague Island (MD side) about every other weekend in the summer. We have the season tag/pass. It is our absolute favorite beach on Delmarva! We surf fish, soak up the natural unspoiled beauty, and have a huge amount of space to run and play. Everything is kept in its natural state on the island. Last year a large whale washed up and it remained there (stinkin'!!) on the beach.

Camping there will be a battle of the bugs. Just bring your spray because the beauty of the place is worth it! There are ponies everywhere. Every time we are there the a little caravan of ponies walks by us as we sit on the beach. Also unique to the island there are Sika deer.

Assateague Island is our local paradise spot. You'll love it.

 

[Jennasis]

Also, watch out for sharks on the beach. Well, not ON the beach. A few years ago I was camping with my cousins there and we went for a swim in the ocean. I felt something brush my leg, but assume dit was my cousin. A few minutes later I saw EVERYONE lined up on the shore as far as you could see up and down the beach...pointing and screaming. We got out of the water and turned and there were half a dozen large fins circling about the water right where I had been! A wave rolled in and a large 6-7 foot shark actually ROLLED up on the beach and then was washed back out with the next wave!

My unlce ran to the Guard tower to see if maybe they were dolphins...nope a small "school" of Tiger sharks had wandered in.

The horses are lovely BTW. Just don't feed them or pet them..especially the foals!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

The pony swim is July 26 this year. Click here.

 

[MELISAZACK]

okay our summer house is like 20 min from there- we sometimes do the beach there instead of OC md.....BUGS, HOrses and POOP!!!!
wild horse go where they please and that means on the beach too...
no it isn't horrible by any means but it is there.......and they do roam and don't feed them 1. it is a law not to..but better yet they don't leave if you do...1 day to go isn't bad but I sure wouldn't want to be there longer....

There is a camp site on rte 611 on your way to asst. about 15 min b4 you get there called frountier town...very nice - has a water park and min golf some small rides for little kids too... I would look into that and go to Asst. for beach life only!

 

[MagicalMom]

The pony swim is July 26 this year. Click here.

Thanks for the link. I bet the swim is really a sight to see. I'd love to go then. I just need to get over the thought of snakes, bugs & did you say foxes??????