Contact Information
7307 Stephen Decatur Highway,
Berlin, MD 21811
410-641-2120
Maryland's only ocean park is located on Assateague Island, a barrier island bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by Sinepuxent Bay. Two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing. The island's bayside offers canoeing to secluded coves. The marsh areas have a variety of wildlife, including deer and feral horses. Assateague was selected by National Geographic Travel magazine in 1994 as one of the 10 best state parks in the United States.Assateague Island State Park is closely associated with Assateague National Seashore. A NPS Visitor Center rests on the south side of Sinepuxent Bay. This is a good place to stop and orient oneself with both parks. Incidentally, this south bay area is a well-known crabbing site. Once you reach the island, bear right on Bayberry Drive to reach the National Seashore and bear left to enter the park. Signage is excellent. Probably the most popular feature of the park besides the fabulous oceanfront and wild horses is the huge campground. Natural recreations taking place at the park include biking, surf fishing, swimming, and surfing. The park does offer nature programs, a camp store, dump station, concession and boat launch. At the south end of the park beyond the last camping loop, a youth area is featured. Please note that the park is undergoing a beach renewal effort and several campground loops, including the youth and shelter areas, will be closed for the summer of 2001 and perhaps beyond. The reservation center can provide details as to what is currently available.
Assateague State Park is fully accessible to the disabled. Special campsites, beach wheelchair, fishing pier, visitors center, shelters and food concessions are all designed for easy access.
More details about this outstanding destination, including the wildlife features, is described in Assateague Island National Seashore.
Assateague State Park offers bathhouses, boat launch, camp contact station, camp store, camping, dumping station, fishing, concession, beach parking, shelters, swimming, and youth group camping.
Maryland has four distinct seasons with spring and fall being particularly pleasant with low humidity and mild temperatures. The average January temperature ranges between 30 and 34 degrees F (-1 to 1 C) with July averages ranging between 74 degrees F and 80 degrees F. Typically, coastal temperatures are slightly warmer then the western Appalachian Plateau area. Travelers should be aware that winters can become miserably cold and summers can be hazy, hot and humid with afternoon thundershowers.
