More than 2 million individuals visited the Assateague Island National Seashore in 2021, in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a March 21 National Park Service news release, Assateague Island ranked 33rd among the 380 National Park Units reporting visitation numbers.
The park had more visitors than Mount Rushmore, Bryce Canyon and Shenandoah, according to a National Park Service website.
“It’s wonderful to see so many Americans continuing to find inspiration in these incredible places during the second year of the pandemic,” Chuck Sams, director of the National Park Service, said.
According to the National Park Service website, Assateague Island was dedicated as a National Seashore Sept. 21, 1965. The land once was connected to Fenwick Island, but a storm in 1933 created an inlet between Ocean City and the island, and it was reinforced to ensure it would remain in place.
There is an array of activities that visitors can enjoy, according to the Assateague Island website, including crabbing, kayaking, hunting, birdwatching and more along the island’s 37-mile stretch of beach.
According to the National Park Service website, fees for the island can vary, depending on how you get there. There are no fees for pedestrians or bicyclists, while vehicles require a 7-day pass for $25 or an annual parking pass for $45.
