Assateague Island Camping in Maryland: The Complete 2026 Guide

Assateague Island camping is about as close to the ocean as East Coast camping gets. You pitch your tent behind the dunes on a Maryland barrier island, and wild horses wander past your picnic table. The catch is that "Assateague" is really two separate campgrounds run by two different agencies, with different prices, seasons and booking sites. Mix them up and you'll end up on the wrong reservation page.

Here's how camping on Assateague works in 2026, including the fall closures you need to know about before you book.

Is Assateague Island Campground Open?

Yes. As of September 24, 2026, the National Park Service lists the Oceanside and Bayside campgrounds as open. A few things are causing "Assateague closed" searches right now, though:

• Storm overwash. A coastal storm pushed water over the island on September 24, 2026. The Maryland over-sand vehicle (OSV) zone closed, and in Virginia the south OSV zone and the north fishing mile closed too. Maryland DNR also posted storm conditions for Assateague State Park that day. If you're arriving just after a storm, check the park's conditions page first.
• Water line construction. The Seashore is starting a $2.5 million water line project in mid-October 2026. Campground loops will close on a rolling basis starting in early November, and the campground will stay open at reduced capacity. Recreation.gov says all Bayside sites switch to first-come, first-served from November 16. Existing reservations will be honored, but your site may be moved.
• Wind advisories. Recreation.gov has warned of sustained winds of 30–35 mph with gusts to 46 mph, which makes Oceanside tent camping hard going.
• The state park season ends. Assateague State Park's campground is open through November 1, 2026, then closes until spring.

Assateague Island National Seashore Campground vs. Assateague State Park

This is the most common mix-up. Both campgrounds are on the Maryland end of the island, near Berlin, just south of Ocean City.

There's no camping in the Virginia district. The Chincoteague end of the island, home of the Assateague Lighthouse, is for day use only. All Assateague camping is in Maryland.

Assateague Island National Seashore Campgrounds

The National Seashore runs two drive-in campgrounds, plus group and horse sites:

• Oceanside Drive-in. Behind the dunes, for tents, trailers and RVs with no hookups. $40 a night. Reservations are required from March 15 to November 15. In winter, Loop 1 closes and Loop 2 goes first-come, first-served.
• Oceanside Walk-in. Tent-only sites 100–200 feet from the parking area. $40 a night, closed November 16 to March 14.
• Bayside Drive-in. On the calmer bay side, $40 a night, and reservable year-round in a normal year. Bayside Loop B is generator-free. People search for specific sites like Bayside B33 because the bay loops have some of the best sunset views on the island.
• Group sites. $80 a night for 7–25 campers, closed in winter.
• Horse camp. $80 a night, open October 16 to April 14 only, for up to six people and six horses.

Facilities are basic: chemical and vault toilets, drinking water, and cold, unheated showers from mid-March to mid-November. Every site has a picnic table and fire ring. Drive-in sites allow two vehicles, or one with a trailer. Walk-in sites allow one, and you can't sleep in your vehicle at walk-in or group sites.

Assateague State Park Campground

Maryland's state park sits right next door, and it's the better pick if you want electricity and real bathhouses. It has 273 non-electric and 43 electric sites, plus three youth group sites, according to its reservation system. The DNR park page gives a higher total of 342 sites, so the count depends on which page you read.

• Rates: $28.50–$29.50 for non-electric and $38.50–$39.50 for electric, before any surcharges or pet fees.
• Hookups: 30-amp electric in the G and I loops only.
• Bathhouses have toilets, sinks, family restrooms and baby changing stations, plus outdoor rinse showers along the boardwalk from May through October.
• Check-in is 2–10 p.m. with no early arrivals, and checkout is 11 a.m.
• Pets are only allowed in loops G, H and I and the beaches next to them, on a leash.
• Maximum stay is 14 nights in any 21-day period. The primary occupant on a reservation can't be changed.
• Generators must be quiet, inverter-style units are recommended, and they're banned from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Day visitors pay $5 per person from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and $5 per vehicle the rest of the year.

Assateague Camping Reservations

Weekend reservations are the hard part. The National Park Service says nearly all weekend sites are filled on the first day they open, six months out. Book on Recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. You'll also need to pay the $25 vehicle entrance fee, which covers seven days, or show an annual pass.

State park sites book up to 365 days ahead at parkreservations.maryland.gov or 1-888-432-CAMP, and new dates release at 9 a.m.

Assateague Campground Map

Look at the Assateague campground map before you pick a site number. Both agencies post site maps on their booking pages. On the NPS side, Oceanside sites trade shelter for ocean access, and Bayside sites trade the beach for less wind and better sunsets. At the state park, check which loop you're in if you have a dog or need power. Only G and I have electric, and only G, H and I allow pets.

Backcountry and Beach Camping on Assateague

Want to camp away from the car? Assateague has six backcountry sites, all in Maryland:

• Oceanside (hike-in): Little Levels and State Line
• Bayside (paddle-in or hike-in): Tingles Island, Pine Tree, Green Run and Pope Bay

They're 2.5 to 13 miles from the Maryland Ranger Station. Permits cost $10 per person (16 and older) and are only available in person, first-come, first-served, with no advance reservations. There's no fresh water at any site, so carry at least a gallon per person per day. No pets and no glass are allowed. Bayside sites close during hunting season (October–January), and the park discourages bayside trips from June to August because of biting insects.

Tips for Camping on Assateague

• Use long sand stakes. Standard tent stakes pull straight out of the sand, and the park specifically recommends longer ones.
• Lock up your food. Wild horses will raid a campsite. Keep food in a latching hard-sided cooler or your car, and stay at least 40 feet (a school bus length) away from the horses.
• Bring DEET. The park calls the mosquitoes "extreme," and it isn't kidding.
• Pack your own firewood plan. No firewood is sold on the island from about mid-October to Memorial Day. See our how to start a campfire guide, or bring a stove.

Recommended Gear

Wind is the big issue at Assateague, so a low, stable tent matters. The Coleman Sundome Camping Tent has a full rainfly and sits low to the ground. Pair it with longer sand stakes than the ones in the box. A Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp is handy for walking to the bathhouse or the beach after dark, since the campgrounds aren't lit. If you're heading out to a backcountry site, the ALPS Mountaineering Flexcore Self-Inflating Air Pad packs small and keeps you off the cold sand. Our camping in the rain guide covers coastal storms, and camping with dogs will help if you're booking the state park's pet loops.

More Mid-Atlantic Beach Campgrounds

Assateague pairs well with Cape Henlopen State Park, about an hour north in Delaware. Heading further south? Try Hammocks Beach in North Carolina, Huntington Beach State Park and Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina, or Jekyll Island in Georgia.