[OldBay]

I am begining to prepare for my first trip to Assateague Island (MD side) at the end of June. I would like to arrive friday afternoon and see how long my girl, our dog and I can last. I have a few questions that maybe you guys can answer.

1. I have a 4wd jeep cherokee with fairly new wrangler tires. If I air down to 15 psi do you think I will be able to manage the sand?

2. I noticed that there is a camping area. Can I set up a tent, for shade, next to my Jeep while I am fishing?

3. Sleeping is prohibited, but if 2 people go, can we sleep in shifts while the other is fishing?

4. Does the park usually reach its limit of vehicles?

5. Do I need the ORV permit ($70 ouch) to drive on the beach to the fishin spots?

Thanks alot for helpin a newbie.

 

[Sandcrab]

Here is the park website.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/assateague.html

map of AI
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/maps/assateaguemap.html

1. I have a 4wd jeep cherokee with fairly new wrangler tires. If I air down to 15 psi do you think I will be able to manage the sand? Someone that owns a 4 X 4 can answer this.

2. I noticed that there is a camping area. Can I set up a tent, for shade, next to my Jeep while I am fishing? No tents allowed on the beach. Umbrella can be used. Bullpen area is where overnight people can stay. If your vehicle has running water and a port-a-potti that can hold three days waste, you can stay overnight.

3. Sleeping is prohibited, but if 2 people go, can we sleep in shifts while the other is fishing? Both people have to be actively engaged in fishing.

4. Does the park usually reach its limit of vehicles? During the Summer, they reach capacity very fast. As they only allow only 150 vehicles on the beach at any given time, the 151st vehicle would have to wait until someone leaves before they are allowed on the beach.

Here's how they do the counting. The park ranger drives down the beach to the VA line, turns around, and counts cars all the way to the entrance to the ORV zone. Let's say she counts 155 cars. She waits at the entrance and will not let a car on until 6 cars leave. After that, its a "one on-one off" rule. They monitor the beach all the time during those Summer peak months.

5. Do I need the ORV permit ($70 ouch) to drive on the beach to the fishin spots? Check with the rangers but I think you will need to buy the permit. I do not know if they offer a one day pass for sale.

I have not camped at AI but have done some fishing there with a buddy who has a ORV permit. Please call the head park office and reconfirm all the above. Don't want to see you get a big ticket fine for my ignorance.

 

[OldBay]

No sleeping at all. Thats a tough weekend. Thanks for all the info Sandcrab. I will certainly check with the rangers.