Maryland beaches of Assateague Island National Seashore

The Maryland section of Assateague Island National Seashore has two beaches that you can park near and require minimal effort to enjoy. One is located on the north end of the park just after you pass the fee station—aptly named North Ocean Beach—and the other is on the south end of the park, South Ocean Beach. Of course you can swim and sunbathe on the beaches between North and South Ocean beaches as well. This area borders the Oceanside Campground and is used mainly by the campers who have easy access to it from their campsites.

You are also welcome to visit the backcountry beaches. These can be found in two locations. One starts where the South Ocean Beach ends, and you can walk all the way to Virginia if you are so inclined. The second area is north of Assateague State Park, which interrupts the continuous shoreline of Assateague Island National Seashore. However, to get to the northern section you must pay the State Park fee and park in its parking lot, then start walking north. You can go all the way to the inlet that separates Assateague Island from Ocean City on Fenwick Island (which really is a peninsula). This is a 15-mile round-trip walk, and no camping is allowed in the northern section, so you must get back to civilization before the end of the day. (Camping is allowed in the southern section. See the Backcountry Campsites web page for details.)

There are also a few spots along Sinepuxent Bay where you can swim. These are good places for families with toddlers and small children because the bay is usually calm like a lake, and even when waves do form, they are a fraction of the size you’ll find on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island.

Assateague Island-Maryland (click to enlarge)

North Ocean Beach

North Ocean Beach in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

North Ocean Beach, being the first beach people come to when entering the park, is, unsurprisingly, the most popular of the two in the park. The parking lot is massive, and it has the most amenities, including a snack bar (in season), multiple bathrooms with separate changing rooms, and a picnic pavilion.

Snack shack at North Ocean Beach in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

Lifeguards are typically on duty from June through September on certain sections of the beach, and only at North Ocean Beach. Look for the lifeguard stands and swim near them if this is a concern to you. The exact dates that the lifeguards are on duty change each year, so check the National Park Service’s official Things to Do web page for Assateague Island National Seashore for the schedule. No rafts, body boards, surfboards, kayaks, canoes, or other flotation devices, except U. S. Coast Guard approved life jackets, are allowed on the beaches with lifeguards.

Lifeguarded beach in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

South Ocean Beach

South Ocean Beach in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

The crowds at South Ocean Beach will be less than at North Ocean Beach, not because of quality or amenities, but simply because the parking area is much smaller. If I were to arrive early enough, I would head down here to avoid the crowd at North Ocean Beach, but if you can’t find a parking spot, North Ocean Beach is your only choice. As far as the beach quality is concerned, it is exactly the same as it is in the north, and while I was not on the backcounty beaches, I suspect that the beach is pretty much the same up and down the entire island.

In addition to a smaller parking lot, the South Ocean Beach does not have a snack bar or changing rooms, but instead only has large portable restrooms. I changed clothes in one of them, so it’s not like you don’t have a place to get change.

Bathroom and changing facilities at South Ocean Beach in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

Bayside Beaches

Beach along the Sinepuxtent Bay in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

Access to the bay by car is limited to two points: the end of Bayside Drive and the end of Ferry Landing Road. You may be able to get to other points on the bay in a kayak or canoe or by blazing a trail through the brush from the ocean side of the park (have fun doing so), but for most people these two spots will suffice.

The beach at the end of Bayside Drive has a number of amenities. There is a parking area, a portable restroom, picnic tables, a small beach, and a rental facility for canoes, kayaks, and bikes (open seasonally). This is a great place to come with toddlers and young children because the bay lacks the large waves of the ocean. However, a sign warns about swimming in the bay due to sudden drop offs and sharp shells. Therefore, those interested in swimming far out into the water are encouraged to use the ocean beaches. For toddlers, who aren’t venturing more than a few feet into the water, the bay is fine, and in truth, they will probably be the only ones using the bayside beaches.

Children at play on the bay side of Assateague Island in Maryland

The beach at the end of Ferry Landing Road is more suited as a place to launch a kayak or canoe. The shore can be mucky, and much of the surrounding area is salt marsh. There really isn’t much of a beach here.

Beach at Old Ferry Landing in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore

Much of the shore at Old Ferry Landing in the Maryland unit of Assateague Island National Seashore is covered in marsh grass

Back to the Top