Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge near Chincoteague, Virginia, lies at the southern end of Assateague Island. It was established in 1943 and covers about 14,000 acres (57 sq km), of which only about 3 percent lie in Maryland. Its residents include piping plovers, brown pelicans, black skimmers, sika deer, red foxes and horseshoe crabs. It is famous for a herd of about 150 Chincoteague ponies owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company; at Pony Penning in July the animals swim to the neighboring island, where foals are auctioned.

Assateague Lighthouse is 142 feet (43 m) tall, ringed in red and white, and dates from 1867; a predecessor from 1833 was only 45 feet (14 m) high. Climbing is possible only on certain dates, so check ahead (as of October 2026). For drivers there is the Wildlife Loop, which the refuge says is open daily from 3 p.m. until dusk. There is also a network of about 15 miles (24 km) of trails and an undeveloped beach about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. The refuge is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November to mid-March and until 8 p.m. in October (as of October 2026). Dogs are prohibited throughout the refuge, even in your car. Parts of it are hunted in fall and winter (not on Sundays), so check the dates then. The daily fee applies per vehicle; entry on foot or by bicycle is free.