1 / 11

Assateague Island Backcountry Camping

What’s better than camping at the beach?

How about backcountry camping at the beach! With a little extra effort in the form of backpacking along the water for 2 to 13 miles or paddling in (rad!) you can leave the riff raff behind for an idyllic, marshy, sand barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean complete with roaming wild horses. Choose between oceanside or bayside spots (bring the bug repellant!) and then you can get to the real fun of swimming, sunning and frolicking across the sandy hills.
What this place offers
Campfire allowed
No pets allowed
No showers
No toilets
No potable water
Picnic tables
No sewage hookups
No electric hookups
1 siteTent

Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Assateague Island National Seashore

More to explore nearby

100%
23 ratings · 7 reviews
Avatar
Anne K.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
Assateague is a great place to camp and experience wildlife. I saw another reviewer say theyve never had an issue petting the wild horses. This is extremely dangerous and stupid. Tourists get injured, fined, and even jailed for messing with these horses every year. Please enjoy the area and leave wildlife alone no matter where you are!
T
Tara H.
6 reviews
Recommends
· September 2021
bring bug spray and water. Water is heavy. canoe in and walk about 1 mile to the Little Levels campsite. Otherwise, walk the 4.5 miles in soft sand.
H
Heather J.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2019
If you want to camp on beach, make sure your car can handle the deep sand! They say don't pet the wild horses, but I've never had a horse freak out if I tried to pet them!
C
Chris D.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2017
There's a lot of bugs that come out at night so keep that in mind
S
Sam L.
8 years on Hipcamp
March 2017
If you want the beach completely to yourself, backpacking into Lower Levels or (to get out of the wind) the first bayside campsite is a fantastic experience in the winter. It's cold and windy, but if that doesn't scare you away, the horses are abundant, the stars are out, and you can find fox tracks among the dunes. A local brew from Burley Oak to end the trip just seals the deal.
Avatar
Anthony F.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2017
You can choose to hike in or offroad.
J
Joshua M.
9 years on Hipcamp
September 2015
Stayed over Memorial Day weekend 2015. First come first serve on campsites so found one available for two nights at the 'pine tree' campsite. My advice is check the weather and wind direction when going backcountry as these can effect the bug situation greatly. Lots of ticks at this location. Be prepared to get a solid leg workout if backpacking for a distance down the sand. Overall, if the conditions are right, it is an incredibly underestimated spot.
LocationAssateague Island Backcountry Camping, Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland, United States
What this place offers
Campfire allowed
No pets allowed
No showers
No toilets
No potable water
Picnic tables
No sewage hookups
No electric hookups

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Camp Your Way™

Find the perfect site to match your camping style. Explore the largest collection of private campsites, RV parks, cabins, and glamping—including 120,000+ sites you won’t find anywhere else. Explore our maps, filter by your camping style, read real camper reviews, and book directly in our app. Hipcamp is the simplest way to find yourself outside under the stars.

Download the Hipcamp App

© 2025 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.