Pet friendly camping near Ocean Pines, Maryland offers direct access to both coastal and inland water recreation opportunities. The area sits on the Atlantic Coastal Plain with an average elevation of 11 feet above sea level and mild, humid summers. Fall camping brings temperatures between 55-75°F, significantly reducing the notorious summer mosquito populations that plague earlier season visitors.
What to do
Beach exploration: 25 minutes to Assateague Island National Seashore, where visitors can experience unique shoreline camping near wild horses. "We camped in the Oceanside loop B. Right on the beach, but big dunes between sites and the ocean. Wild horses meandering through daily," reports Danielle from Assateague Island National Seashore Oceanside Campground.
Freshwater paddle adventures: 45 minutes to Trap Pond State Park, featuring Delaware's northernmost natural stand of bald cypress trees. "We enjoyed camping in the off or shoulder season more than peak because the campgrounds are quieter. At Trap Pond, we missed being able to rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat by a week. Free bike rentals were still available so we were able to take a ride around the pond," notes Lee D.
Nighttime boardwalk excursions: Take advantage of convenient beach town access during evening hours. "We used the free shuttle service from Sun Outdoors Ocean City to both the Ocean City boardwalk and Assateague Island which made exploring the area more convenient," according to visitor reports. The shuttle runs hourly from 10am-10pm during peak season.
What campers like
Early morning wildlife viewing: Watch for Assateague's famous wild ponies during less crowded hours. "Waking to see wild horses each morning is an experience I'll never forget," shares Paully B. "Falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean is one of the relaxing thing there is."
Seasonal temperature advantages: Fall and spring visits offer more comfortable camping conditions. "We chose to stay in October with less people and less bugs," notes Jodi J. from Bayside Assateague Campground. "Hiking and bays nearby to kayak or canoe at. Beautiful place to stay."
Multi-campground access: Many campers appreciate using one campground as base while accessing amenities at sister properties. "They offer shuttles to the beach or their sister Campground Frontiertown. Your camping also includes FREE admission to Frontiertowns water park, which is pretty good on a hot day," explains Sue V. at Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway.
What you should know
Seasonal insect preparation: The coastal marshlands create severe mosquito and biting fly conditions during summer months. "Be prepared for the bugs. In my personal opinion, depending on the season. Some years we've had no issues, some years the flies were bad. The mosquitos are kept at bay with bug spray or citronella candles. The closer to the ocean the better you are," advises Tony P. from Assateague Island National Seashore Oceanside Campground.
Wildlife food safety: Secure all food items from Assateague's wild horses. "The Ponies are giant trash pandas. They're smart and can open latches so do bring bungee cords, kayak straps, or ratchet straps to lock all of your food in cases or coolers," warns a camper. Horses have become increasingly bold around campsites.
Wind exposure considerations: Coastal sites lack natural windbreaks. "Prepare for lots of wind. Check the weather a lot because the storms roll in quickly," recommends Tori V. Bring extra stakes and secure awnings when forecasts show wind gusts over 15mph.
Tips for camping with families
Age-appropriate water options: Choose between ocean waves or calmer bay waters based on children's swimming abilities. "We like the bay side for the kids no waves," shares Rich E. at Delaware Seashore State Park Campground, which offers both oceanfront and bay-side camping access.
Rainy day backup activities: Weather can change quickly along the coast. "The bathhouses are pristine. We visited in the fall, and the weather happened to be perfect, with no bugs. Based on other campers' experiences, I would honestly avoid the summertime due to the extreme heat and bugs," advises Jen V.
Playground proximity selection: Some campgrounds offer sites adjacent to play areas. "Highly recommend our site to anyone with littles as you can literally relax at your site while your child plays at the playground," suggests Debbie W. when staying at Sun Outdoors Ocean City.
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: Many sites require additional leveling blocks. "Sites are fairly spacious and have an interesting semi-circle pull through layout so backing in not required. They are not level and have a sandy base so it took a bit of work to finally get the rig level, even with auto-levelers," reports Jim G. from Trap Pond State Park Campground.
Utility hookup planning: Not all campgrounds provide full hookups. "At Trap Pond, sites have 30A electric and water with a nearby convenient dump station," notes a visitor. Prepare to conserve water between dump station visits at parks without sewer connections.
Wind protection strategies: Position RVs with door side away from prevailing winds when possible. "The winds were nuts and over 50mph. We switched sites to spare our slide side, so caution to look at windy before going," advises Joe R.
