RV camping near Chincoteague, Virginia offers diverse landscapes with coastal marshes, pine forests, and bayside environments across the Delmarva Peninsula. The region sits at sea level with frequent coastal breezes moderating temperatures, though summer humidity creates challenging conditions for tent campers. Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from March through October, with full closure during winter months.
What to do
Kayaking to island sandbars: From Tom's Cove Park, visitors can launch directly into the water. "My husband and son kayaked from the campground over to a lovely sand bar off of Assateague Island. They got within very close range of a herd of ponies grazing at low tide, hung out, and enjoyed their private slice of nature," shares one visitor.
Biking to secluded beaches: Access lesser-known areas of Assateague through bike trails. "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," notes a camper.
Crabbing from piers: Several campgrounds offer direct access to crabbing spots. A guest at Thousand Trails Virginia Landing shared, "We walked to the water with the kids to check out the millions of fiddler crabs and a few blue crabs and a hermit crab. I would suggest some bug spray if you plan on staying."
Visiting historic Berlin: Located near several campgrounds, this charming town offers a break from nature. "Your 8 Miles from Walmart for all your needs. This campground does have a local woman selling fruit and veggies during the day," notes a Fort Whaley visitor, referring to nearby resources.
What campers like
Waterfront camping views: Many sites offer direct water views. "The sunset over the old pier is breathtaking. I hope they rebuild the pier. My kids loved catching tiny crabs in the mud every night," reports a camper at Virginia Landing.
Camp stores with emergency supplies: Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway received praise for its well-stocked store: "They have a great store with all your needs plus hot/cold food to order. The campground has a new golf course that is free to campers. They offer shuttles to the beach or their sister Campground Frontiertown."
Free amenities at affiliated parks: Some campgrounds offer reciprocal benefits. "Your camping also includes FREE admission to Frontiertowns water park, which is pretty good on a hot day," explains a Fort Whaley camper.
Clean facilities despite high use: "Restrooms were cleaned at least twice a day, but the high volume of campers meant they got dirty relatively quickly," noted a Tom's Cove Park visitor, highlighting the maintenance efforts during busy periods.
What you should know
Mosquito preparation is essential: Bring powerful repellent and protective clothing. "Not related to the campground, but mosquitos in this area are absolutely ridiculous. Make sure you are covered in repellant before you arrive because otherwise, as soon as you open car doors, you are COVERED in mosquitos," warns a visitor to Jellystone Park Chincoteague Island.
Seasonal closures affect most campgrounds: Many facilities shut down completely from November through March. "We stayed in water view 13 and it was a the perfect site. A little far for the kiddo to be at the park but the view was great, the Wi-Fi worked well," noted a camper at Tall Pines Harbor.
Holiday weekend crowding: Reservations become essential during peak times. "We arrived from VT, after driving 14 hours in traffic, at 9:30 pm. We arrived in the tent camping area, and were dismayed to find that the campground was PACKED. Not only was it packed, but there was zero privacy from other campers," reported a Tom's Cove visitor during Memorial Day weekend.
Wild horses require food management: Secure all food items to prevent horse interactions. "As soon as any food would come into 'nose-shot,' they would start advancing on us. We waited over an hour for them to lose interest and move on to the next site."
Tips for camping with families
Consider off-season visits: Weekdays outside summer provide quieter experiences. "The campground staff told me that 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," shares a Tom's Cove camper.
Pool and water activities: Treasure Beach RV Park & Campground offers extensive water options. "Large playground with jumping pillow and bounce house was a hit with the kids. Also had a beach front stage and fishing/boating/crabbing dock. Lots of golf carts zooming around," notes a visitor.
Free recreational equipment: Some parks provide complimentary activities. "The main pavilion has rentals for recreational equipment at no extra cost (hula hoops, balls, etc.) There are also themed weekends and scheduled activities throughout the week!" explains a Fort Whaley camper.
Bicycle-friendly environments: Kids enjoy exploring campgrounds on bikes. "The park is wide-open, which provided plenty of space for kids to roam and explore. Virginia Landing is located right on the shore and we felt perfectly comfortable allowing the kids to freely run around and engage in activities they don't typically (i.e. clamming, kite flying)."
Tips from RVers
Level sites on water: Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday offers quality waterfront options. "We were guided to Site 50, which was an easy back-in with the utilities nicely placed. Tall Pines is a large campground with a lot of nice amenities. One of the really nice points about this CG is that they cater to short termers as well as seasonal."
RV-specific amenities: "The campsites themselves were grassy, and mostly level. We were able to set up both of our tents, including the 17 foot long one," shares a Tom's Cove visitor, noting the site dimensions that accommodate larger setups.
Campground layout considerations: When selecting a site, consider proximity to facilities and potential odors. "The black tank clean out is near site WV15 so avoid that area. They pump it out daily," advises a Tall Pines camper.
Off-season booking advantages: Outside peak periods, campgrounds offer site selection flexibility. "Once we arrived, check-in was easy. We had requested site 50, back-in with FHUs but were told since the park was fairly empty, we could take a golf cart and go choose a site."
