Campgrounds and RV parks near Captains Cove, VA

The signature draw is wildlife viewing on Chincoteague and Assateague islands. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge covers beaches, dunes, shrubland, maritime forest, freshwater wetlands, and salt marshes, with a visitor center, bird checklists, and beach access. Wild horses roam free on Assateague Island; visitors are asked to stay at least a school bus length (40 feet) away and not to touch, feed, or otherwise entice the horses. Kayaking marsh channels, biking the refuge loop road, surf fishing, crabbing off docks, and beachcombing along the Atlantic side of Assateague fill most itineraries. The Chincoteague Pony Swim, also known as Pony Penning, is an annual event held in Chincoteague, Virginia on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, and draws large crowds to the island. At Pocomoke River State Park, paddling the tannin-stained Pocomoke River through cypress swamp is a standout activity, with a marina, fishing pond, and swimming pool at Shad Landing.

The Eastern Shore has a warm, humid subtropical climate with a busy summer season and a quiet, cold winter. Camping in this coastal region operates primarily from spring through fall, with some facilities remaining open year-round, and most campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during the summer months when tourism peaks. Summer is peak season for beach access and pony viewing, and it is also the buggiest stretch, with mosquitoes and biting flies most active in the marsh from June through August. Late July brings Pony Swim week, when Chincoteague-area lodging and campsites book out well ahead. Fall cools quickly, crowds thin, and migratory bird activity picks up through the refuges. Winter is the slow season. The Assateague Island National Seashore campground is open year-round. Equestrian non-electric sites operate from October 16 through April 15 each year, and Oceanside individual sites shift to first-come, first-served from November 16 through March 14. At Shad Landing, most loops operate in the warmer months, with limited winter camping available in the Waters Edge and Robins Nest loops.

Hookup availability varies widely. Private parks around Chincoteague generally offer full-hookup RV sites, camp stores, pools, and family programming. Public campgrounds are more basic: there are no electricity or water hook-ups at any of the Assateague campgrounds, and the drive-in and walk-in campgrounds have drinking water, composting toilets, and cold-water showers from mid-March through mid-November. Expect insects, wind, and sandy sites near the coast. Food storage rules matter around wildlife: all food must be stored inside a latchable hard-sided cooler or inside your vehicle when camping on Assateague. Inland options like Shad Landing sit under tall pines and hardwoods along the Pocomoke River, with electric hookups available in the Acorn Trail, Deer Run, and Robin's Nest loops and a dump station on site.