Assateague Island National Seashore - South Beach
This is a public swimming beach located within the Assateague Island National Seashore, a remote beautiful barrier island off Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore. This beach has parking and limited ADA access by boardwalk. There is a cold outside shower and two bathrooms. It is located at the end of Bayberry Drive adjacent to the ORV access.
The park is a fee based National Park with public swimming beaches, campground sites, walk-in primitive camping sites, and limited off-road vehicle access. It is well known for great summer surfing, kite-boarding, and amazing surf fishing and is just a few miles south of Ocean City, MD
There is a kayak launch area at the end of Ferry Landing Road, and many educational walking trails on the bayside and in the dunes.
Assateague Island was once targeted for major development (4,000+ development lots!) and a citizen group The Committee To Preserve Assateague Island was founded by Judith Johnson and others to advocate for the preservation of the island as a National Seashore. Obviously they succeeded and today the Committee is known as 'Assateague Coastal Trust.' ACT hosts the local Waterkeeper program - the Assateague Coastkeeper. Learn more at www.ActForBays.org
At this beach location, be sure to take the "Life Of The Dunes" nature trail. A short walk along the path will bring you to the partial remnants of the old Coastal Highway tarmac. During the "Ocean Beach" pre-development stage for the island this roadway was built down to the VA line, with named streets intersecting it. There is still one street sign left to remind us of what might have happened to this beautiful natural barrier island had it been developed!
Find out more for Assateague Island National Seashore here: http://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm
This beach is monitored for bacteria by the NPS, and reported by Worcester County:
http://www.co.worcester.md.us/Envpgms/bathingbeaches.aspx
Keep your distance from other people.
Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.
For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.
- Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
Historical Status
Assateague Island National Seashore - South Beach
Keep your distance from other people.
Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.
For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.
- Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
- Historical Status
This is a public swimming beach located within the Assateague Island National Seashore, a remote beautiful barrier island off Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore. This beach has parking and limited ADA access by boardwalk. There is a cold outside shower and two bathrooms. It is located at the end of Bayberry Drive adjacent to the ORV access.
The park is a fee based National Park with public swimming beaches, campground sites, walk-in primitive camping sites, and limited off-road vehicle access. It is well known for great summer surfing, kite-boarding, and amazing surf fishing and is just a few miles south of Ocean City, MD
There is a kayak launch area at the end of Ferry Landing Road, and many educational walking trails on the bayside and in the dunes.
Assateague Island was once targeted for major development (4,000+ development lots!) and a citizen group The Committee To Preserve Assateague Island was founded by Judith Johnson and others to advocate for the preservation of the island as a National Seashore. Obviously they succeeded and today the Committee is known as 'Assateague Coastal Trust.' ACT hosts the local Waterkeeper program - the Assateague Coastkeeper. Learn more at www.ActForBays.org
At this beach location, be sure to take the "Life Of The Dunes" nature trail. A short walk along the path will bring you to the partial remnants of the old Coastal Highway tarmac. During the "Ocean Beach" pre-development stage for the island this roadway was built down to the VA line, with named streets intersecting it. There is still one street sign left to remind us of what might have happened to this beautiful natural barrier island had it been developed!
Find out more for Assateague Island National Seashore here: http://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm
This beach is monitored for bacteria by the NPS, and reported by Worcester County:
http://www.co.worcester.md.us/Envpgms/bathingbeaches.aspx
