asateague island camping ?'s

suprz wrote:
Looking recommendations for camping there. Time of year, etc. We will be in the RV. (Class C, 31 ft) and want the H loop for electric hookups. I am a mosquito magnet and I have read about the bugs etc. I guess I will bring a bucket of DEET. But any info is much appreciated!

We camped there a lot before going full time. Our favorite time of year was October/November or March/April - way less crowded and weather was cool and breezy. We spent a lot of time in the Bayside campground in the National Park - a few of the sites are on the water with great views.

A problem for us with the state park was the lack of pet friendly campsites. In the National Park, they are allowed everywhere. In the state park, barely anywhere (now expanded to J and H).

We have camped there from January to November and, on beach side, never had a problem with mosquitoes. On bay side, avoid June through Mid-September - the breeze often isn't strong enough to keep them away.

I've made 3 trips to Assateague in the last 14 months, staying in the Maryland State Park in Loop H, the one with electric hookups. Mosquitoes weren't that much of a problem, there was enough of an ocean breeze that they weren't about that much. My understanding is that it might be different in the National Park, especially on the bay side, but maybe I've just been lucky.

As others have mentioned, ticks are plentiful, so be careful. The State Park has virtually no shade, so if you're there in unusually hot weather, even with A/C the coach might get a little warm. At least that was the case for me when it hit 98°, although temps in the mid 80's were more common. It's very difficult to get a reservation in Loop H, so you pretty much have to take what you can get.

We stayed in the H loop early June of this year. No mosquitos, tons of deer ticks and a band of horses that visited our campsite and entertained us daily.

Water was verrry cold that early in the season, but hearing the waves crashing day and night from our campsite was awesome.

Slick Rick wrote:
if you need full hookups, try the state park in Maryland or Chincoteague, Virginia. No hookups at the national park.
Rick

The Maryland side only has electric and just one loop. September is a great time to be there. Slightly cooler but the water is still warm.

Just FYI, there are 2 separate Assateague areas. The MD end contains the state and federal campgrounds. The VA end has trails and a beach, no campgrounds.
It is a one hour ride to go from one to the other.

Do you surf fish? Red drum start next month and rock soon after. We drive and camp on the beach in a truck camper most weekends, we live 1 hour away. But if you need full hookups, try the state park in Maryland or Chincoteague, Virginia. No hookups at the national park.
And bring the fishing rods! And the deet.
Have fun, we love AI!
Rick

Prefer the bayside in the Nat Seashore park here. Most visits have been late Sep so not too bad on the Mossies.

We just returned last weekend from five nights and four days at Assateague. We stayed in H loop. No problems with bugs/mosquitoes at all in August. It was very hot though and although I feel like that place was magical, I wouldn't want to stay in the summer without AC.
Just fyi, all of the sites for the whole month of August were booked within two minutes. Plan accordingly.

I suggest a drive just a little south to Chincoteague Island in VA. We've stayed several times at Tom's Cove CG on Chincoteague, with a short 7 mile drive across the channel bridge to Assateague National Seashore every day for the beach experience. Tom's Cove has plenty of sites for the vacation crowds, many with FHU.

The electric loop is the hardest to get into. We stay in the National Park bayside campground because they have some trees an grass.Two loops allow generators during certain hours.