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Dog Friendly Vacations Maryland – Assateague Island is 37 miles of sand, maritime forests and salt marshes shared by Maryland and Virginia. Most people are drawn to Assateague by horses. But if you’re looking for a dog-friendly beach vacation, Assateague Island is hard to beat!
Assateague Island is a great choice for a dog-friendly beach vacation on the East Coast. With miles of beaches, great hiking trails, paved bike trails, and canoe and kayak launch areas, this is a place where you can really enjoy nature!
Dog Friendly Vacations Maryland
Assateague Island is located just 150 miles east of Washington, DC and is divided by the Maryland and Virginia state line. The southern third of Virginia Island is home to the Assateague Lighthouse and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. But the Virginia part of the island does not allow pets, even if they are in your car.
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Luckily, you’ll find plenty to do in this part of Maryland Island! Most of the Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park, Maryland’s only coastal park, are located there. And in an interesting twist, National Seashore is more than just a pet park!
There is no road that runs through the entire island. And from the northern shores near Ocean City, Maryland, to south of Chincoteague, Virginia, it is necessary to travel 50 miles over the continent. Therefore, if you travel with pets, it is important to plan your accommodation.
As we’ve already mentioned, pets are prohibited everywhere in Virginia and Assateague Island, even in your car.
The northern two-thirds of the island is in Maryland and is divided between National Seashore and Assateague State Park. Each of these parks has its own pet policy.
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Pets are welcome year-round in most of Maryland’s Assateague National Seashore, as long as they stay above 6 feet at all times. This includes most beaches, the water on those beaches, most campgrounds, and marine boating areas. Pets are not allowed in the following areas of National Seashore:
Pets are allowed year-round at the marina and on the Rackliffe Trail on the mainland. During the camping season (last week of April to November 1), pets are accepted at campgrounds G, H, and I and on the beaches (and in the water) near these lines, as well as on the west side of the hiking area/horse riding trail. On the side of the road.
When the campground closes (November 1 to the third week of April), pets are allowed in all campground loops and on nearby beaches, including in the water.
Park pets can join you in the park’s day-use area after Labor Day through Friday weekend.
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The north gate of Assateague Island can be accessed from Berlin or Ocean City, Maryland. The Verrazano Bridge crosses the mainland to the island and takes you to Assateague Park.
Please note that the park only allows dogs on the beach near campgrounds G, H, and I from the last week of April to November 1. When the campground is closed (November 1 to the third week of April), pets are allowed on the beach near all campground loops. You can get a map to find a campsite in the resort.
Continuing south, the mile-long dog beach at Assateague Island National Seashore. Here, pets are welcome on the beach, with the exception of the protected beach, which is located directly across from the Bayside Drive-in Campground.
Moving away from the parking lot, the beach is wide, deep, and sparsely populated. We saw people outside fishing, sleeping, cooking and warming themselves by the fire after the plane ride.
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For added solitude, you can get your license to drive your own car on the beach! An OSV permit costs $110, is valid for one year, and can be purchased online at www.recreation.gov. You should receive your license within 10 days of purchase and it will allow you to drive on the sand at the end of the paved road in the Southern Ocean.
While the beaches are attractive to dogs, Assateague Island is famous for its exotic horses. Since the domesticated horses that were brought to the island in the late 17th century, the herd is now bold.
It is very important that guests do not feed the horses. This herd has evolved to survive on the smiling plants of the island. If the animals are raised during the tourist season, it will be difficult for them to adapt to their usual diet when the crowds leave. And in severe winter it can cause a disaster.
The horses are smaller than I expected; in fact, many call them “ponies.” But they are wild animals and may bite or kick if you approach them, so don’t ignore them. It is best to observe them from a distance, especially when your dog is with you.
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Finding wild ponies is usually quite easy. There are about 150 horses in each of the Maryland and Virginia herds. And they like to hang out in small groups around parking lots and along roads and streets. They also enjoy long walks on the beach, sampling picnic baskets along the way. So pay attention to your lunch!
Are you still worried that you’ll miss them? Stop at the Assateague Island Visitor Center to hear a “horse briefing” before crossing the Verrazano Bridge into the park.
Another fun way to see Assateague and Chincoteague Islands is by boat! Choose from dog-friendly walking tours or kayak tours and experience wildlife, dolphins, birds, and scenery that can only be seen from the water.
Dog-friendly tours are offered from Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Or rent a pontoon boat to try it yourself in Ocean City, Maryland.
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Camping is one of the most popular ways to stay in Assateague, and both Assateague State Park and Assateague National Seashore have pet-friendly campgrounds with beach sites. Orders must be placed between March 15 and November 15 and can be ordered up to six months in advance. But they fill up fast! So if you want to be within walking distance of the beach, plan ahead.
Please note that you will not find restaurants, grocery stores, hotels or shops on the island. If these amenities appeal to you, there are excellent pet-friendly lodging options in Berlin and nearby Ocean City, Maryland.
Berlin Village has a long and interesting history, and was named America’s Best Small Town by Budget Travel 2014. The town’s main street is now a trail originally used by the Assateague and Pocomoke Indians. It then became Philadelphia Road, which connected the colonial trade center to the north and west.
Today, the city is an architectural showcase, with many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The former commercial buildings that line Main Street now house art galleries, antique stores, grocery stores, and several wonderful restaurants. We chose the cozy Blacksmith terrace. The staff couldn’t have been nicer to the children who joined us and the food was delicious.
Assateague Island National Seashore Pet Policy
We hope your visit to Assateague Island’s dog-friendly beaches inspires you! If so, tell us about your favorite work in the comments below.
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Sorry, we couldn’t find any listings for favorite animals in our database. Please check that your search is spelled correctly or uses fewer characters. Sometimes you need to get out of town, even if it’s just for the night! Zach and I have been very busy at work, so we decided to treat ourselves to a night on the town in Baltimore, Maryland. So on Saturday morning we packed up and headed north. The drive from Arlington to Baltimore is surprisingly short, especially on weekends. We will be able to reach our destination in just over an hour.
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Before we started planning our trip, we consulted with Charm City experts @ipartywithbrucewayne and @IbelieveinHD. We were recommended some dog-friendly activities, but due to time and weather constraints we weren’t able to check them all out. I guess that means we have to go back!
Ah, the real reason this weekend trip happened. We love exhibitions! This year our schedule only allowed us to attend the World of Pets Expo in Maryland. The fair is located about 15 minutes north of Baltimore at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
While she was there, Ney visited her good friend @mayathedox at the @sassywoof store. Navy splurged on Dad’s credit card and bought two nice Sassy Woof bars. Our best find at the show was a cool adhesive roller for destroying the navy. We have seen advertisements for these tools, but we have never seen them in real life. Let me say
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