Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before your stay at The Refuge Inn on Chincoteague Island.
About Chincoteague & Getting Here
Where is Chincoteague Island?
Chincoteague is a small island off Virginia’s Eastern Shore. A drawbridge and causeway connect Chincoteague to the rest of the Delmarva Peninsula via Route 13. Chincoteague is about 2 hours from Norfolk and Virginia Beach (ORF), 3 hours from Baltimore (BWI) and 3½ from Washington, D.C. (DCA).
Driving times from points north:
| From | Nearest airport | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Pocomoke City, Maryland | — | 30 minutes |
| Berlin, Maryland | — | 50 minutes |
| Salisbury, Maryland | SBY | 1 hour |
| Ocean City, Maryland | SBY | 1 hour |
| Easton, Maryland | — | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Dover, Delaware | — | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge | — | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Baltimore, Maryland | BWI | 3 hours |
| Wilmington, Delaware | — | 3 hours |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | PHL | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Washington, DC | DCA | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Lancaster, Pennsylvania | — | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| New York City | JFK | 5 hours |
Driving times from points south:
| From | Nearest airport | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Accomac, Virginia | — | 30 minutes |
| Cape Charles, Virginia | — | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Virginia Beach, Virginia | ORF | 2 hours |
| Norfolk, Virginia | ORF | 2 hours |
| Williamsburg, Virginia | PHF | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Newport News, Virginia | PHF | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Kitty Hawk, North Carolina | — | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Richmond, Virginia | RIC | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Emporia, Virginia | — | 3 hours 30 minutes |
How do I get to Chincoteague Island?
What’s the best time to visit?
Every season has something to love:
- Spring: Birds, blooms, and baby ponies
- Summer: Pony Swim and classic beach days
- Fall: Quiet trails, migration, and golden marsh sunsets
- Winter: Snow geese and tundra swans on the refuge, and a toasty heated pool and hot tub
Our birding guide breaks the year down month by month.
Where can I see the wild ponies?
How did the wild ponies get to Assateague?
Staying at The Refuge Inn
Details to make your stay smooth and comfortable
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in starts at 4 p.m. and check-out is by 11 a.m. You are welcome to stop by when you arrive in town, and if your room is ready early, we’ll happily check you in.
Do you serve breakfast?
Yes! Order the night before and we’ll deliver a free brown-bag breakfast, including a hot sandwich, to your door at the time you select between 7 and 9. For later meals, we can recommend island restaurants for fresh seafood and local favorites, many within walking or biking distance.
Do the rooms have refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers?
Every room is equipped with a flatscreen TV, USB charging station, coffeemaker, mini fridge, and hair dryer. A microwave, ice maker, and vending machine for guest use are centrally located on each floor. We also have freshly brewed, locally roasted coffee available 24/7 at the complimentary coffee bar in the lobby.
Do you allow pets?
We don’t allow pets of any kind, including reptiles and hypoallergenic or hairless breeds. The refuge and the National Seashore don’t allow pets either, even in your car, so guests’ pets ended up left alone in their rooms. That wasn’t fair to the animals, other guests or our housekeepers, so pets aren’t allowed anywhere on our property, including in vehicles.
Do you have parking?
Yes. Parking is free for all guests. Additional spaces and overflow parking for trailers or larger vehicles is available seasonally upon request. We also offer free EV charging for guests, including one Tesla charger and one universal.
Is Wi-Fi available?
Yes, high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.
Does the Refuge Inn have accessible rooms?
Yes. Rooms 135 and 136 are our designated wheelchair-accessible rooms, with extra-wide doors and wheelchair-accessible patios. The hotel is two floors with no elevator, so please tell us when you book if stairs are a problem. We’ll do our best to put you downstairs, and if we can’t, we’ll call you to make other arrangements. Our accessibility page has the full detail on both rooms, parking, and getting around the property.
Exploring the Island
Everything you need to know about beaches, permits, rocket launches, and the great outdoors
How far is the beach from the Inn?
The refuge entrance is a quarter mile from our front door, and the beach is about four miles by car or three by bike, through the loblolly pines on Assateague. Coming back, we’re one of the first stops after the bridge, so you miss the beach traffic on Maddox Boulevard and Main Street.
Do I need a pass for the Wildlife Refuge?
A daily, weekly, or annual vehicle pass is required by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to gain access to the Wildlife Refuge and the National Seashore. You can buy it right at the gate with cash or credit card. Any National Parks Pass will grant access for everyone in your whole vehicle.
Can I drive on the beach?
Over-sand vehicle permits are available seasonally (September-March) for qualified vehicles. Read our guide to the Tom’s Cove Hook for more information.
Are there lifeguards on duty?
Yes, in designated swimming areas during summer. At other times of year, swimming is allowed at your own risk.
Can I climb the lighthouse?
Yes. The Chincoteague Natural History Association, the refuge’s friends group, opens the lighthouse for climbs on a seasonal schedule. Check their Facebook page for this year’s dates and hours.
Can I kayak Chincoteague?
Yes, absolutely! We recommend rentals and tours from Chincoteague Island Outfitters. You are also welcome to bring your own; just be sure to get a launch pass from the Town of Chincoteague town office before using one of their public kayak launches.
Can I fish or crab while I’m here?
Yes, and you do not need a boat to do it. You can surf cast on Assateague, drop a line from the public piers and docks in town, or crab from the shallows. Virginia requires every saltwater angler to register, free, with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program, including anglers who are exempt from licensing and anyone fishing on an out-of-state license. Our fishing and hunting guide covers species by season, boat launches and local guides.
What are all those satellite dishes along the road on the way to Chincoteague?
Those dishes belong to NOAA’s NESDIS Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station. Most of the weather data you see on the news and online is collected and processed right here at Wallops before it’s distributed. The same complex houses NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and a U.S. Navy base.
Why are there planes circling overhead on the way to Chincoteague?
The Navy radar planes are conducting touch-and-go landing practice at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, which is equipped to simulate the runway of an aircraft carrier.
When can I watch a rocket launch from NASA Wallops or the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport?
Launches from Wallops and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport don’t follow a fixed calendar. Rocket Lab launches its Electron rocket from Wallops, and its larger Neutron rocket is due to debut here in 2027. Northrop Grumman’s Antares, which has carried cargo to the International Space Station, is set to return in its new 330 version. Student rockets go up several times a year through the RockOn and RockSat programs, and we’re happy to host those groups.
Check NASA’s Wallops launch schedule and rocketlaunch.org for dates. Our NASA Wallops page has a list of the best places to watch.
Is Chincoteague good for birding?
It is one of the top shorebird migration staging areas on the East Coast, and the refuge checklist records more than 270 species. Our BirdWeather station keeps a running count of the species it hears on our property. Our birding page has a guide for every month, trail distances, and where to go by boat, on foot or from the car.
Local Tips
Insider advice to make the most of your Chincoteague adventure.
What should I pack?
Comfortable walking shoes, layers for coastal breezes, sunscreen, bug spray, and binoculars for pony or bird watching. In cooler months, add a jacket, hat, and gloves.
When should I book for Pony Swim week?
Book early. Rooms often sell out six months ahead, and Penning week has a four-night minimum. Our Pony Swim guide lists this year’s swim and auction dates.
What’s the easiest way to get around?
Many guests rent bikes, and the refuge trails are well suited to cycling. The Bike Depot right here on our property offers hourly and daily rentals, or you can bring your own and lock them in our bike racks. There are other rental shops nearby that offer electric golf carts, e-bikes, GEM cars, and other fun island transportation.
What can I do on a rainy day?
Visit the Museum of Chincoteague Island, play arcade games or duckpin bowling at AlleyOops Express on Main Street, explore the NASA Wallops Visitor Center, browse local shops and galleries, or cozy up with a book or a board game from our Lending Library and listen to the rain from the covered portion of our indoor/outdoor pool.
Visiting with a Group
Bringing the besties, or the entire birding group? We have a solution for you.
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes, seasonally, for groups of 10+ rooms! Please contact the front desk for details.
Do you have a meeting space?
Yes, our conference room is perfect for groups and seats 30 for a sit-down dinner, or 40 in chairs. It has a very large TV, refrigerator, gas range with double oven, sink, and counter space. There is also a screened in porch with tables and chairs.
Do you host school groups?
Yes, seasonally. Please contact the front desk for details.
Do you offer direct billing arrangements?
Yes! Please arrange this with the front desk when booking your group.
Can you accommodate a tour bus?
Usually, yes, as long as most of the passengers are staying with us. Tell us you’re arriving by bus and we’ll block off part of the parking lot.
Other Common Questions
Little details that make a big difference.
Do you sell gift certificates?
Yes! Gift certificates can be purchased by phone and emailed directly.
Is the pool open year-round?
Yes. Our pool is outdoors during the summer, and converted to a heated greenhouse enclosure in the cooler months, so the pool is open and welcoming in every season.
Do you offer pool access to the public?
No. Insurance limits pool access to registered guests. For locals or visitors who would like to use our pool, you are welcome to become a registered guest by renting an available room at the published rate. For Queen rooms, the maximum permissible occupancy is 5 people.
How can I help protect the island?
Stay on the marked trails, pack in and pack out, and give the wild ponies at least forty feet. Never feed or touch them.
Still have questions?
We’d love to help you plan your visit. Call us at 757-336-5511 or stop by the front desk anytime. We’ve been welcoming guests since 1973.