Seasonal variations significantly impact camping experiences around Assateague Island National Seashore. The mid-Atlantic coastal location experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 85°F, while shoulder seasons offer milder conditions. Mosquitoes and biting flies peak during summer months, particularly in marshy bayside areas, diminishing substantially by late September.
What to do
Visit wild ponies at Assateague Island National Seashore: The bayside campground offers frequent wildlife encounters. "Love this place but be prepared for the bugs. Even enjoyed this in the winter," notes one visitor to Bayside Assateague Campground. Ponies often approach campsites seeking food, with campers reporting "horses neighing almost constantly and coming awfully close" to tents.
Explore historic Berlin: Located near several campgrounds, this small town provides a charming break from beach activities. A visitor to Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway mentioned, "We love utilizing this campground for oceans calling music festival in September. It is close to Ocean City, Maryland, as well as Berlin and Assateague national park where you can watch the ponies roam."
Go crabbing and fishing: Waterfront campgrounds allow direct water access for recreational fishing. At Treasure Beach RV Park & Campground, campers appreciate "fishing in the stocked lake, caught some bass and large brim" and note it's "a great place to crab right from your campsite or the beach."
What campers like
Free shuttle services: Several campgrounds provide transportation to nearby attractions. According to one camper at Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway, "They have a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to assateaque island, frontier town, and ocean city. Campers here are eligible for discounts at frontier town as well!"
Off-season tranquility: Fall and spring visits offer significantly reduced crowds and minimal insect activity. A visitor to Assateague State Park Campground noted, "We visited in the fall, and the weather happened to be perfect, with no bugs. Based on other campers' experiences, as well as having grown up on the Eastern Shore, I would honestly avoid the summertime due to the extreme heat and bugs."
Clean facilities: Modern bathhouses receive consistent praise across multiple campgrounds. At Assateague State Park Campground, visitors appreciate "sparkling clean bathrooms with flush toilets and free hot water showers. They also offer sinks with running hot water for washing dishes which makes more ambitious campsite cooking a breeze."
What you should know
Bug preparation essential: Mosquitoes and biting flies can be overwhelming, especially in summer months. A camper at Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday advises, "Bring bug spray, tiki torches, and mosquito fog spray with all the sitting water around the campground."
Wildlife management requirements: Wild horses require specific precautions at Assateague. "The standard is to hide all food as soon as you see the horses. This mean storing anything with a scent in your closed vehicle or in the 'horse box' under the picnic table," warns one Bayside Assateague camper. Failure to secure food attracts horses that "would start advancing on us."
Waterfront site drainage issues: After heavy rains, some sites retain water for days. At Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday, visitors noted "the middle ones were swampy with almost no space outside with sitting water on sites. The water at 411 drained after three days."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities beyond ocean beaches: Many campgrounds offer pools and water features. At Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay, families appreciate that "the kids love the night swimming while adults can sit at the swim up bar. The bathrooms are beautiful and kept very clean."
Scheduled activities for children: Organized events keep younger campers engaged. One visitor to Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway shared, "They have plenty of perks with little crowd! This campground has great sites that are right on the ocean with wildlife all around! They do themed weekends throughout the entire year."
Reserve well in advance for electric sites: Power hookups are limited and high-demand at state park campgrounds. An Assateague State Park visitor advised, "Make sure you book far in advance (especially for the electric sites!); be prepared for bugs, heat, and wind; and you'll be sure to have a memorable experience."
Tips from RVers
Off-season availability for rv sites near Assateague Island National Seashore: Shoulder seasons provide better access to premium waterfront rv hookups. One RVer at Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay reported, "We stayed in a 40ft rig. Amenities are clean, staff friendly and helpful. Our dog, Daisy, loved the beach and the dog park and socialization w her pooch friends."
Size restrictions at state park campgrounds: Larger motorhomes face limitations at some locations. According to reviews, Assateague State Park Campground sites are "level but on the small side; I wouldn't recommend attempting to fit in with anything larger than a pop-up or hybrid." Sites with electrical service are particularly limited for large rigs.
Specialized RV camping areas: Several campgrounds feature dedicated RV sections with appropriate spacing. At Treasure Beach RV Park & Campground, visitors note the property has "163 sites with both 30/50-amp service" and "campsites were a reasonably good size, but close together. We were able to fit our 32 ft. Camper, a truck, a car and a tent on our site with ease."
