Best Equestrian Camping near Tangier, VA
Bayside Assateague Campground offers primitive horse camping opportunities where the island's famous wild horses roam freely throughout the campsites. Located on Assateague Island National Seashore, the campground provides both oceanside and bayside camping options with no dedicated horse corrals for visitor horses, though campers frequently observe the wild horses that inhabit the island. Campsites accommodate tents and RVs with standard amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and cold water pumps. The campground maintains vault toilets but no showers on the bayside, with slightly better facilities on the oceanside. Campers must properly secure all food items in vehicles or designated "horse boxes" under picnic tables to prevent interactions with the wild horses, which have become accustomed to approaching campsites in search of food. The wild horses will approach tents and destroy property if they detect food scents.
Several hiking trails throughout Assateague Island provide opportunities to observe the wild horses in their natural habitat. The beach allows visitors to witness horses running along the shoreline, particularly during early morning and evening hours. Seasonal considerations significantly impact the camping experience, with summer months bringing intense mosquito and biting fly populations, especially on the bayside campsites where tree cover blocks cooling ocean breezes. Fall and winter camping offers more comfortable conditions with fewer insects and less crowded facilities. The campground strictly enforces rules regarding interactions with the wild horses, prohibiting feeding or approaching them. Horse flies and biting insects pose a significant challenge during summer months, with bug repellent providing minimal protection against the aggressive insects. Ocean breezes on the seaside campsites help reduce insect pressure compared to the more sheltered bayside locations.
