![]() When we returned the next morning, the children's bikes and my cooler were gone. I realize leaving the bikes and cooler behind was risky but it was the best I could do at the time. I decided to leave two children's bikes and my cooler full of food (tightly bungee corded to keep the horses out) on the site because the tent took up all my hatchback space. I decided to throw my wet tent in the back of my car, stay in a hotel for a night, and return the next day to pitch my wet tent once the storm had passed. ![]() I tried to set up my tent at the new site on bayside but it was too windy. Cons: Smaller camp sites, costs more per night than National park, a lot of rules (dogs are only allowed in very limited areas and have to be on short leashes, no alcohol allowed, no fires allowed on beach), no clamming/crabbing spots.There seems to be a security problem here.Īfter spending one night in a tent on the ocean side, the high winds and strong rain convinced me to try a bayside site instead. Cons: No hot water in the showers, no flushing toilets (all pit toilets, but well maintained), $15 fee per car to get into the park, even if you've already paid for camping (only have to pay the fee once) Maryland State Park: Pros: Nicer beach, longer quiet hours, bath houses with hot showers, and flushing toilets, nice playground for kids, no fee to enter the park. National Park: Pros: Bigger park, bigger camp sites, nice beach, really nice bay beach too, 2 beautiful clamming/crabbing areas, more places to see the horses, less rules (alcohol is allowed, the dogs are allowed anywhere in th park, longer leashes ok, camp fires on beach ok), well maintained. If you're planning on camping on Assateague, and aren't sure if you should stay in the National Park, or the Maryland State Park, my advise is go to for the National Park, but here are the pros and cons, so you can decide for yourself. When the wind is blowing off the ocean, it's great. They really runied the trip for me, but it's not the park's fault. The wind was blowing off the bay, and carrying a ton of flies onto the beach, and into the camp ground. I camped at the National Park for a few days last week, and had a pretty good time. One problem we have had on other camping trips that you will not will have here is bears. Ocean City MD is so closed you can have a great formal meal and shortly be on the beach sleeping under the stars. National park rangers are all great as long as you are not stupid. But since we learned to zip the door when we are not in them, we have had no problems. Horses will go in your tent or screen enclosure if you leave the door open, we found out the hard way. Horses are great but do not feed them, like the birds, if you do they will pester you for a long time. They suffered some damage but are being redone by park staff and there are still several that are good. We have been coming here for almost 30 years. Summer can be brutal in a tent but fall and spring it is the best beach camping we have every done. Our favorite is the tent areas of which there are several areas, some away for RVs. the island has several sites for hike up the beach to truly rough it. If you take great food and beverages this can be a 5 star way to travel. ![]() Nothing beats pitching your tent on the soft sand, walking steps to the ocean, and staying on the beach the rest of the night with a warm fire and a sky full of stars, only to wake up to another day of sun and sand the next morning. The National Park also has some trails to walk along and explore, and they offer back country camping if you're willing to make the hike. The first weekend in September had only a few campers, much different from the rest of the summer. The campground is sold out almost every weekend and most weekdays during the summer, especially with the online reservation system, but the campground is not so crowded that you can't enjoy it. The bathrooms consist of vault toilets but they are enclosed in a structure larger than an outhouse with lighting when it gets dark, there is also an outdoor shower. There are a variety of campsite options, from the sand, to the dunes, tucked within some shrubs, and then there are sites closer to the road that are more grass and some cement. You can see wild horses, especially in the early morning hours. Once the sun goes down, you can relax with a campfire and look up at the stars. The only downside is the flies, but that is no fault of the national park. Have camped here in the early and late summer in the oceanside campsites, love to stay here, great view, waking up to the ocean sunrise, and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. A great campground on the beach, close to Ocean City, MD.
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