Campfires on Assateague Beach

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Posted: May 8th, 2020

There is something magical about a campfire on the beach at sunset.  Its one of my family’s favorite summertime activities.  We encourage you to give it a try.  Its sure to be an experience you won’t soon forget!

Open fires are allowed at designated sites on the beach, by permit only.  Elsewhere on the beach fires must be contained in a metal container,  but do not require a permit. 

Open Fires 

Open campfires are only allowed at designated sites (Site A, B, or C) and require a permit.  Fire permits are free of charge.  To obtain a fire permit, head to the Toms Cove Visitor Center.  Note that during the peak summer season the fires sites may be booked up several days in advance. 

Tom’s Cove Visitor Center is open 9 am. to 5 pm. daily.

Fire permit conditions of use include:

• Fire must be built at designated site.
• Fire must be completely extinguished with water and site cleaned by closing time.
• All people using the site must be off the island by closing time.
• Alcohol use is prohibited.
• Groups under the age of 18 must be chaperoned by an adult (18 years or older).  For such groups the reservation will only be issued to the chaperone.
• Groups are limited to 50 people per site.
• Visitor must possess the reservation form and be with the group at all times.

Contained Fires

Contained fires are allowed anywhere on the beach without a permit.  Please follow these simple, common sense rules:

• Containers must be metal and have a bottom and sides that safely and entirely contain the burning wood or charcoal.  No fire rings. 
• Extinguish fires with water and clean area at least 1/2 hour before closing time. 
• Do not bury fire remains.
• Deposit coals and incompletely burned wood below the high tide line.
• Don’t burn driftwood or Refuge vegetation.
• Don’t burn wood containing nails or any metal.
• No fires are allowed in the lifeguard protected section of the beach Memorial Day through Labor Day.  There is a yellow flag with black circle at each end of the lifeguard protected section of the beach.

We hope that this blog article inspires to try a fire on the beach the next time your on vacation in Chincoteague Island!

More information about Things-To-Do on Assateague Island