Great state park! Camping here is fun! The loops at the top of the park are more spacious and sometimes more private. The ones in H loop are really squeezed in and have less space and no privacy. It's hard to book a site, and so frustrating to see empty sites that have been booked but not used. The bathrooms are some of the cleanest camping bathrooms I've ever seen. They're pretty well maintained. The horses do wander free, and you need to be careful with food on your site, as explained by the park rangers. But it's fun to see them and watch them. The camp hosts are good about cleaning and maintaining the area they're each in charge of. The beaches are nice and it's fun to go clamming out in the bay. A very quick drive will take you to Ocean City, to the boardwalk, to go karts, Walmart, Wawa, the movie theater, etc. Lots close by to do if you get caught there on a rainy day. Lovely place to visit. read more

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Assateague is so cool!... Particularly on a breezy day when the flies can't takeoff. During a trip to Ocean City, we visited Assateague on the Maryland end. I was so eager to see the horses I heard about, but weary we might not see any. Maybe we were lucky, because we saw sooo many horses! On the road, in the parking lots, in marshes, wandering, grazing, standing on front of cars. So cute! Stop at the visitors center first. Very nice place, helpful information, exhibits, a touch tank, bathrooms, gift shop and then you'll be on your way. Admission per vehicle gets you access for a week. We loved spending a few hours here so much that we came back a second day. The beaches are clean and not crowded. Lots of dogs, so be warned if you're averse. The marsh trail was really cool. We saw several small fishies, pipefish, crabs, egrets, just really cool to look in the water throughout the trail and observe. Bayside beaches are hidden spots for isolated swims. I saw a family here and there just swimming completely alone. The forest trail was also a good one to walk. More interesting nature. We weren't too crazy about the dune trail. Although, it was interesting to see the old abandoned road in the middle of the dune. Horses here there and everywhere, almost. Overall, such a fun place to visit. Go for a few hours or spend the day. Remember, ensure it's breezy and you'll be almost completely fly free. read more

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Beautifully maintained state park. The park rangers are friendly and helpful. There are lots of parking in the parking lot. Loved seeing the wild horses roaming freely! read more

Assateague State Park - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

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I cannot thank enough to the lifeguards who saved my life and my daughter's life from dangerous rip currents today. The beach was crowded and the water seemed calm, which appeared perfect for family activities. My daughter and I were riding boogie boards not far from the shore, but I suddenly realized that despite my best efforts to swim back, we were being pulled out to sea. I panicked and waved to the lifeguards for help. They responded immediately, jumping into the water to rescue us. We visit beaches frequently, but I have never witnessed a more professional, dedicated, and vigilant group of life uards. My family and I are incredibly grateful for their life-saving intervention. read more

Friendly staff, very welcoming. Horses just beautiful though humans got too close to them. Loved the staff presence, driving around with ice or wood helps. I am tent only camper will find quieter loop as the generators take away from experience a bit read more

Got out to Assateague Island. Not only were the beaches clean but the sand dunes were picturesque. Also loved the fact that you can drive on the beach like other beaches like Nantucket. The bonus of course if the ponies and they run the island. All and all I enjoy the peace and solidarity of nature and the serenity of the waves with very little crowded to impede on the overall vibe. Definitely worth the trip! read more

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Awesome experience. Saw many wild horses and interesting birds. The beach was beautiful and weather was perfect. The only thing that would make it better was if the bathrooms were cleaned more frequently. The were too filthy for my wife to use. and had a bunch of bugs inside. Besides that I loved the shore here and would return. read more

I refuse to come here during the summer months because of the massive population of hungry mosquitoes. However we came in late September with a whisper of fall in the winds and zero mosquito bites. The wind was great, perfect for flying a kite. Saw some beautiful wild ponies. We may just consider camping during the fall. read more

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Beach and the possibility of pony sighting? Sign me up! The beaches are clean and the walk to the water isn't super far, and the facilities are superb. I know a lot of people camp her for the week, but I visited for the day and was impressed. Just a little aside from all the visitors-- we all know the ponies are cute, but please do not touch or feed them. They are wild animals. Feeding them makes them think that they will be fed again, which can cause aggressive behavior and then someone can get hurt, and it'll be no one's fault but your own. Look but don't touch. Respect the ponies space, please! read more

Assateague State Park - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

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We come here every time. Beautiful beach just need to avoid the horse droppings. If you come after 5 be advised that the horses like to come on the beach and will walk right up to you and take your food. read more

Assateague State Park - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

This place is beautiful! And military members get in absolutely free there are miles of road and beaches in plenty of places to camp. My family and I did a bike ride and we're completely blown away by the cleanliness of the state park. There were people barbecuing walking running and you could tell that there were people swimming off in the distance. In fact I was actually a little bit mad at myself for not bringing my bathing suit just so I could have at least got in the water to see everything. This place is gorgeous I recommend coming bringing your family and if you're into camping do that too. read more

Assateague State Park - Bike riding! - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

This is one of our family's favorite place to camp. We just got back from a weeklong camp trip there and the weather was absolutely GORGEOUS! The park is well maintained. We always saw park rangers and volunteers roaming through the loops to make sure all is well. The bathhouses were always super clean and well stocked. The park store always has the essentials when we forget something. Lastly the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful! We love going for walks out to the bridge. Such a beautiful area. We will definitely be back! read more

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I'll start off saying this was my 1st ever time to visit here. View: The view here was absolutely amazing! To see horses in the wild so free and natural was absolutely a beautiful site. This is a must visit if you love horses. Experience: The experience to be surrounded by wild horses is a breath taking experience. It's such a mental freeing feeling it's absolutely amazing and everyone should feel it. Price: You pay per car it's in the $ range. If you walk or bike it's free to get in. read more

Pretty cool little beach. Not to crowded has restaurant, gift shop. You can see horses on the beach. People was that was their seemed friendly. Seen a horseshoe crab wash in on the beach. read more

Lovely park, would be better if they allow dogs in certain part of the park, after all, it is a public owned publicly owned preserves!

The state park is separate from Assateague Island and has a separate entrance fee. This makes more sense if you are camping. The area is lovely. We purchased a seven day pass for the National Seashore and spent most of our time there. Stop by the Visitor's center to get brochures and ask questions. The state park closes in October. The drive is beautiful. The horses have the right of way. read more

Let me start by giving a brief PSA on reading comprehension. It's not too tough to see that there are two very different and very distinct jurisdictions that are in charge on the wondrous area that is Assateague. On one hand you have the National Park Service (aka the federal government) which oversees the majority of the area and you also have the state of Maryland which oversees part of the area. I suppose it's potentially confusing in that they are next to each other but, they are two different entities with two different fee structures with two different sets of rules/regs/requirements and of course, duh, there are two separate Yelp listings yet when you read the things posted to each it's clear that a lot of people didn't read which is which before posting. Try. With that out of the way, on with the show. In essence if you're looking to see some horses (always potentially) and get out on the beach for a bit but don't want to pay the higher NPS access fee for just a day visit (even though the NPS side of Assateague offers a whoooole lot more acreage to roam) then the MD state park side is for you. The charge for the day use area in season is $4.00 per person for Maryland residents and $6.00 per person for out-of-state visitors and in the off season it's $3.00 per vehicle for Maryland residents and $5.00 for out-of-state residents but the of course in the off season it's on the honor system so in other words it's free if you want it to be. During our most recent visit earlier this month we only saw one horse but the park's amenities were all open (the concession stand-showers-toilets-camp store) even though hardly anyone was on the beach even with temperatures north of seventy degrees on a weekend. I could go on about how amazing the area is but I won't because you need to see it for yourself. Bring your bug spray, bring a picnic or camp when it's in season or just come for a few hours but either way no matter which side of Assateague you choose to visit (NPS vs. State of MD) you can't go wrong. (One other thing always worth mentioning. There are signs all over the place here telling people to back away/keep a safe distance/stay a school bus distance away at least from the horses, yet based on our visits and the pictures on Yelp too many assholes clearly don't listen. Maybe you'll be like the people the NPS rangers and volunteers talk about who every year get their cars damaged or themselves injured from encounters with the horses then expect NPS ranger/volunteer assistance or even threaten lawsuits because of their own asinine behavior.) dnr.maryland.gov/Publiclands/Pages/eastern/assateague.aspx read more

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This is a wonderful beach with facilities-showers, toilets, changing rooms. Large expansive beach where you can rent tents, chairs, or umbrellas. The water is gorgeous. Expect a visit from curious ponies. read more

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This is a great state park beach. It is clean (except for the occasional horse manure) and the crowd is more calm than at the O.C. Boardwalk. They have a food stand and bathrooms that are clean. There are campsites available to reserve with showers. The main attraction was seeing the wild ponies who wandered by in the afternoon. They are not joking about securing your goodies. We saw them sniffing through unattended beach blankets and bags. Definitely worth a visit and plan to stay the whole day as you never know when the ponies will stroll by. read more

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Absolutely beautiful park. We were fortune enough to see horses upon entering and exiting the park. My kids loved the little trails that lead to look outs with crabs, schools of fish, cranes and lots of seashells. BRING DEET!! If you're going without bug spray be prepared to be feasted on by the mosquitos. I was their 3 course meal! read more

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Awesome park. New resident of the area (East Coast) wanted to see the famous ponies. Found them all over after entering the park and even before entering the park. Great layout, great visitor center. Courteous and helpful staff. Great merch. Very impressed. Had a great, not crowded experience in the off season, definitely the time to go. Found lots of ponies to take pictures of but you're supposed to stay 40ft away. Beautiful beaches but a little cold for anything but to watch the waves role in. Great respite. read more

Kayaking on the bay in Assateague was PRICELESS! We rented two double kayaks and after a mini lesson on the beach we were ready to go. Saw wild horses, fish, crabs, and a large jelly fish. Two hours was the perfect amount of time for fun and sun. I wa worried about getting in and out of the kayak but honestly the sandy beach made it so easy. read more

Very nice state park. I've stayed at a ton of state parks all over the United States. This is one of the best, if not the best, ocean-side state parks I've ever seen/stayed at. Tons of campsites. Amazing facilities that are clean and, frankly, luxurious for a state park. For example, they have constant flow hot showers (yes manual, timed flow showers would be better for the environment, but still) both inside and outside. They also have rinse-off stations. Many campsites. The sites are all located relatively close to the facilities and the beach. The sites do lack shade generally speaking. Sites and beaches are clean. Friendly and competent park staff. Not incredibly affordable, but you get a lot for your money here, so in my opinion it's absolutely a good value. Highly recommended. read more

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Great walking areas! Ocean breezes cool a hot day a bit. The old highway trail is nice and decent physical fitness. It's scenic, so plan to take your time to enjoy all nature offers. Seeing the wild ponies is a bonus! read more

Assateague State Park - Stallion standing errr sitting watch! - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

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It was a holiday weekend, so I wanted to do something I had never done before. I thought to myself about things within driving distance and figured it out; wild horses! I had never seen wild horses, so I decided to try my luck and drive down to Assateague for the day. Luckily the horses actually made an appearance! While the horses do make this a unique place, the park in and of itself is not especially unique. The state park caters mostly to those going swimming on the beach, which I hadn't realized before getting there. I was in a hiking mood and brought no beach supplies so I was a little bummed to see they didn't have any good nature trails here (unless you want to walk up and down the beach, or the bike trail, which isn't very scenic). Not to mention that this isn't the most pedestrian friendly park; think you'll walk from end to end? Forget it, you need a car to see the bulk of the area. If you really don't want to swim, and you don't have to see horses to be happy, then just stick to the National Seashore's visitor center on the mainland. It's right before you cross the bridge into paid park territory, and they have a few trails and some informative exhibits. As far as the actual state park is concerned, it's a nice place, I just wish it was more friendly to day trippers who aren't intending to get wet. At the very least it's a nice experience with some nice views. read more

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Visiting the horses is a hit or miss. We got some great views, photos of them and saw lots of horses last year. This year we took the 25 minute drive and only saw 2 way in the distance. With traffic off Hwy 50 this year it wasn't worth our trip but at least we tried. read more

The horsies are cool. Great weather, gets very windy by the beach but that is to be expected. Highly recommend. read more

Assateague State Park - Horse in Assateauge - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

Looking for horses to photograph and it ended up being really foggy. Still ended up with some pretty cool photos and a new place I would like to camp. read more

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If you like the outdoor and be surrounded by water, this could be the place for you. The wild horses are great to watch in their natural environment, feeding in grass and playing with each other. Pack a nice lunch and find a nice spot on the beach and enjoy some quiet time. read more

This island is best beach option in MD no doubt, whether it is to chill, swim, or surf. State side is more scenic up front...just hit the water and wander north to the open spacious dunes. You need a 4-wheel permit to get similar stuff national side. camping I say go national....they are chill about fires on the beach wherever you want. Cant go wrong either way if having trouble booking. Also perfect for a day trip. 10 min from OC prob not as far as you think. BAD CELL RECEPTION FYI! read more

Is this solely an RV area?. And what is the cost to enjoy this gorgeous park?. Also, are dogs allowed throughout the park? Thank you for any help. We plan to stop either way, but wanted to get a better feel for the area. Western Pennsylvanian.. I've never been to Delaware, sadly. So super excited to enjoy your beautiful State!. read more

Magical anytime off peak. Consider the fall or spring when there's no traffic. The breeze and the ocean views are stunning. The horses will come to greet you. read more

Beach camping done right! This place has camping spots and little grill that will contain your fire. The beach is not too crowded and you are no more than a 5 minute walk from the beach. The showers and bathrooms are decent and cleaned pretty often. The horseflies and mosquitos are annoying so make sure you bring bug spray. Do beware of the horse poop when you pitch tent. Horses/ponies usually come out at sunrise and sunset, but often leave surprises for you to wake up to. If you also forget firewood, no worries, the office has some for sale for $5.37 (5 dollars + tax). Nights can get a little chilly so bring a jacket or extra blanket. We also saw tons of campers and RVs. Enjoy the land, the ponies, and peek over to Ocean City if you have time. read more

Great park for camping and exploring. You can get the chance to see horses. Great area being right on the ocean. Bathhouse's are great. Favorite camping spot. read more

Awesome spot. We got to see a bunch of wild horses throughout the park and also on the beach. Great that they allowed dogs on the beach. Beautiful beach read more

Assateague State Park - Horses on the beach - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

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I thought I would love it here but was really surprised and confused when a heavy set woman with long curlyish brownish hair screamed at me for being too close to a horse. This woman was holding court talking about being a volunteer while people right in front of her were standing right next to a horse, lowering their hand as if to feed it and calling the horse to them- all while the horse was trying to eat. I walked up to a beautiful pony to take its picture and was recording it when this heavy woman screamed at me. I moved away instantly and the woman continued to scream that I need to stay a school bus length away from the horse. Then she continued to discuss what I'd done loudly to the group around her. I do believe I was too close, I just wasn't aware of the rules. I do take issue with how she handled it however. 1. She could have walked to me and educated me about the importance of keeping my distance. I would have been apologetic and interested in what she had to say. 2. Several people were doing much worse before and after she screamed at me, as she was standing there. 3. Other volunteers were wearing vests (I do not believe she was) and they did not mention this bus length distance rule. They didn't mention any distance when people were taking pictures in the parking area. I think consistency is a good think with rules. I was shocked to be corrected, after seeing my behavior of standing about 8-10 ft or less from the pony as the rule rather than the exception in my short time there. I am including a picture I took right before I was screamed at to show where I was standing. I do believe I was too close and I understand being educated about the importance of respecting their space. But singling me out and SCREAMING at me long after I moved away from the animal wasn't about informing me or safety, it was about a power trip. I half expected to be screamed at by every volunteer for some perceived misstep. It completely ruined what I thought would be a great experience. She should be educated about how to speak to the public in a constructive way, for a more positive result. Of course the horses should be respected but the guests should be as well. read more

Assateague State Park - I was screamed at for being this close to a pony as I wasn't "school bus distance" away - Parks Near Me - Berlin, Maryland

Having been in Ocean City, MD before, this was a place that was always on my list to visit. We decided to take the ride here after hearing about all the wild horses that roam this place. It was pretty overcast on the day we visited, so we thought we would have a lot of luck with the park being not as busy. It's $20 to enter per car. I thought the $20 charge was fair, as it gives you access to the entire park for 7 days. However, I wish there was an option to just pay for the day, as we had no intention of returning here within 7 days. There are a ton of trails, mostly short and easy to walk on with some boardwalks in swampy/wet areas. Be on the lookout for all types of wildlife - crabs, ducks and A LOT of different types of birds! But most importantly - WILD HORSES! Most of the comments on here relate to the wild horses. Unfortunately, during our outing, we only saw some horses from very far away. Since the park is so huge, you are not always going to have the chance to see the horses every time you go. My friend came back here two weeks after us and got to see the horses very up close. Judging by the pictures, they are really beautiful and majestic. This is something different to do in the OCMD area. I would definitely check it out if you are eager to explore and get out! You might even see some wild horses. read more

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I think your experience at Assateague State Park will really depend a lot on when you visit. Spring and Fall are definitely the best times to go. I would not choose to go in the Summer. The park is way too packed, the mosquitoes are relentless, and the heat is oppressive. If you time your camping trip well, it's an amazing experience. I suggest staying in the J Loop, as it is the most isolated and seems to have the largest sites. You also have direct access to the beach and you're right in the dunes. Dogs are allowed on this loop (the only loop where they're allowed), but it doesn't sound like a kennel. People are good about picking up after their dogs and keeping them in line. The ponies come right up to you (one even had a morning snack on a bit of our rain fly), and if you leave food out, they WILL eat it. They're cute, but they're opportunistic little buggers. In my mind, the State Park is superior to the National Park in that you're right on the ocean and the issue of bugs is less severe. Still, this is not a place you want to visit without bug spray. The bathing facilities were the best I've ever seen at a campground. They were spotless and hot water was abundant. Even though you're only about 15 minutes from Ocean City, it truly feels like you're in an isolated paradise here. Assateague is a must visit campground for camping enthusiasts. read more

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Checking in here got me my Tree hugger badge! My friend said as camping goes it's probably the best camping experience he got. I'm sure he was talking about me camping with him but I have to agree with him. Camping is pretty dope. I can't think of another place where I can camp on a beach. Where the beach is not litter with broken glass, needles and the tanned meatballs. The bathrooms have running water. The water is not that hot so. The shower water is just warm but, after baking out in the sun warm water is all you want. Another cool thing about this camping area are the wild horses. The bad thing about this camping ground are the wild horses, mainly their poop. We were lucky our tent was not near any but my friends were. And we did not have a shovel to put it away elsewhere. So hint hint, bring a shovel just in case for poop and to use to pick at the fire pit. It sucks alcohol is prohibited in the area. I suppose there would be a lot fewer horses if there was alcohol. It's nice that each camp site provides a picnic table. Eating on the table can be challenging because when we were there the breeze was constant. The wind was refreshing but it you can easily get sun burned because you do not feel the heat. It was a great experience and would like to come back another time. read more

This is such a beautiful state park. The Rangers were extremely helpful and nice. Our camp host was frand helpful too. We were in Loop E, site 121. Our site was directly next to the beach. We saw a lot of horses. So beautiful. We kept our distance from them. It was pretty windy so I'm glad I bought extra long tent stakes. If you go, the campstore does sell them, along with a few other items. Each site comes with a fire ring grill and table. I loved how my car was parked next to my tent. The park was so clean. We went Kayaking which was fun! The horses will take your food if left out. They ate our friends oatmeal out of the pot. They also ate another friends food. She went to her car only to come back and find them eating all her food. The park operates on a leave no trace behind. The park Rangers will say something if they see trash laying around. They genuinely seem to care about the park. I'll definitely go back. read more

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