2026 Official Chincoteague Island Visitor's Guide is Here.... View Online or Request a Guide Today!

Hero banner image

Discover your Love of Chincoteague Island!

Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce and Certified Visitor Center

OFFICIAL TOURISM OFFICE OF CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

We are proud to be designated by the Virginia Tourism Corporation as the official tourism office and Certified Visitor Center of Chincoteague Island. The Chamber annually publishes the Chincoteague Island Visitor Guide, available in both print and digital as well as maintaining this website with resources to help visitors plan their trip.

NATURAL BEAUTY, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, & COASTAL CHARM AWAITS

Chincoteague Island, Virginia’s only resort island, is the most beautiful island on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
World famous for its oyster beds and clam shoals, Chincoteague is nestled between Assateague and Wallops Islands. Assateague Island, Virginia is home to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge where you will discover the world-famous Chincoteague Ponies, diverse wildlife and waterfowl, Assateague Lighthouse, and award-winning beach at
Assateague Island National Seashore.

Wallops Island is home to NASA Wallops Flight Facility supporting rocket launches and seasonal visitor center experiences. Our islands offer spectacular sunrises and sunsets, fantastic woodlands and marshes, scenic water views, and countless outdoor adventures. The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce and Certified Visitor Center, as the official tourism office, is happy to help plan your stay on our beautiful shores.

RESOURCE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce provides the business community with valuable resources,
marketing opportunities, networking and connections, educational programming, and more to support the
economic development of the area.

Explore our Resort Island

Unparalleled beauty of tranquil beaches

We hope this guide serves as the stepping stone to you creating your own Chincoteague memories. The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce & Certified Visitor Center looks forward to helping you plan your visit and sharing all our islands have to offer with you.

View our visitor guide Request a visitor guide

View some of our

Frequently Asked Questions

The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce & Certified Visitor Center is the official tourism office for the Town of Chincoteague. We are open daily Monday to Saturday from 9:00am - 4:30pm and are located in the center of the turn circle at 6733 Maddox Boulevard. We are happy to assist you in person, over the phone at 757-336-6161, or via email. Stop in to talk with our knowledgeable staff, browse brochures and menus, and learn the must-do's during your visit. Purchase your official Virginia is for Pony Lovers shirt too.

Our Chincoteague Island Visitor Guide & Membership Directory is the perfect source to learn about all you can enjoy while visiting Chincoteague and Assateague Islands including accommodations, activities, dining, shopping, and more. Paper copies of this annual guide are also conveniently located in the box at the bottom of the porch steps or you can request one be mailed to you through our website or by calling the office. A digital version is always just a click away, if you prefer to view it from your computer or device.

We are happy to also offer interactive mobile technologies to explore hotels, restaurants, activities, shopping, audio tours, and more while building an itinerary to capture all you can enjoy while visiting the Beautiful Land Across the Water. Download the Chincoteague app for Apple or Android, use the interactive outdoor kiosk located in the Chamber yard, or online with our 'Plan Your Trip' Widget.

We look forward to helping you 'Discover your LOVE of Chincoteague Island'!

Planning the perfect getaway in Chincoteague just got easier! The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce is excited to offer the Chincoteague 'Plan Your Visit' Widget which is an interactive way to map out everything you don’t want to miss in Chincoteague. The widget provides a new way to explore what Chincoteague Island has to offer, including hotels, popular restaurants, activities, shopping, itinerary building, audio tours, and so much more.

The widget is available three convenient ways:

1. On ChincoteagueChamber.com, the official tourism website for Chincoteague Island, VA

2. The CHINCOTEAGUE APP which is available for both Android and Apple

3. An interactive outdoor kiosk conveniently located in the chamber yard in the turn circle on Maddox Boulevard

April 17, 2026 Update
Work continues on the new recreational beach with an estimated opening date of Spring 2027. Until that time, the current recreational beach will be open and accessible for all to enjoy. The Tom's Cove Visitor Center has moved into the Herbert H. Bateman & Educational Center and the old Tom's Cove Visitor Center has been removed. Also removed is the air pump that was located across from the Tom's Cove Visitor Center to reinflate your tires after spending time on the South OSV. Please plan accordingly by bringing your own air compressor or using free air pumps at Steve's II Express, Corner Mart, and Shore Stop (in distance order from the beach). Rommel's Ace Hardware also carries in stock affordable air compressors for your convenience. The bicycle pump located at the Chamber office is not designed for vehicle tire inflation.

April 15, 2025 Update
Work has begun on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge to move the Assateague Island National Seashore, VA recreational beach 2.5 miles north to a more stable area. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge has created a project page on their website to serve as a resource for planning documents and status updates on the relocation.

Beach Relocation Project Background

Text from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach Relocation page

Assateague Island is on the move. As a result of natural processes, the island is approaching the mainland at a rate of approx. 10-13 feet/year. Large storm events accelerate the process and lead to costly repairs and long-term closures of public parking areas.

More than $15 million has been spent for storm recovery since 2003 - including as much as $400,000/year on repeated maintenance costs.

The refuge, owned and operated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the recreational beach, managed and operated by National Park Service, attract more than 1 million visitors annually. Closure of the parking areas due to storm damage reduces the ability of the USFWS and NPS to provide recreational beach access and interpretive opportunities to these visitors.

Over a multi-decade public planning and engagement process, the agencies carefully considered substantial public input and comments that informed the current strategy. Moving the recreational beach to a more stable location north of the existing beach was the only available course of action that could conserve wildlife resources on the refuge, significantly reduce annual and long-term maintenance costs, and protect the viability of the local economy.

Yes!

The existing recreational beach will remain open until the construction efforts for the new beach are complete. We anticipate no interruptions to beach access from construction, but the site could be subject to temporary closures caused by weather, NASA launches, or other safety-related events.

Click here for more information and the latest updates on this project

The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island National Seashore, VA are open the following hours throughout the year.

May through September - 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Daily
October - 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Daily
November through Mid-March - 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Daily
Mid-March through April - 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Daily

The Wildlife Loop is open during normal operating hours for walking and biking but is also open to drive daily from 3pm to dusk.

Entrance to the refuge is free if you are walking and biking or there are daily, weekly, and annual fees if you plan to drive your vehicle over. Annual military and senior passes are also available.

<span>Discover our</span> Ponies callout

Discover our Ponies

Discover our Ponies

<span>Meet our</span> Members callout

Meet our Members

Meet our Members

<span>Wander our</span> Trails & Itineraries callout

Wander our Trails & Itineraries

Wander our Trails & Itineraries

<span>Explore our</span> Festivals callout

Explore our Festivals

Explore our Festivals

<span>View our</span> Webcam callout

View our Webcam

View our Webcam

Seashells

What's happening now?

Discover Virginia's only resort island

What's Happening on Chincoteague Island? Check here to plan your days and evenings while visiting our beautiful island. Enjoy!

Chamber sponsored festivals View Events Calendar

Why You Should Visit Chincoteague Island!

#5 The Annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival, Top 10 Fall Events in Virginia, Virginia Living 2025

Virginia Living

"An escape to Chincoteague is what you make of it, and whether you’re staying at a cozy cottage or a beachside inn, you’ll likely deem this stretch of coastline an underrated East Coast stunner." - Conde Nast Traveler, These East Coast Beach Towns are Even Better in the Fall, Jessica Sulima

Conde Nast Traveler

Voted #5 Best National Wildlife Refuge Across the US - USA Today Reader's Choice Awards 2025

USA Today

This entire island induces a sense of calm within me when I’m here. It’s something I really cannot explain. It’s a feeling that cannot be bought or sold. Almost like if you step back, breathe deeply and open your heart, you can feel this island embrace you. It is a wonderful feeling and part of that magic are the people here. They are such an intricate part of that welcoming. It is no wonder that so many are saddened to leave. – Steven Turchin

Steven Turchin

Coastal Living Magazine named Chincoteague #1 ‘Happiest Seaside Town in America’ – 2014

Coastal Living Magazine

"Chincoteague is the type of small town where you could easily spend a week—if not longer—and never grow bored. If you love to get out on the water and fish, you won’t find a better place to spend your time. If you prefer to read on the beach, take long sandy walks, or go shelling, it’s your dream vacation destination." - Travel & Leisure, I've Lived in Virginia for 22 Years - and These Are the Best Small Towns in the State, Lydia Mansel

Travel and Leisure

"Come to see the famous wild ponies, and stay for the adorable Main Street businesses, the eateries that highlight area ingredients, and the unbridled scenery of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Nestled on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, it’s a dream for nature lovers seeking tranquility. Walk or bike the refuge’s 15-mile trail system, and look for birds and dolphins." - Southern Living, The 50 Best Beach Towns in the South 2025

Southern Living Magazine

Chincoteague is the perfect destination for families who adore nature, relish relaxation, and appreciate a sense of community. As an historic gem of the Eastern Shore, Chincoteague provides outlets for everyone, from sportsmen and sunbathers to fun-seekers and foodies.
- Michael C. Upton, travel writer and longtime Chincoteague visitor

Michael C. Upton

Quick Links

Contact Us

Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce and Certified Visitor Center Email Us

E-Newsletter Signup

Copyright © 2026 Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. Web Design by InterCoastal Net Designs