I am often asked where my favorite place to camp is. Although we have explored many amazing places, there is one place that tops my list and has remained #1: Assateague Island State Park.

The first thing you should know is that there are two different campgrounds in Assateague Island: Assateague Island State Park which is part of the Maryland State Park System and Assateague Island National Seashore, which is part of the National Park System.

When planning your camping trip to Assateague Island, how do you decide between the two? Both are similar in their beauty, access to the beach on the other side of the dunes, and the wild horses that roam about.

However, the National Seashore campground is primitive camping and offers no hook-ups. The state park has two loops that offer electric hook-ups; Loop G, and some sites in Loop I. If traveling with your dog like we do, keep in mind that only loops G, H and I, allow pets at the State Park.

Since we have only stayed at Assateague Island State Park, I cannot speak to the National Seashore, although it is on our wish list. Both campgrounds are home to beautiful wild horses that roam along the beaches and through out the campgrounds.

Brown and white horse roaming campground at Assateague Island

Camping among beautiful wild horses is as magical as it sounds, but there are of course some very important safety guidelines to follow. Wild horses should always be given a respectful distance. After all, you are a guest at their home. You should never approach them, never feed them, as well as never leave food unattended or out in the open. This includes taking in dog food dishes if you have them out.

The horses generally leave you alone, however, they are used to people, so they will not shy away from you or your campsite. We woke up to a visitor early one morning who was busy using our camper as a scratching post!

We watched in awe as the horses casually strolled around our camper and ate their morning breakfast.

Each site has a concrete pad for ease of parking your camper, a picnic table, and a fire ring. The sites are fairly spacious and there is plenty of room for tent camping. We did not feel crowded and the kids loved playing in the sand with their toys. We happened to catch a full moon and crystal clear skies during our stay. It was truly breathtaking.

Full moon in the background at a campsite at the beach

If your heart and soul is at the beach like mine is, there is nothing better than having the sand between your toes at your own campsite.

We were lucky to score site 104 in loop I. It was a great spot just over the dunes from the ocean.

We visited at the end of August. There were no crowds, just miles of sandy beach for the kids to run free. No matter when you go, you are sure to have an amazing experience.

The campground fills fast, so book early if you can. Don’t get discouraged if you find it difficult to find an open site. Cancellations do happen, and you just may get lucky if you keep checking availability.

For more information about Assateague Island State Park visit the Maryland Natural Resources Website HERE

For camping reservations at Assateague Island State Park, visit the reservations page HERE

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