Best Equestrian Camping near Ellendale, DE

I spent 5 days 4 nights on the shore of Assateague. As an equestrian this was a once in a lifetime adventure. Feral chincoteague ponies everywhere you look! Both towns of chincoteague and assatesgue lean into the horse craze, they have equestrian stores, riding barns, and horse museums just about everywhere you look. During the summer there is an annual “pony swim” where the wild ponies are rounded up and swam from one island to another so they can be sold. I cannot speak from experience but from what I learned from locals this event brings in over 50,000 people. You will need to plan around this if you wish to avoid crowds, although this location seems to be heavily populated all year round, don’t let that discourage you.

Side note- the crabbing is amazing among the local marshes!

Great being able to take your horse and ride the beach. Great camping, riding, fishing or just walking the beach and there is wildlife of all kind. The wild horses are all over the island and have on occasion come into the campsite. Weather can be really really cold or really nice in November. (personal horses only allowed to camp on the island from Oct to April 14.) Great place to visit.

Great spot for a secluded and quiet experience. I have seen horses everytime I have camped here. We always go during the winter or early spring months to avoid the bugs as they are awful during the spring and summer. Do not feed or pet the horses!

Beautiful national seashore.. beautiful beach. Biting flies, biting gnats, biting mosquitos. You will get eaten alive! Watch for the horses. May is mating season.

We camped in the walk-in sites toward the end (south side) of the ocean side sites. You park along side the road and walk on a boardwalk to your site. Depending on site, you will have to walk on sand to get there as well. Bring a beach wagon!

Toilets are vault and showers are cold water beach showers (not full closure- open on the bottom) which would be fine in the summer but were a bit chilly when we went on a cool few days in April.

No dish washing station- to be expected- but we witnessed a few pple washing dishes under the water source and dumping there - making for a large puddle of gross water- not cool.

Some sites are on the beach, and you can position your tent to be on the dune looking at the water- some are inland a bit more but still a very short walk to the beach. Some you camp on sand (obviously) some of the inland sites have intermittent grass. I’ve heard bugs are bad in warmer months (naturally)- no mosquitos when we were there in April.

We drove through the bay side camp sites and these looked great too- the calm-watered bay side looked nice for wading & playing for small kids. There is some shade here vs none in ocean side. It’s a short walk or drive to the ocean.

BRING STAKES FOR SAND AND GUY YOUR TENT. I witnessed many collapsed tents while I was there. One sun shade that flew away.

Wild horses = piles of horse poop everywhere. Wasn’t a problem, just walk around them. Keep snacks in a locked cooler. The horses came for my 3 yo who was eating snacks while loading up the car. They aren’t messing around!

We saw many horses on ocean side & bay side. Watch out for a brown pony named Chip. The rangers & volunteers were very friendly & great at keeping tabs on the horses.

The beach shack store across from the ranger station near the entrance offered a surprisingly large selection of items.

Crazy mosquitoes in the summer. As the deal with any national seashore in the summer. Sand in the toes, wild horses on the beach. Amazing!

Many people do not realize there is a wide array of wildlife on Assateague because everyone is so obsessed with the horses. Specifically the birding on Assateague is phenomenal. Oceanside camping is very neat, but it fills up fast. The sites are close to bathrooms (I believe the national side has pit latrines). There are also showers, albeit cold. The sites are a decent size but be advised, they are completely sandy. You WILL get sand everywhere and it is unavoidable. Expect it so it does not put a dent in how wonderful the trip will be. The Oceanside sites are a dune away from the beach. Use the walkways to gain access to the beach as the dunes are protected and you will get fined for taking a shortcut. As many of the reviews advise, there are mosquitos. A lot of them. There are also biting horse flies. However catch the island on a breezy day and the breeze takes care of them. One of the best parts about Assateague is all of the activities you can do. There are bike paths, kayak rentals on the bayside, bay fishing, ocean fishing, crabbing, etc. The worst part about Assateague are all of the tourists who stop in the middle of the road to view the horses, blocking traffic and causing back ups.

This place is such a cool park. The beach is great, although definitely be wary of the mosquitoes. Especially at night.

The wild horses are really what people come for, and they are definitely worth the visit!

It’s beautiful here, horses are cool, beach is great, but the bugs stink! Bring some deet it’s the only thing that works! No electric and generators are only allowed until a certain time at night. We’ve been twice so I guess you could say we liked it :)

Assateague National Seashore on the Maryland side offers an incredible experience. 

Along with soft sand, balmy breezes and coastal views, wild horses wander the park at will.

We chose a campsite that did not require hiking onto the sand to reach. This made setting up camp much easier as no carrying was involved. We were early enough in the seasons that the mosquitoes hadn't kicked in yet, so it was an enjoyable stay. 

The restroom facilities are primitive. with a dump toilet, and exterior showers with warmish water. To turn on the shower water, one has to hold down a line to get it to run.

There was a good mix of tents and a variation of camper trailers on both the oceanside and bayside camp areas. The camper trailers are boondocking as no hookups are offered at this campground.

I find the restrooms on the bayside to be better, but in the warmer months, be prepared for lots of mosquitoes in that area.

The horses do their rounds in the morning for breakfast and in the evenings for dinner. DO NOT FEED THE HORSES  ! They are rather aggressive and persistent. KEEP ALL FOOD LOCKED UP IN YOUR CAR! They are Houdini's and have no trouble opening up any types of coolers with either their mouths or their hooves. There is a storage cubby below the picnic table - use it. 

The best way to shoo them away from your campsite is to bring a metal water bottle with small rocks in it. Shake it at them and they know to move along. It's what the rangers use to get them to move.

To reserve use recreation.gov

A very unique place to camp, ride bikes, enjoy the beach and see wildlife all in one place! Pit toilets and cold showers are clean and spacious. Make sure to have all food containers locked up as the wild horses are not shy in trying to take food. Ghost crabs are the cutest!!

Wild horses, wide, clean stretches of beach, safe surroundings, close to town. This is the best beach camping in all of Maryland. Pros:

• the beach is wide with plenty of room to stretch out and is much cleaner than that of OC and surrounding beach areas
• the wild horses walk right up to your site!
• almost glamping- water pumps, outhouses, showers on each loop- much appreciated after days of sand, sun, and sweat
• pet friendly
• fire rings at each site, bonfires on the beach

Cons:

• it's expensive! Sites average $30 per night AND each car is $20 to enter the park
• reservations are practically mandatory- they book fast with little vacancy
• this is a barrier island- mosquitos are legit. Bring bug spray with DEET. You should also expect little protection from the sun, so a canopy shelter may be helpful
• lack of privacy- each site is only several feet from the next. Take a look at the map and book large group sites or several in a loop together for friends

Tuckahoe is a hidden gem on Maryland’s mid-Eastern Shore region. With many of your standard amenities and a quiet atmosphere, it was a great spot for my first time camping with my kids.

Our campsite was on the non-electric loop. We had a small creek and trail back up to our campsite. We only had a handful of neighbors and foot traffic at the time was almost nonexistent, so we practically had the park to ourselves.

There is an electric loop with electric hookup, but no water or sewer. Those can be found at the campground entrance. Each loop has a wood shed and clean, well-appointed bathhouse. There are water pumps along the road for refills.

There are 4 basic cabins on each loop and most sites are designed for RV and/or tent use. There are 3 sites that are tent-only on the non-electric loop.

Multiple trails in the area are widespread. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring a map! They also have equestrian trails with an equestrian center nearby. The lakefront boasts a picnic area with individual tables and grills, recycled tire playground, and kayak rentals (for a fee). Fishing is allowed, but no swimming (which was a bummer for us, but exploring some of the local creeks helped provide some relief from the summer heat).

Nearby is Atkins Arboretum. Their 5 mile trail system covers around 400 acres. There are woods, “grasslands,” and “wetlands” to explore the various ecosystems of the Eastern Shore. They also had a goat area and garden play area for children. There is a fee through the Visitor’s Center which supports the center, but some of the trails can be accessed via other Tuckahoe trails.

Centrally located, you’re still within easy access to a local town center (Denton), supplies, and dining. I can’t recommend Tuckahoe enough if you just want a quiet spot or you’re new to camping!

We camped in the Oceanside loop B. Right on the beach, but big dunes between sites and the ocean. Wild horses meandering through daily. Some sites are more private than others- some not private at all, so carefully review the map and the images when booking. Pit toilets were very clean and maintained daily, cold water showers only. Very friendly and chill vibe. Amazing stars, beach and bay. We will be back!

We got a site to stay on our way through to OBX. We booked and arrived after hours, which wasn’t an issue as they were like 3% occupied. Sites were pretty level (within 2 inches) and had centrally located bathhouse. We were at the north campground. The winds were nuts and over 50mph. We switched sites to spare our slide side, so caution to look at windy before going. The views of the bridge were amazing. The noise of the coast guard waking up is alarming, but neat. It was trumpets and sounded like a horse race at 7am!

Amazing views and very peaceful. Gorgeous wild horses and the sound of the ocean was so relaxing. My only problem was the mosquitos! They were horrible and EVERYWHERE. The beached areas didn’t have as many but as soon as you get off the beach past the bushes and trees they’re horrible. The showers are ice cold and are just stalls outside so you’re showering in freezing water while mosquitos are attacking your naked body. ugh. Honestly though, it’s worth it to see these amazing views. I will definitely be coming back, but I’ll probably choose a campsite on the beach next time rather than right off the beach.

We camped in Site B35 on the Bayside, it was a large site with a little bit of shade.  An easy drive from Ocean City, MD.   The Campground bathrooms were ok, they have a composting toilet and a cold shower, always nice to have a bit of running water.  We did not get a visit from the horses the night we were there, but we did see them along the roadside in and out of camp.  Even though all campsites were full the 3 sites immediately around us were empty, which made for a super peaceful quiet night to gaze at the stars.  It was breezy and surprisingly comfortable for mid-July.

Mid March, upper 50s and 15-25 MPH winds. It was cold and there isn’t a lot of protection from wind. However, the site is beautiful and close to the beach. No bugs for us with both a day of sea breeze and land breeze. We did get visit on first night from horses. Vault toilets but very clean. Shower facility was closed (probably not open until warmer). Biggest site complaint is they use fire pits that are taller with double ring. Tough to get warm in the wind with your fire elevated and the pit unable to radiate heat. Try to get a site closer to the boardwalks if you really want the sandy camping experience. Oceanside Loop 1 site 2 is a grass “yard.” Still nice but May be buggy in summer with standing water.

We saw several wild horses during our stay, mostly near the roads, so we didn’t have issues with them at our campsite. We had an amazing unobstructed sunrise view directly from inside the tent. The sites weren’t too close together but you could see and hear other campers somewhat. Sand is quite comfy to sleep on. There was a boardwalk from the parking area to the sand and then we had a short incline to get to our site. Nice fire pit with grate and a picnic table at each site. The picnic tables had doors at each end and were encased underneath in order to provide a safe place for your food items. Check in and out was easy. We went when it was still quite chilly at night and there were no bugs to deal with yet.

Snagged site 55, which was a walkin and beach front campsite for 4th of July weekend. You park down below and then walk through the dunes past some campsites and into a giant open area with lots of tent sites. There's little to no privacy so get ready to be friends with your neighbors. There's also no shade in these spots and it's actually kind of hard to know where your site is because there aren't any real boundaries. Location to the beach was amazing and we saw numerous horses on the beach, especially during sunrise. The crowd was pretty rowdy during 4th of July weekend.

The mosquitos are no joke. Walking from the car through the shrub bush section to get to the site was absolutely brutal. Hundreds of mosquitos will descend upon you. We camp all the time and have never experienced mosquitos even close to this level. We heard a rumor that there are less on the State Park side so we'll try that next time. It's an awesome site but the mosquito situation makes it quite miserable.

Last family trip of the year and it didn’t disappoint. We stayed in site D25 again just as we did 2 yrs ago. It’s a pull through site as are all sites in loop D. This is pet friendly and has electric and water. Dump station is across from loop D. There are 5 loops with Loop E being tent and cabins/hurts only. That Loop also has island tent sites. We couldn’t walk into that area. Each loop or area has its own bathhouse which appear to all be individual family style bathrooms.

The layout of the sites in loop D is not typical. All sites in this loop are pull through and parallel to the road, so the left drivers side of your camper faces the road and the right side faces your camp area. If you stay in an inside loop site you will be facing the camper on the other side of the loop. For instance D11 and D14 face each other. The distance between sites across the loop isn’t huge or blocked by any foliage but didn’t seem to be an issue for our friends who stayed in D24. If you stay on the outside of the loop you will either face the woods (higher numbered sites) or loop C through the trees ( lower numbered sites). Our site is pretty level as are most sites. This is Delaware which is flat land.

The one issue with most every site are the trees. Most every site has a tree to watch out for. Other loops are all back in sites and many of those have trees to keep an eye on as well. This is a shaded campground. At the end of each loop is a pier on the pond which is large and beautiful. There are playgrounds in each loop and bike rentals at the camp store.

The tent area is walk in but they provide wheelbarrows or carts to haul your stuff. These sites are very private and well spaced off the walk-in path and from each other. The cabins and yurts are also walk-in but again you have the use of carts. Some of the cabins are facing the pond and offer gorgeous views.

There is a primitive group camp area complete with bathhouse, screened in pavilion, open air pavilion, numerous picnic tables, horseshoe and volleyball courts and sits at the point so the views of the pond are plentiful.

There is a disc golf course within walking distance and the weekend we were there a competition was happening. There is a day use area with boat rentals and lots of trails for hikers or horses to use.

The town of Laurel nearby has a few stores. I found This and That Country Store which was so cute. The owner was super nice. The beach areas of Delaware are not too far away if you want a beach day.

This has become one of our favorite campgrounds in DE.

Awsome!!!! Best beach side camping in the area. If you have never been camping at Assateague here some tips for you.

1)Bring your own shade!!! There is absolutely no shade anywhere, you camp right behind the sand dunes with the only shade coming from some bushes.

2)Horseproof all your food!!! They have wild horses roaming this island and they will go through your campsite if you leave food unprotected.

3)Book early, the campsites are released several times a year for online reservation but they go quick, good luck making a reservation for a weekend during prime season. (If anyone has reservation for the summer months and can't make it, email me please I will be happy to take over the reservation.)

Other then the beach there are tons of stuff to do on this island. There is a great break when the (surf gods allow it) to the very right of the public beach if you are facing the ocean for you surfers. Nothing crazy but you can definitely catch some small 2-3 footers.

Surf fishing is great, bring some heavy weights, you do need to cast out as far as you can depending on tide. We have caught blues, rockfish, sand sharks and rays.

If you have little ones take them to the bayside beach, very calm waters and dosn't get very deep. You can go crabbing and look for clams for dinner. They have boat rentals as well.

FYI you can bring in adult beverages unlike the state run park located right next door.

So, my trip was just an unluck experience. It was quite literally the worst camping experience I've ever had. I definitely had such a bad experience that I'm not coming back again..which is a shame honestly.

The place is beautiful, absolutely stunning. The beach is well maintained, the park is as well, and the hosts and park rangers aren't bad either.

My experience was because of the weather. I had been looking at the weather for this area for 2 weeks and everyday until I went, I thought I was prepared...you could not have been prepared for this crap.

The weather went from sunny, to extremely windy, so bad that our tent nearly ripped out of the sand.. it definitely almost crushed us.. I bought tent stakes ahead of time, my friend did not and his tent flew away a couple of times too.

It also went from 64 degrees to 34 and at night we saw our breath and I could not stop shivering.

Again, I was prepared for the cold, the wind, the rain...our weather fluctuated so much that even the rangers weren't prepared for it.

If you go here, go in the summer...just don't come at all in the early or even late spring.

The wind will be trash, buy the tent stakes. Just do it. You want the ones that spiral into the ground.

I did see some horses, and if I had slept better I might have had a better experience. Mine was, again, just an unlucky set of circumstances that myself and the other campers there that day all experienced.

Oh, there are showers, toilets (hole in the ground), water spout, fire rings, picnic table with storage underneath it.

I will never do this again, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't camp there! Definitely a bucket list check off for me.

General: 129 sites with water and electricity, eight tent sites, one island site, two yurts, and eight cabins. 

Site Quality: All are level and sand/grass. There are many trees and reasonable separation between sites (although you can easily see your neighbors). A large picnic table and fire ring complete the site. Our site had a water view and was peaceful. 

Bath/Shower house: Bathhouses are located in the A and C loops plus additional ones by the tent camping area. All seemed to be reasonably clean and were cleaned on a rolling basis, starting at 10 am for the A loop. The shower had immediate hot water, but you only get about 30 seconds of water before you have to push the button again. A little clunky but a good way to save water. 

Activities/Amenities: So much to do! Bike rentals are free (donations accepted), there are several hiking/biking/horse trails, disc golf, and canoe/kayak/peddle boat rentals (in season). 45-minute Pontoon boat tours are available on weekends Memorial Day– Labor Day. There are several boat docks if you bring your own boat. There is a small camper store/office that closed shortly after our arrival. There is a single washer/dryer in Loop C. I was mystified that you could only use liquid detergent (I use laundry sheets). Because there is only one for the entire campground, I wouldn’t count on doing laundry. If you have kiddos, try and get a site in Loop A – there is a nice and educational play area (plus a game I’d never heard of– Gaga ball). There is an additional playground in the day-use area, plus a volleyball net. There is also a nature center. Recycling and dumpsters between Loops A and B and another between Loops C and D. 

We camped here several years ago but in the off-season, and wanted to kayak among the bald cypress trees (I highly recommend this). Glad we came back!

This is a beautiful marina. I think it is maintained by Delaware State Parks. There is plenty to do there like fishing charters, crabbing, fishing and bird watching. There is also parking for the public beach. There is a camp ground next to the marina too. A great place to spend the day

Park Name-Delaware Seashore State Park

Date of Stay-June 2018

Site-237

This is one of favorite local parks! The location (in between Dewey/Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach/Ocean City, Maryland) is PERFECT. You have close access to miles and miles of touristy beaches and uninhabited beaches. From the campground you can walk less than a 1/4 of a mile to get to the beach.

Even though this park is run by The State of Delaware or a subsidiary agency the park is well maintained, the sites are level. All of the RV sites are full hook up and level. If you have a larger vehicle make sure you bring your “A” game when it comes to parking and pulling out as the interior roads are a little bit tight.

Even though they don’t have the staffing levels of a KOA…there was always someone “official” around who could answer questions or help out if needed.

If you are able…try to book a site on the newer side (sites 400-480)…the sites are WIDE and DEEP