Pony Shuttle Buses

FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE BUS INFORMATION

If taking the shuttle, do not carry large strollers or yard/porch chairs on the buses. Bring only what will fit in your lap.

BEFORE THE SWIM

1. Day Visitors: Upon arrival to the island, you will be directed to parking by signage and Town Officials. Please follow all instructions for a smooth parking process.

• From the bridge, turn left at the stoplight onto Main Street
• Proceed to Chincoteague High School and turn right onto Hallie Whealton Smith Drive.
• Continue as directed by Town Officials to the Chincoteague Municipal Center, 6150 Community Drive, unless directed otherwise.
• There is no parking at other Shuttle Stops.
• Please remember where you are parked. Parking Lot A (Municipal Center), Parking Lot B (Elementary School), Parking Lot C (Island Nature Trail), or Parking Lot D (Donald Leonard Park/High School).

2. Shuttle Buses will begin operation at 5am

• Day Visitors – A Shuttle Bus will pick you up from where you have been directed to park
• Locals and Visitors staying on Chincoteague - Additional Shuttle Bus stops will be at convenient locations along Maddox Boulevard and Main Street. (Refer to the Shuttle Map.) Please look for the GREEN Shuttle Stop Signs.
• PLEASE NOTE - New this year: there are no stops south of Jester Street.
• The shuttle stop at Fairfield Inn will be available before and immediately after the swim.
• There is no stop at Marina Bay/Waterside Inn. The closest stop before and immediately after the swim will be the corner of Main and Jester (approx. 1,000 ft) away. After the pony parade, walking from the Carnival Grounds is recommended.

3. All visitors riding the Shuttle Buses will be taken to Veteran's Memorial Park. This is not the pony landing site. If you wish to go to the landing site, you will need to walk from Veteran's Memorial Park.

Pre-Swim Shuttle Route:

1. Municipal Center at Deep Hole Road Trolley Stop - Day Visitors and Handicapped Visitors should report here. There is no parking at other pick-up points. There will be handicap accessible buses.

2. Corner of Maddox Boulevard and Deep Hole Road - Serving Chincoteague Inn, Atlantic Shores Inn & Suites, Sea Hawk Motel, and Maddox Inn

3. Maddox Blvd at Crosswalk by Funland

4. Traffic Circle on Maddox Boulevard At entrance of Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort serving Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Days Inn, The Reef Vacation Villas, Refuge Inn, & Spark by Hilton

5. Corner of Main Street and Clark Street - Serving Watson House, Inn on Main, Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn & Key West Cottages

6. Corner of Main Street and Church Street - at Don's Seafood Restaurant serving Channel Bass Inn & Miss Molly's Inn

7. Corner of Main Street and Marlin Street - At Fairfield Inn (Before and Immediately After Swim Only)

8. Corner of Main Street and Jester Street – Serving Waterside Inn, Anchor Inn, and Marina Bay Hotel & Suites (Before and Immediately After Swim Only)

9. Veteran’s Memorial Park Closest stop to the Swim Site. (Before and Immediately After Swim Only)

10. Corner of Main Street and Taylor Street - Serving Island Resort and Holiday Cottages

AFTER THE SWIM

1. Immediately after the swim, two lines will form in the front of Veteran’s Memorial Park (where you were dropped off for the swim).

• Both lines will go to the Municipal Center, motels, and other designated shuttle stops.
• PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO SHUTTLE SERVICE to the Carnival Grounds after the swim. You will need to walk from Veteran’s Memorial Park to the Carnival Grounds. Please see map for walking route. The distance is approximately 1/2 mile. Shuttles with be available for persons with disabilities ONLY.

2. If you walked from Veteran’s Memorial Park to the pony landing site, you must return to the front of Veteran’s Memorial Park within 30 minutes of the ponies coming ashore to catch the shuttle.

3. You must be in line to get shuttle transportation at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Please be patient after the swim! In the several hours before the swim, we transport thousands. We cannot accommodate thousands immediately after the swim.

4. After Veteran’s Memorial Park is cleared, there will be no further service from the park. Shuttle Buses will then be available behind the Carnival on Willow Street to take guests back to the Municipal Center, motels, and other designated shuttle stops. (See details below and Pony-Pony Parade Route Map.)

5. Vehicle travel will be extremely heavy in the Carnival area and throughout the Island after the swim. Several of the roads from the swim site to the Carnival will be closed. (Main Street south of Jester Street, Bunting Road, Ridge Road south of East Side Road and Beebe Road). Please do not attempt to go back to your car then drive to the Carnival. You will hold up traffic!

Shuttles Immediately After Swim until Parade:
The Pony Swim Shuttle will run the reverse of the pre-swim route, starting at #9 Veteran’s Memorial Park and ending at #1 Municipal Center until Veteran’s Memorial Park is empty. As soon as Veteran’s Memorial Park is empty, shuttles will switch to the Post-Pony Parade Route.

LEAVING THE CARNIVAL

1. Buses will begin to load after the ponies arrive at the Carnival. Service from the Carnival will continue until APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER THE PONIES ARRIVE.

2. A long single-file line will form at Willow Street behind the Carnival immediately after the ponies arrive. The end of the line is to the north of the corral. You must get to the end of the line and work towards the buses. Be sure everyone in your party is present before getting in line. The line moves quickly as buses become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Willow Street is narrow and will have two-way bus traffic. DO NOT BLOCK THE ROAD AT ANY TIME.

3. Staying longer at the Carnival Grounds? The Pony Express Trolley will begin FREE service across from the main entrance of the Carnival Grounds on Main Street at approx. 1pm until 5pm. Starting at 5pm the fare is 50¢ per person. View trolley brochure and schedule.

4. If you paid to park in areas around Veteran’s Memorial Park and walked to the carnival after the swim, you will need to walk back to your car as there are no stops at Veteran’s Memorial Park after the park is empty.

Post-Parade Route:

1. Willow Street – Behind Carnival Grounds

2. Corner of Main Street and Church Street - at Don's Seafood Restaurant serving Channel Bass Inn & Miss Molly's Inn

3. Corner of Main Street and Clark Street - Serving Watson House, Inn on Main, Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn & Key West Cottages

4. Corner of Main Street and Taylor Street - Serving Island Resort, Holiday Cottages

5. Municipal Center at Deep Hole Road Trolley Stop – Stops will be made at each parking lot as well.

6. Corner of Maddox Boulevard and Deep Hole Road - Serving Chincoteague Inn, Atlantic Shores Inn & Suites, Sea Hawk Motel, and Maddox Inn

7. Maddox Blvd at Crosswalk by Funland

8. Traffic Circle on Maddox Boulevard At entrance of Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort serving Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Days Inn, The Reef Vacation Villas, Refuge Inn, & Spark by Hilton