3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Horse Camping on Assateague Island National Seashore offers primitive facilities and close proximity to wild horses. The designated Horse Camping area is located in the Maryland district of the park, accessible from Berlin. Campsites accommodate tents and RVs with parking for horse trailers. Drinking water and vault toilets are available, though the campground lacks electric hookups, showers, and dedicated horse corrals. Campers must practice Leave No Trace principles and manage their own waste. The site's location provides easy access to beach areas where campers can observe the island's famous wild ponies.
Located approximately 11 miles from Ocean Pines, the Assateague horse camping area connects to miles of shoreline riding trails and inland paths through maritime forest. Horses are permitted on designated trails throughout the park, allowing for varied terrain experiences from beach riding to wooded areas. Trail riders should check seasonal restrictions as some areas close during bird nesting seasons. The park requires all horse manure to be collected and removed from the island. Trailer parking is available at the campground, though space is limited and reservations are recommended during peak summer months. Weather conditions can change rapidly on the barrier island, so riders should prepare for wind and potential salt spray during beach rides.
"Due to the location near Ocean City, this campground is primarily a resort for people staying 1 or more weeks."
"Shuttle to Ocean City, MD was convenient and general store was close by and stocked well!"
"As an equestrian this was a once in a lifetime adventure. Feral chincoteague ponies everywhere you look!"
"Wild horses, wide, clean stretches of beach, safe surroundings, close to town. This is the best beach camping in all of Maryland."
from $40 / night
"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."
"We stayed in a full hook up site, and we found the campground to be clean, well maintained and so close to the beach."
Available this weekend
from $35 - $352 / night
"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."
"It was also right near the showers, which were clean & warm, just what was needed. Tent sites are more secluded and are walk-in; our buddies tent camped the same weekend."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $65 / night
"If you don’t mind wild horses joining you for dinner and trekking around your campsite at night, then this is your place!! The beach is absolutely gorgeous and so is the scenery."
"Sites were not too close to one another. We had site 13 on ocean loop 1. Just a few steps, and you’re on the beach. Nice picnic table and fire pit."
Available this weekend
from $40 - $80 / night
"People driving around in golf carts cheering, people playing board games at the campsite next door...sleep was difficult."
"Close to the Marina, Downtown, The Blvd and the Beach. Staff are helpful but also gives you space to live."
from $4200 / night
"Lots of trails. Pretty busy with Hunters during the season. Roosters here"
"Though I live in Texas now, Maryland will always be home for me. Whenever I get the chance to head back, I almost make sure to check out some of the local fishing spots."
"Park is that the Electric loop (B) has all of the sites on the outside of the drive loop so you are not looking across the road at other campers."
from $18 - $77 / night
"The seasonal weekenders had gone home, and we preferred the larger, more private area behind the site to walk our dogs."
"We stopped for one night in order to see some friends and wished we would have had more time because the surrounding area looks like there is lots to do and see."
from $35 - $159 / night
GuidePretty easy camping trip, plenty of room to set up camp. Level spots. We stayed on south inlet campground. They have small camp store multiple laundry and bath houses. Great stay if you enjoy fishing, as. You can fish the inlet at the campground. They have a very nice playground for kids as well! Only negative is no camp fires allowed, they do have a community area you can have a camp fires allowed. Also no wifi
GuideEnjoyed the stay here June 19-21, 2026, in the tents-only section at a campground just 10 minutes from home. I've lived near this campground for 45 of my 66 years but never camped there.
The cramped campsites always turned me off but my wife and I decided to try it as a test run when we bought all new camping gear after not camping for 15 years(well, except for the 40-year-old Coleman stove that still works).
The campsites are tight and strictly BYOS(Bring Your Own Shade). The weather cooperated with temps in the low 80s and cool westerly winds. Because this campground sits adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Inlet and Indian River Bay, it fills up on weekends for camping, beach-going, fishing, kayaking and other water activities. I'd suggest going weekdays if you can.
Even with all the people, though, it was mostly quiet. The traffic from the Indian River Inlet bridge didn't bother me much but it did keep my wife up the first night. The bridge lights up at night and looks most spectacular at sunrise.
We ate dinner at camp the first night and then went to the inlet walkway to watch the sun set. The sunsets over the Indian River Bay, serenaded by the U.S. Coast Guard station's bugle calls with the lowering of the colors at its station at the north side campground, are a must. We also got to see a green heron foraging on the rockpiles and a dolphin swimming through the inlet. Fishermen lined the walkway to add to the atmosphere.
The next morning we drove over to the north side of the inlet to the Burton's Island trail-- another first for me. The trail was probably a mile or so and took about an hour, though it looked like we could have gone further into the brush had we not been wearing shorts and t-shirts. We came across a horseshoe crab traveling along a dirt path and a turtle trying to hide itself under downed tree branches. Blue water surrounded us in the marshes.
An excellent dinner at Matt's Fish House capped off our anniversary and we returned to the campground to watch the sunset again.
The bathrooms were well-placed. They were mostly clean but the five-second" Navy shower" intervals in the showers were annoying. There's no water or electric at the tent sites but a high-powered community water tap works for cleaning dishes.
The ban on open fires at the campground did disappoint. There is a community fire pit but no one used it our two nights there.
Oh, I can't forget the Diamondback turtles. Be careful driving so you don't hit them as they wander through the campground. We saw several lay eggs on the sand volleyball court and one scurried through our campsite and under our picnic table on its way to points unknown. The picnic table at each site is heavy but movable.
The people were friendly even in such crowded conditions. Lots of kids on bikes, skateboards and scooters and at the playground. Basically, you don't come here as much for the camping as you do for the water sports and activities.
As a tent camper, I'd opt for the tent-only loops versus the Standard sites that accommodate tents and small RVs and popups. Our tent-only loops looked less congested than the Standard sites.
I'd give this campground 4.5 stars. It would be an easy 5 if not for the crowded conditions.
ScoutWe have stayed here twice and have our 3rd trip booked and we absolutely love it! The lazy river and kiddy water slide park is amazing and our kids love it!
LegendWe stopped for one night in order to see some friends and wished we would have had more time because the surrounding area looks like there is lots to do and see. This is a really beautiful area of the Delmarva Peninsula and just minutes away from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuges and Assateague Island NS.
This campground is huge with a great selection of standard and premium RV sites that provide full hookups and spacious gravel or paved pads. Some have water views and some are back-in sites with the water directly behind them. Our site was a buddy site which worked great for our stay with our friends. It was long enough so we didn’t have to unhitch our tow car but still had enough room to maneuver into and out of the site and could reach our hook-ups. The site was perfectly level (in fact, all sites in the park are level as this is a very flat area) and the area where we parked the RV was paved and the rest of the driveway was gravel. The patio had pavers and our fire pit was raised with bricks around it. The utilities were well-placed and the 50-amp was strong and the water pressure good. Our site was in the open which we loved because it was cool when we visited so we relished the sunshine. There are plenty of other sites located under tall pines (which we really don’t like because of all the sap that gets on our coach and car). Many of the sites are rented as seasonal sites but there are plenty left for transient campers. The list of amenities is a mile long and covers the typical ones you would find at a “resort.” Some of the best ones are the zero-entry pool (which was closed while we were there) and splash park and the private beach. The sandy beach would be a nice place to bring a chair and hang out admiring the view of the bay. Most of the amenities (like the pool, recreation hall, café, and bounce pillow) are centrally located so keep that in mind when you are booking your campsite as you may, or may not, want to be in that area. The restrooms were clean and newer (keep in mind we were there very early in the season when the campground was practically empty). The laundry facilities were clean and there were plenty of machines (all but one didn’t work) and were reasonably priced. We really liked the access to water that this park provides Pocomoke Sound and the tidal pond. It’s a great place to relax in a chair, swim, or put in a kayak.
LegendThis is a great little state park tucked away in the woods. Campsites are pretty spacious and have nice shade. The campground has two loops, each with a bathhouse located in the middle. Our site (Butterfly Loop #3) was long enough for our motorhome and tow car. The roads are paved, as was our camping pad. The only utility at our site was 30-amp electric. There are water spigots located throughout each loop and we were close enough to fill our water tank. For the most part, the park is big-rig friendly but we did brush against some trees on our way around the loop. Campsites do vary in length so make sure you include your length when booking. We reserved online and were instructed to just go to our site which was nice and convenient. They sell firewood onsite and have a self-pay station which we loved. There is a nice boat launch and the kayak launch has a platform to assist you getting in and out and there are plenty of places to fish from the bank. There is a nature center (which was not open during our stay), playground, picnic pavilions, amphitheater, The bathrooms could use some more attention. The shower curtains were pink meaning they have not been properly cleaned in a while. Needless to say, we did not shower there. The dump station was closed while we were there but we were told we could use the dump station at Tuckahoe State Park (about 10 miles away). We really enjoyed the short hiking trails and paved trail which allowed us to log about 3 miles without having to leave the park. The campground is a really relaxing place to be. We did drive (about 40 minutes south) to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, both of which we recommend. It is also worth a drive to St. Michaels to see the quaint seaside town and visit the maritime museum (plan on spending half a day at the museum). The only downside is that the park is not gated and open for day use so a lot of people just drive through the campground looking around.
GuideParked with my class B van! Amazing you can hear the ocean at night. No electricity so be prepared. Horses will walk through your campsite. Clean and quiet. No cell service. Lots to do with hiking and beaching! Be prepared for cold outdoor showers!
GuideWasn’t sure at first… kind of a lot of money for one night with no sewer hook up, but the amenities make up for the price! The western show was so fun! Frontier town was cute and not too cheesy! Loved walking all the way around the park! Dog friendly!
GuideRight off the beach wild horses, deer, turkeys, and birds. Woke up and walked right out on the beach for some early morning beach combing, was a bit windy
ScoutWe allways have a blast everybody is so nice and lots to do
Horse camping near Ocean Pines, Maryland gives visitors direct access to both the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Bay. Located on a barrier island 11 miles from Ocean Pines, equestrian campers often face wind conditions of 10-20 mph due to the exposed coastal position. The Maryland district's equestrian facilities connect to miles of mixed terrain trails that range from sandy beaches to maritime pine forests.
Kayaking at Assateague Island National Seashore: Both bayside and oceanside sections offer different water experiences within the same park. "We enjoyed the very clean facilities that the park offered. During our time we were able to do some hiking along the 37 mile long park, kayak on the ocean, and Bay, see some wild ponys that rove the park" notes a visitor at Assateague Island National Seashore Oceanside Campground.
Beach fires after sunset: Many equestrian campers appreciate the option for evening fires. "After dusk you can do beach fires as long as they're below the high tide line so they wash out," explains a camper at Assateague.
Stargazing on clear nights: The barrier island location provides minimal light pollution for astronomy. A camper at Bayside Assateague Campground calls it a "Magical" experience and notes "Hiking and boys nearby to kayak or canoe at. Beautiful place to stay."
Free bicycle access: Several state parks in the region offer complimentary bikes. At Trap Pond State Park Campground, "Bike rentals are free (donations accepted), there are several hiking/biking/horse trails, disc golf, and canoe/kayak/peddle boat rentals (in season)."
Multiple beach options: The region offers varying levels of beach access. "Assateague Island also has TWO bike/hike access beaches, and those are our favorite. You can drive to Assateague from Chincoteague with your bikes, and then park. One bike beach is off of the Wildlife Loop, and is on pavement the whole way," shares a visitor to Tom's Cove Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Horse campers appreciate the wildlife interactions. One camper at Bayside Assateague notes, "A deer hung out by the campfire at night, and in the morning there were horse tracks all over the sight. We chose to stay in October with less people and less bugs."
Seasonal bug conditions: Mosquitoes and flies are consistently mentioned in reviews. "Love this place but be prepared for the bugs. Even enjoyed this in the winter," warns a camper at Bayside Assateague, while another says, "It's beautiful here, horses are cool, beach is great, but the bugs stink! Bring some deet it's the only thing that works!"
Wind exposure: Horse camping areas have minimal wind protection. "Prepare for wind," advises a visitor to Oceanside Assateague, noting "It is really neat to be able to camp right on the sand dunes and by the beach but prepare for lots of wind. Check the weather a lot because the storms roll in quickly."
Wildlife management: Horses at equestrian campgrounds require special precautions. A visitor to Horse Camping — Assateague Island National Seashore noted their experience: "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."
Off-peak scheduling: For quieter horse camping experiences, timing matters. "The tent camping area is nearly always quiet during the week. The campground is filled to max capacity on only the holiday weekends and Pony Penning," explains a visitor to Tom's Cove Park.
Beach selection strategy: Different beaches offer varying experiences. "The beach on the other side had no lifeguard, but dogs were allowed on that beach and the water seemed a bit calmer and clearer over there," notes a camper at Delaware Seashore State Park Campground.
Communication tools: The large size of local campgrounds makes walkie-talkies helpful. One family found "having a decent radio for my husband and I helps with family management when out in the wild."
Parking logistics: RVers at horse campgrounds should arrive early. "Sites were very well marked. Friendly staff. Beautiful views. Ocean was a short 5 minute walk from our campsite- along with a playground and delicious restaurant (that even served vegan food!)!" reports an RV camper at Delaware Seashore State Park.
Site selection criteria: When choosing sites near equestrian areas, consider proximity to facilities. "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," advises an RV camper.
Weather preparation: RVers camping with horses need extra weather planning. "Weather conditions can change rapidly on the barrier island, so riders should prepare for wind and potential salt spray during beach rides."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ocean Pines, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ocean Pines, MD is Sun Outdoors Frontier Town with a 4.4-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ocean Pines, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Ocean Pines, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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