Assateague Island National Seashore
Designation: National Seashore
Location: Maryland, Virginia
📘 Park Overview
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.
🌤 Weather Information
Spring: Often windy and cool with lows in the 40's and highs in the 60's. Summer: Hot and humid with lows in the 60's and highs in the 80's. Fall: Warm with lows in the 50's and highs in the 70's. Winter: Damp cold and often windy. Lows in the 20's, highs in the 40's.
🚗 Directions
There are two entrances to Assateague Island National Seashore. Assateague's north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, MD. The south entrance is at the end of Route 175, two miles east of Chincoteague, VA. There is no vehicle access between the two entrances on Assateague Island. Vehicles must return to the mainland to access either the north or south entrance.
Images
There are few places in the United States where you can view wild horses.Take advantage of the opportunity to view these horses in a natural habitat.
Credit: NPS Photo
Assateague's wild horses can often be found grazing in salt marshes.
Credit: NPS Photo
Enormous flocks of migrating tree swallows stop and rest on Assateague beaches in the fall.
Credit: NPS Photo
Tent camping in the Oceanside campground at Assateague is a great way to relax and recreate at the beach.
Credit: NPS Photo
Visit the shifting sands at the water's edge where thousands of waves change the beach every day.
Credit: NPS Photo
There are few places in the United States where you can view wild horses.Take advantage of the opportunity to view these horses in a natural habitat.
Credit: NPS Photo
Assateague's wild horses can often be found grazing in salt marshes.
Credit: NPS Photo
Enormous flocks of migrating tree swallows stop and rest on Assateague beaches in the fall.
Credit: NPS Photo
Tent camping in the Oceanside campground at Assateague is a great way to relax and recreate at the beach.
Credit: NPS Photo
Visit the shifting sands at the water's edge where thousands of waves change the beach every day.
Credit: NPS Photo
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
Entrance Passes
3-Day Weather Forecast
Tuesday, Mar 3
Patchy rain nearby
High: 52.7°F | Low: 34.3°F
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 11.2 mph
Rain Chance: 87%
UV Index: 0.1
Sunrise: 06:30 AM
Sunset: 05:57 PM
Moon: Full Moon (100%)
Visibility: 3 mi
Dew Point: 42.4°F
Cloud Cover: 87%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, Mar 4
Overcast
High: 52.9°F | Low: 44.6°F
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 12.5 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.9
Sunrise: 06:29 AM
Sunset: 05:58 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (100%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 47.4°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Thursday, Mar 5
Fog
High: 61.7°F | Low: 44.6°F
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 12.3 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0
Sunrise: 06:27 AM
Sunset: 05:59 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (97%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 50.2°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (2)
Dense Fog Advisory issued March 3 at 4:10PM EST until March 3 at 8:00PM EST by NWS Wakefield VA
Effective: Mar 3, 2026 4:10pm
Expires: Mar 3, 2026 8:00pm
* WHAT...Visibility one quarter to one half mile in dense fog.
* WHERE...In Maryland, Inland Worcester County and Maryland Beaches
(Ocean City). In Virginia, Accomack County.
* WHEN...Until 8 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.
Dense Fog Advisory issued March 3 at 4:04PM EST until March 3 at 10:00PM EST by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Effective: Mar 3, 2026 4:04pm
Expires: Mar 3, 2026 10:00pm
* WHAT...Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.
* WHERE...Portions of central, northern, and southern Delaware,
northeast Maryland, central, northern, northwest, and southern New
Jersey, and east central, northeast, and southeast Pennsylvania.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.
Park Alerts
Park Events
New Year's Day Hike - Changes in Nature
Come out to Assateague Island for a New Year’s Day hike!
Meet a ranger at 9:00 am at the start of the Life of the Dunes Trail to explore the natural changes that constantly reshape Assateague Island. This hike will be approximately one mile in length over varied terrain and take between 45 and 60 minutes.
Remember to dress warm, bring plenty of water and all your curiosity as we deep dive into Assateague’s past, present, and future!
Date: Jan 1, 2026 12:00am to Jan 1, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
New Year's Day Hike - Cultural History
Date: Jan 1, 2026 12:00am to Jan 1, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Ash Wednesday Storm Anniversary Walk
The Ash Wednesday Storm battered the mid-Atlantic coast from March 5th thru the 9th in 1962, dramatically changing how Assateague Island would be used for generations to come.
Assateague Island National Seashore invites you to join a Park Ranger for a one-mile guided walk. This walk will reflect upon the men and women who lived and worked on Assateague.
This walking tour is over pavement, boardwalk, and sand.
Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather.
Location: Program begins and ends at the Boathouse History Exhibit at the intersection of Bayberry Drive and Ferry Landing Road.
Date: Mar 7, 2026 12:00am to Mar 7, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin, MD 21811
🏤 Mailing Address:
7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin, MD 21811
📞 Voice Phone: 4106411441
📞 Fax Phone: 4106411099
✉️ Email: asis_information@nps.gov