Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Onancock, VA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Virginia camping has to offer. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Onancock. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$35 - $50 / night
"Loved the location - the beaches were surrounded by pine, wetlands, and tall grasses - it felt remote and not overdeveloped!
This campsite is comfortable!"
"Super close to a few different beaches. The bug screen and hammock that are part of the site was so appreciated. Also, having a shower was great - it felt like we were glamping!
Went in September."
"Not sure what the other review is about, but this is a ~6 mile hike-in campsite that is first-come first served by showing up at the ranger station when it opens day of."
$15 - $18 / night
TravelerBOTTOM LINE: Assateague State Park was a fantastic family tent camping experience.
BACKGROUND: We camped with our then-3 year old for two nights in early-October 2022 and stayed on the J Loop (walk-in tent camping only). The temp was low-40s to mid-60s, clear skies, slight continuous breeze.
DETAILS: Sorry for the random order of things, but here it goes...
Assateague State Park is very well-run and in great shape. Rangers are very friendly, though we interacted with a few rangers/staff who couldn't answer certain questions (but they did try to help or found someone who knew). There are also camp hosts--long-term visitors with additional responsibilities for managing camping areas--who were helpful, knowledgeable, and nice.
The facilities are really great. Particularly the bathhouses, which were immaculate for park bathrooms/showers. Expect potable water, private shower stalls with warm water, and very clean bathrooms.
Loops A-H were too cramped for our liking. Spaces are very close together, and it appears >75% of visitors are RV/camp trailers, so tent campers were stuck in between towering, loud vehicles. I Loop was still mostly vehicle campers, but there was a bit more space. I'd consider staying there if J Loop wasn't available.
J Loop (where we stayed) is a no-vehicle, no-generator area. It's technically a "walk-in" site, but the parking lot is about 200 feet from the loop entrance (it took about 2 mins to walk from our truck to the tent). We were able to quickly and easily carry all our gear from car to site, and still manage a toddler running around. J Loop sites are spaced-out far enough that you cannot hear each other--even during the quiet morning period or in the evening as the late-nighters stay up by their fires--but you have the comfort of knowing you're not totally alone and isolated. From J Loop sites, the walk to the beach is about 3-4 mins down a pedestrian (and horse) only sand trail. In October, the beach was effectively empty. We highly recommend J Loop for tent campers.
Tent pads are soft beach sand. Bring tent stakes made for sand! Regular piton stakes will not hold your tent in even the slightest wind. We used some plastic screw-in stakes from Amazon and they worked beautifully. Recommend 10" stakes, but you could get by with 7.5".
Sites include picnic tables (very sturdy and in very good shape), with a built-in food locker underneath the table. Lockers are not raccoon or bear proof -- just horse proof. Being so close to the beach, there's a steady light breeze all the time; and sometimes it a mild wind with slightly stronger gusts. Nothing worrisome--sand and dust were not flying in the air or anything--but for camp stove bring your wind shield, and for tents be sure to use sand stakes.
Sites also include fire rings with adjustable grills. Fire wood is sold at the ranger station, $5 per bundle. It's mostly yellow pine, which burns pretty quickly, so you'll probably go through 1-2 bundles per night, depending on your usage. After hours, firewood payments are on the honor system (cash box), or you can pay by card during business hours. Firewood sold out on our last night, so I recommend stocking up for a couple days worth of wood at a time. Sites do not have much in the way of natural shade, so if it's going to be sunny and/or if you are particularly sensitive to sunlight/burns, then consider bringing your own canopy, sun shade, or umbrella.
Weather-wise, in early October, the temperature was perfect for camping: warm enough during the day to be comfortable in pants or shorts and a long sleeve shirt, but not sweat; but cool enough to keep away all the bugs, and enjoy the warmth of a camp fire in the evening. We were able to enjoy daytime temps on the beach, and we could splash in the surf a little, but the water was way too cold to go swimming. For sleeping, this time of year I recommend a regular 3-season sleeping bag, but bring an extra warming layer if you sleep cold. (Of note, during warmer months the mosquitoes and flies can be overwhelming and oppressive. We were lucky to mitigate this by choosing a cooler time to camp.)
The Nature Center was closed while we were there, but it looked interesting -- a small building on stilts. It wouldn't be enough to fill a day, but maybe an hour or so (pending any programming the rangers might have). There was also a decent little playground, if you have kids -- but who needs a pg when you've got nature and a beach!?
From the state park, it's a short 7-10 min drive out, around, and south to the National Seashore (operated by the National Park Service). Assateague National Seashore has some nice, but short hiking trails/boardwalks, a couple historic sites, and more beach to explore. Being an entirely separate park, you will have to pay to access the Natl Seashore. To access the Chincoteague side of the national seashore, you'll have to drive the 1.5 hours back over the bridge, south to Chincoteague, and re-enter from the south entrance. You cannot get to Chincoteague (Virginia) from Assateague (Maryland).
The ranger station itself is pretty basic. They do sell ice and firewood, but not food/water/provisions, and the selection of knick-knacks was pretty scant.
In the future, we'll probably bring our bikes so we can quickly move between the state park and national seashore (it's probably quicker and simpler than driving), and we'll definitely bring our own canopy/sun shade.
GuideFirst time camping in a long time. Oceanside walk in requires a good amount of work. You’re carrying your gear in to your site, setting up in howling wind (potentially), no water at site. Cold showers. Pit toilets. But man oh man. The rewards are high. Wild horses every day. Beach was right over the dune. Campsite is set behind one dune so there’s a little wind protection. We had one wild thunderstorm night. Survived with our good tent and screen house (do not come without some kind of screen house). But the next morning the mosquitoes were wild. Everyone had bites from our morning packing up. It was hot (camped at end of July/beginning of August), but water was a good escape. We escaped into the town of Berlin on some of the hotter hours of the day for ice cream to beat the heat (and charge our electronics in the car). Great spot. I’d come back, but maybe later in the year when it’s not so hot!
GuideI definitely had the best site on the block! Caddy corner from the bath house, but not so close to be disturbing, & it was very clean w/ nice hot water showers & spacious adjacent changing area with bench & lots of hooks to hang towel, clothes, etc. Well kept site with built up flat tent pad, (down side is limit 2 tents & must be on pad when there was plenty of room for several tents without an RV. ). Nice long picnic table with benches, fire ring is a safe distance from tent pad. There is a fish cleaning station w/ hook & all, for any who want to fish in the park lake. Can rent canoes/kayaks & there is a pool that I think has a lifeguard. Friends had a much smaller site next to mine & on the other side of them were our friends with a huge RV w/ pull outs, where we had plenty of room for twenty to cook breakfast & dinner, gather round the fire for s'mores & lounge in camp chairs & still had room for most of the tour bikes in "the driveway". Other friends had sites peppered around the loop and all said they were comfortable. A little spooky Thurs. night for this woman to camp alone before more campers arrived Fri, but all-in-all a nice place to camp in a forest with a lake that is far enough away , but not too far, from Berlin, Assateague Island, & Ocean City, MD. Best to have what you need before you get there because the camp store was closed & stores are not close enough to run out for toothpaste.
GuideVisited in late October on a last minute weekend trip. Had no issues finding a campsite upon arrival, luckily. The staff was super friendly and helpful in picking a site for us. We decided to stay ocean side and was just over the summer dune from the water. Lot had fire ring and table. Set up our tent in the flattest spot we could find. Neighbors next to us had five tents and seven people. There also were quite a few RVs that ran their generators long into the evening. We brought our dogs, and rangers said they were allowed at any campsites but told us where they were restricted. It was really awesome to be able to camp that close to the ocean. The quiet hours were pretty well followed, which allowed us to hear the Sika dear bugle late in the night. The showers and bathroom had much to be desired, but for being on the coast it was nice to have them. No sink near them but there was two faucets (one was locked off, not sure if the other). It got super windy over night, which caused issues to some of the campers at other sites. The check out time was pretty strictly checked up on. Overall we would love to go back and take our bikes to ride the trail. Neat experience and would completely recommend to others.
GuideAssateague 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
TravelerGreat place to Camp on the beach. The ones closest on the beach are on top of a dune with clear view of the ocean. The ones further back are lower but out of line of the direct winds. There's basic toilet and showers, a fire ring and picnic table with storage underneath. The wildlife including the ponies will get close to you. Buy stakes made for sand.
GuideWe love it here. It's a very large park, with a lot of camping options. Reservations must be made way ahead, though. It's bare bones. This is not luxury camping. No hookups. Generators are permitted during set hours, which can annoy you if you're not a generator person. Bathroom facilities are available on each loop, along with unheated showers. Well worth it if you prepare properly.
Miles, Miles, Miles of beautiful bike and walking trails. Wild Ponies. Sika deer. Did I mention wild ponies? They're awesome, but also require some prep. DO NOT leave food out, even dog food, they will walk right into your campsite and help themselves. Give them room, they're wild. Wonderful to experience and look at if you keep your distance. If you do not, it will likely end badly as they can bite and kick, and if they don't get you, the rangers will, with pricey tickets.
Great place for birding, nature photography, and beach time or fishing. The bayside offers Kayak and SUP rentals for use on the bayside. There's also some bayside beach available which is fantastic for little kids to splash and play without wave worries. It can get a bit windy here, and is sometimes unreasonably buggy on a west wind. Stock up on bug spray.
Fire rings are available at each campsite along with picnic tables. Sites are roomy and well maintained. Beach is beautiful, and it does welcome fishing. Rangers and staff are friendly and knowledgeable. There is a phone app available for identifying ponies, which is super neat.
GuideAwesome place to camp if you want to be surrounded by beach and wild ponies. I highly recommend safe food storage that is pony proof. They do know how to get into coolers
GuideSo, 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.
Tent camping near Onancock, Virginia offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into nature.
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