You don’t have to be a horse fanatic to see the fun that comes with visiting an island where feral horses run wild!
That’s the charm of Maryland’s Assateague Island!
Located just a few miles from Ocean City, Assateague Island is home to over a hundred wild horses, making it one of the most unique and breathtaking destinations within driving distance of the District.
How to visit Assateague Island to see the wild horses
The wild horses are practically everywhere on the island, so the good news is that if you plan to visit, there should be no doubt that you’ll see at least a dozen wild horses as they wander the island that they call home.
To visit, it’s a fairly easy route! From the District, head towards Ocean City and make for the Verrazano Bridge, which will take you directly to Assateague Island!
While you’re on the bridge, you’ll want to follow signs specifically for ‘Assateague State Park’, not National Seashore.
When you are entering the state park, you’ll have to pay to enter:
- $5 per person during peak season (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- $5 per vehicle during off-peak season (After Labor Day to Before Memorial Day)
There is a National Park side of the island (National Seashore), and this has a $25 entrance fee per vehicle.
Things to remember while you visit Assateague Island
There are lots of fun things to do on the island aside from seeing the wild horses, which is nice because seeing the horses is a rather quick endeavour since they are practically all over the place!
Head to the beach to soak in the sun and cool off in the clear Atlantic water, rent a kayak to explore the island’s shoreline and view the horses from the water, head to Assateague Market to grab all the essentials you need for a picnic, or if you want a proper meal, head to Assateague Crab House for some proper seafood!
All this being said, during your visit, it is very important to remember that the horses on Assateague Island are truly feral, which means that you should maintain at least 40 feet of distance whenever possible.
Every year, tourists get bitten, kicked, or charged by ignoring the most basic rules of safety when it comes to visiting wild animals in their own ecosystem!
