Exploring Assateague Island: A Family Camping Adventure

Camping at Assateague Island: A Hidden Maryland Gem for Families

We live in Maryland and have traveled by both plane and car to many faraway places. We frequently fly to the West Coast and drive the 15 hours to the Florida Panhandle annually. Yet, last month we discovered a gem right in our home state – Assateague Island, the home of the Maryland wild horses.

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Planning Our Assateague Island Camping Trip

We have friends who have told us how great Assateague was, but it took us a while to make reservations and go. We actually had reservations in 2021 but had to cancel because I had recently given birth to Gregory. Our daughter, Samantha, loves horses and had been dying to visit.

I didn’t realize how difficult it was to get a campsite reservation for a weekend. The first year she asked, I couldn’t find a single site available. The following year, I planned a year in advance, and we were finally able to book a weekend in early September. I’m sure I could have actively searched for cancellations, but that usually doesn’t work well for me with our busy days (homeschooling seven kids!). So, a year out, we booked! (I now know how to get on the email list for notifications when sites become available.)

A Unique Camping Experience: No Hookups, No Problem

This type of site was a little different for us – there were no hookups at all. I would still consider it a step up from tent camping since we always bring our camper. I can only last a weekend with no electricity, but since we have propane that powers the fridge, it makes things much easier.

Friends had also warned us that depending on the direction of the wind, the bugs could be bad, so we came prepared with plenty of fly traps and our favorite non-toxic Cedarcide bug spray. I was a little nervous about the potential for bugs, but we were ready to battle them.

How We Prep for a Weekend Camping Trip with Kids

For weekend camping trips, we leave as soon as my husband, Paul, finishes work on Friday. During the day, the kids and I pack up the camper. We live in beautiful woods, but unfortunately, this attracts mice to our camper. To avoid having our camping supplies destroyed or needing to clean everything, we empty the camper after every trip.

I’ve finally developed a system where I unload everything into storage containers when we return home, then store them inside our house until the next trip. It’s frustrating not to be able to pre-load the camper until the night before or day of, but it’s worth avoiding the cleanup from mice. Now that I have my system down, it’s much easier to pack. This time around, I was able to load all the essentials within an hour.

For a short weekend, the kids each pack a backpack with what they need. I stock the bathroom with toiletries and fill our towel cabinet with both beach and bath towels.

Keeping Meals Simple and Delicious

I keep food simple for weekend camping trips. The more we’ve camped and traveled, the more I’ve learned that simple food is best. Since our days are so busy, I don’t do a ton of prep work, but my girls and I usually make rolls for sandwiches and hearty cookies for snacks.

If I have time, I might pre-cook some meat. But honestly, we enjoy cooking while camping. Meals cooked in a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet over a propane grill are delicious and satisfying. (I know many people love coal cooking, but we draw the line there—we’d never be able to feed all our little ones fast enough!)

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Staying Hydrated Without a Water Hookup

Normally, we double-filter water from our hookup. We have a filter attached to the water line, and then we re-filter it through a Brita pitcher. (We definitely don’t want to get sick from bad water!) However, since there was no water source at our Assateague campsite, I made things simple by filling our RTIC cooler with plastic water bottles.

Plastic water bottles aren’t my favorite, but I’ve realized I need to do the best I can in the reality of the situation.

With the cabinets packed and the fridge full, we were ready to experience the magic of Assateague Island camping!

Arriving at Assateague Island: Wild Horses and Ocean Breezes

The drive was an easy three hours to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is always such a cool experience—one of the most fascinating structures on the East Coast! This was our first time crossing with our camper, and we had no problems at all.

Even though it was dark by the time we arrived, we spotted our first wild horse at the entrance bridge. The kids were thrilled—that was the moment they had all been waiting for!

The weather that Friday evening was perfect—the kind where you could wear either a short-sleeve shirt or a light long-sleeve. And, much to our surprise, there were no bugs. I don’t know why I hadn’t realized it before, but our campsite was truly oceanfront. We could immediately smell the salty air, and the sound of the waves grew louder as we pulled into our site.

There’s something so calming about the ocean’s sound and scent. Being near the sea brings a sense of peace to the mind and soul. It’s as if all the stress of daily life melts away. This is exactly why we take these trips. Daily life is busy—often in a good way—but also overwhelming and demanding. A quick weekend camping trip to the coast gives us a chance to reset and recharge. As we set up camp, we all fell in love—with the ocean breeze and the peaceful rhythm of the waves, we knew we were in for a special weekend.

Family Memories That Last a Lifetime

This trip was especially meaningful because my dad, along with my sister-in-law and her four children, came with us. The cousins all had a camping sleepover in our camper, and the kids were beyond excited. These are the kinds of memories that children carry with them forever.

The next morning, we were treated to the most beautiful sunrise, and the wild horses were already wandering through the campsites. Being outdoors by the seaside and surrounded by wildlife was incredibly refreshing.

When Things Don’t Go as Planned

Of course, no matter how well you prepare—or how perfect the weather is—something unexpected always happens. We discovered a leak in the propane line outside and lost an entire tank overnight. Unfortunately, this meant our fridge stopped working.

Thankfully, I had brought our RTIC cooler, which saved the day. We transferred all the food into it with fresh ice. I can’t recommend this cooler enough—it’s like a portable fridge or freezer. It keeps ice frozen for a minimum of three days, so the food stays cold without sitting in melted water. It’s just like a Yeti, but without the sticker shock.

Beach Day Bliss and a Beautiful Ending

After a delicious breakfast of bagel, egg, and hashbrown sandwiches, we headed straight to the beach. One thing I always forget to pack? Sand toys. But to my surprise, the campground had a sand toy library—how cool is that? It was a box located at the entrance to the beach walkway. Kids could borrow toys to play with and return them when they were done. Genius!

Our first full day at Assateague Island was spent with the kids joyfully playing in the waves and building in the sand. We ended our day with evening Mass and confession (the 5 PM Saturday Mass is our go-to while traveling—it makes Sunday mornings much smoother on vacation).

Back at the campsite, we wrapped up the day with a comforting dinner of sausage and rice, followed by classic s’mores around the fire.

Exploring Assateague Island Visitor Center and Wrapping Up Our Trip

On our second day at Assateague, we visited the Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Center. The Junior Park Ranger programs are always a must when visiting National Parks. The kids love earning the badges, and it’s a wonderful way to include some organic homeschool science in our trip.

The visitor center kept us busy with a horse program talk and a hands-on touch tank experience. The kids learned so much, and the touch tank was very interactive. I truly applaud the rangers for their enthusiasm and for engaging the children so well.

There was so much more we could have done—like hikes and clam or crabbing events—but we ran out of time. Since we were only there until Sunday evening, we needed to squeeze in a couple more hours of beach time.

We ended our second day with a comforting chicken alfredo dinner and began packing up and cleaning the campsite.

Camping Conveniences and Clean Facilities

One great perk of this campground is the industrial-sized sink station for washing dishes. We would load up the beach wagon with dirty dishes and pull them over to the dishwashing area. It made cleaning up after meals so much easier.

It’s also worth mentioning that the bathrooms here were very nice and clean! Clean public restrooms are so important for a positive camping experience.

Saying Goodbye—but Not for Long

It was a beautiful and relaxing weekend—one of our second-to-last trips as we wrap up our camping season. Leaving the constant sound of the ocean was bittersweet, but knowing that Assateague Island is just a three-hour drive from home—and with so much left to explore—we’re already looking forward to our next visit.

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