Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is open 7 days a week from 5am - 10pm May through September, 6am - 8pm the months of April and October , and 6am - 6pm November through March.
The Wildlife Loop is open daily for vehicles to drive from 3pm until dusk.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most visited refuges in the United States, providing visitors with outstanding opportunities to learn about and enjoy wildlands and wildlife. Chincoteague Refuge includes more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds (with an emphasis on conserving greater snow geese), the refuge today provides habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and song birds as well as other species of wildlife and plants. The refuge also provides wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, wildlife photography and observation, interpretation, and environmental education. Please note PETS ARE PROHIBITED - even in your vehicle - on both the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island VA National Seashore.
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As of April 15, 2025, 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.
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Over Sand Vehicle Permit Information
Horseback Riding and Map
For a complete list of island events and activities, CLICK HERE.
