Assateague Island (Virginia)
Chincoteague, VA
The Virginia end of Assateague Island is part of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a barrier island beach best known for the wild ponies that wander the dunes and roadways, made famous by the novel Misty of Chincoteague. Nearly a thousand cars can fit in the refuge's sand and shell lots, though the beach still fills on a summer weekend.
Wild ponies and a genuinely protected barrier island make this one of the most distinctive beaches on the whole Atlantic coast, though the total ban on dogs and the entrance fee are worth knowing before a visit.
How we score beachesWatch the ponies from a respectful distance in the parking lots and along the roads. They look tame, but they're wild animals, and kicks and bites happen to people who get too close.
Refuge entrance fees run $10 for a day pass, $25 for a week, or $45 annually, covering both the refuge and beach parking lots.
Paved roads lead to large sand and shell parking lots directly behind the dunes, with boardwalk crossovers to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed anywhere on the Virginia side of the refuge, including the beach, trails, and even inside a parked car, to protect nesting birds and the wild pony herd.
Water reaches the mid to upper 70s by August, inside Atlantic hurricane season, June through November. Pony Swim Week in late July brings the biggest crowds of the year by far.
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