Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

About Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the Indigenous homelands of the Pocomoke and Occohannock people, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge protects beach, dune, marsh, and maritime forest habitats. Established in 1943 to protect migratory birds, this refuge is now one of the most visited in the United States. This gem of Eastern Virginia is a birder's paradise, as well as the home of cultural treasures such as Assateague Lighthouse and the world famous Chincoteague ponies.

How to Get There

Take Route 13 South to Route 175 (about 5 miles past Pocomoke City, MD). See below. From I-95 enter Route 301 North, following signs to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, to Route 50. Take Route 50 East to Route 13 South (in Salisbury, MD). From Route 13 South take Route 175 (about 5 miles past Pocomoke City, MD). See below. From I-97 take Route 301 North, following signs to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, to Route 50. Take Route 50 East to Route 13 South (in Salisbury, MD). From Route 13 South take Route 175 (about 5 miles past Pocomoke City, MD). See below. From I-64 take Route 13 North, following signs to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Travel Route 13 North to Route 175. See below. Travel East on Route 175 to Chincoteague Island. After crossing the drawbridge, go straight at the traffic light onto Maddox Blvd. Follow the signs to Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Plan Your Visit to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)