Best Loop at Assategue

[jplante4]

Planning a trip to Assategue in May. For those who have been there, a couple of questions;

1. State park or national park?
2. What's the best loop/area in each?

[Jerseydevil]

1jeep wrote:
Not trying to highjack your thread, my wife and I will be down there in august staying at the koa on Chincoteague island, but plan to visit the beach. I have heard the parking lot fills up fast is this true? Any pointers for the area, we have stayed in Ocean city MD before and don't plan to visit there.

Chincoteague is a small walkable beach town. Short trip to beach access and a wildlife loop where horses can be spotted. Went during offseason so beach access was not a problem. Check out NASA at Wallops island.
Assateague is a more isolated on beach setting where horses roam the campsites. Had a great dinner just off island at assateague crab house.
All one island with a state line. Both great spots to enjoy.

[RGar974417]

C loop. We had a great site with a tree and direct access to the bay.It is a generator loop and closet to dump station and water fill.
Don't go in July or August. Too hot.

[RGar974417]

C loop. We had a great site with a tree and direct access to the bay.It is a generator loop and closet to dump station and water fill.
Don't go in July or August. Too hot.

[michigansandzil]

We stayed in the electric loop in the state park in August in 2015. It was ridiculously hot so A/C was a must. It was the best campground experience we've ever had.

[jplante4]

1jeep wrote:
Not trying to highjack your thread, my wife and I will be down there in august staying at the koa on Chincoteague island, but plan to visit the beach. I have heard the parking lot fills up fast is this true? Any pointers for the area, we have stayed in Ocean city MD before and don't plan to visit there.

We're planning on a few days at Assategue and then a few days at the new KOA on Chincotegue as well.

[jplante4]

Veebyes wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
We're Cape Cod so beaches is fine with us. This place is on the DW's bucket list, so I want it to be as perfect as possible.

We're also doing Bermuda this year for the Christmas boat parade.

You won't be disappointed in the boat parade. Big deal here. Usually at least 50 boats. Contact me closer to date.

Yeah, we've done 5 or 6 boat parades. Usually go to the Greenbank right by the Saltkettle ferry stop. I used to do the Marion-Bermuda race as well before I got old. I'll poke you later in the year and maybe we can meet for Swizzles at the Hogpenny.

[CapeM1]

We have been there multiple times..both the State and the National parks. When the winds are coming from the west the bugs are fierce on both sides, bay and ocean. When the winds come from the east the flies/mosquitoes are much more tolerable and stay mostly over the water/grassy areas on the national side (the west side). As for favorite park for camping itself there is only one loop that has electricity and that one fills up a year early. Bath houses have all be refurbished on the state side within the last 2 years. Bath houses on the bay side consist of cold showers, and outhouse type facilities. We didn't use them so not sure exactly how clean/efficient they are. There is a beautiful area on the bay side where you can launch you kayaks or paddle boards. They also have ocean swimming. Oh yea, don't forget the ponies...they all over both sides. Either way, you will fall in love with the place. Have fun!

[jarata1]

I'm surprised if there is openings in may on federal side anyway

[1jeep]

Not trying to highjack your thread, my wife and I will be down there in august staying at the koa on Chincoteague island, but plan to visit the beach. I have heard the parking lot fills up fast is this true? Any pointers for the area, we have stayed in Ocean city MD before and don't plan to visit there.

[Veebyes]

jplante4 wrote:
We're Cape Cod so beaches is fine with us. This place is on the DW's bucket list, so I want it to be as perfect as possible.

We're also doing Bermuda this year for the Christmas boat parade.

You won't be disappointed in the boat parade. Big deal here. Usually at least 50 boats. Contact me closer to date.

[All_I_could_aff]

I definitely recommend the state park. Good bathrooms and located well so you're never far from one. Only about 50 out of 300 or so sites have electric hook up.

Personally I like loop "I" which is the big oval loop. Ideally you don't want any site directly next to the bathroom paths or the dunes cut thru to the ocean. Better to be 1 or more sites away

[chesterb]

I love Assateague and have been there many times. The state park is much better IMO and has better facilities. It's probably my favorite campground. I like the electricity loop but good luck getting a spot. They fill up quickly. Other loops are good too like C, D, etc. I like the spots closest to the beach. Take your bicycles. Watch out for the ticks.

[mdcamping]

Both piks are from the bay side, as you can see we had our own little beach! I'm almost sure it was site C-48 but Shhh don't tell anyone 😉

Mike

[Rangerman40]

I've always heard the state park is better since they have hookups, but I'll be at the national side in loop one in a few weeks because it opens a month earlier than the state park.