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National Park and Beach
Berlin
"View beautiful wildlife, lovely nature trails and wild horses"(16 Tips)
"Beautiful beaches, trails and wild ponies!"(4 Tips)
"Bring bug spray that works for biting flies."(6 Tips)
"Enjoy the clean beaches, beautiful scenery, and WILD PONIES!"(2 Tips)
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CaliforniaJuly 8, 2018Amazing place to camp. You can use one of the empty camping spots with fireplaces during the day without charge. Bring a potent bug spray-tons of mosquitos at night!
Nicole RileyJuly 13, 2017Re:Maryland side of the park. The beach has a snack shop, indoor and outdoor showers, and beach rentals. If you bring food, the horses might come up for a snack.
Escape the crowds, If you have a 4wd get a pass to drive on the beach. 12+ miles of beach on the MD side. No crowds, wild ponies. What's not to like? This is total relaxation!!
Bobby PApril 21, 2012Best place camp, and have fun. Get the OSV pass for $90. It's so worth the money. There is no entry fee to the island and you ride the beach year round. Its Aways A Blast. P.S.- and there's wild life.
Nicole RovigNovember 21, 2017It’s worth the $7 entrance fee and it’s good for 7 days. Keep your eyes out for the Sika deer, as they are very rare. People come from all over to see them here. @NicoleRovig
Karin MoyerSeptember 5, 2013Beautiful! So peaceful. Places to pull over on the drive to the beach to bird watch. One day the horses were kind of close. Nice porch at the visitor's center to sit and rock and look at the water.
Another great national treasure available to everyone. We need a sand wheelchair for a group member and they were awesome at providing it. Even brought it to the group site. Just great folks.
Jake CharlesJuly 16, 2013Incredible wildlife, amazing views and a quality beach. Even a snack bar on the North Beach! Divided into federal and state parks that preserve the ponies & gorgeously innate wildlife.
Melissa ParrishJuly 13, 2013Beautiful scenery and beaches. We got lucky and saw TONS of ponies but be prepared you might not see any. It costs to go into the park, but the pass was good for a week so well worth it.
Trails.comMay 30, 2013The Maryland side offers more beach and primitive camping facilities, and the Virginia side more migratory birds, denser pine forests, more wildlife viewing, and delights like Assateague Lighthouse! Read more
Chrissy NickelJune 21, 2015Unfortunate that the northern and southern ends are not connected-very small park on the north side, but nice beach access. More trails and the lighthouse on the south end
BECKY COLLINSNovember 23, 2023Love it here! Such a beautiful fun place to visit anytime of the year! The horses are beautiful! Very clean!
Stephanie RJuly 20, 20131 of the best camping spots. Don't recommend summer tho. Bugs & heat bad. Bring firewood-place right before u enter, bugspray & sunscreen! Lots of ponies..beware they r wild & come right into sites!
Sharon CJuly 21, 2013Be sure to Stop into the visitors center at Toms Cove on your first day on the island. They have great activities for families and kids. Many of these are free.
Kevin ArsenaultAugust 11, 2014Unreal sand, regular waves. Great for families. Bring your own snacks and beers.
Nathan DeisemOctober 24, 2015Amazing scenery, wild life, water (both Ocean and back bays), claming, fishing, family fun. This place has it all and then some!
Callie AlvanitakisAugust 15, 2014Rules don't apply on Assateague. Sign at the beach: "no dogs." We saw about a dozen. Sign at the campsite: "no ground fires." There were fire rings all over. So have fun! Do whatever you want!
The horseflies are huge and the mosquitos bigger. Bring bug spray for night hikes on the beach & lighthouse hike. Check the Tom Cove visitor center for free or cheap activities for kids & adults.
This is a nice escape from Ocean City, MD... A lot of scenic observation points and a great visitor center. There's a lifeguarded beach and wild ponies. Maybe you'll be lucky and find some treasure!!
MattJune 29, 2024We had a wonderful time, we spent hours just enjoying the island and all it has to offer- If it's a holiday weekend, get here early! Other times are fine. Get the annual pass if you plan on coming more than once. Same cost as two visits and good year-round!
Luke JohnsonOctober 23, 2017Watch out for the roaming bands of horses that will literally eat hamburgers right off the grill.
Smithsonian ChannelJune 24, 2011After the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, the federal government banned development on this 37-mile stretch of pristine beach. Today, there are no houses here, just campsites. (From Aerial America) Read more- Smithsonian ChannelJune 24, 2011After the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, the federal government banned development on this 37-mile stretch of pristine beach. Today, there are no houses here, just campsites. (From Aerial America) Read more
Slightly PerfectDecember 1, 2019Best place to see the horses! You can camp or just hang out for the day.
Don't feed the horses.The horses are walking all over people blankets,crushing phones and are eating people's food.
Hey PeopleJuly 17, 2015A very nice, relaxing island and it HAS WILD PONIES! I really dude fan girl over that.
Corey LarsonMay 30, 2012Bring a large container of H2O and leave in your car while enjoying the beach. You'll have warm water to clean up with. Beach showers COLD!
Park at the very end of the beach near the Over Sand Vehicle entrance. Just a short walk from the lot, the beach is much less crowded.
Make sure you move your fire pit to a location that receives the least wind. This sight offers a GREAT view of the ocean but you'll burn through wood quickly if it's out in the open.
Kamau McAbeeSeptember 3, 2012Absolutely beautiful beach. The biting flies & mosquitos can be unforgiving. Bring Avon skin so soft and an umbrella.- Head up 376 about 2 miles. Look for the machine shoal on your left. $15 gets you enough firewood for 3 nights. They also offer smaller bundles for $10 and buckets full for $2!
Lorraine EspositoAugust 10, 2012Bring your bug spray if you go into the marsh area to see the ponies. The flies bite hard and I hear the ponies will too so keep your distance.
- For firewood... Head up 386 about 2 miles. On your left will be a machine shop that sells firewood on the honor system. Enough wood for 2 nights is $15. They sell smaller amounts as well.
JJuly 6, 2013Crowded around the parking area .. But very few people when u walk down a few hundred feet
Nobody's really going to bust you if you bring alcohol to the beach, but do not litter at all. This is a national park, after all.
Pick up your trash, put your umbrella more than 3" deep in the sand, and for Christ sake do not feed the seagulls.
- Corey LarsonMay 30, 2012Showers are COLD, leave a container of water in your car while @ the beach; you'll have warm water to clean up with.
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Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland)
7206 National Seashore Ln (over Verrazano Bridge)
Berlin, MD 21811
United States
Berlin, MD 21811
United States
Open (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 24 Hours
(410) 641-1441
See More
Places inside Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland)
- 8.7
"It's so cool to see the wild horses up close! The beach is beautiful with numerous shells, much gentler waves and much less populated than the boardwalk beach!"
Rory LaPage - 9.0
"Love this place for the beach..best waves, great sand, love the nature..birds, horses, etc."
Judy Smith 
"Decent beach 🏖 just know you will contend with scatter shots of wild horse 🐴 droppings."
Jason Shellhammer
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