About Maryland Surf Travel
8th St.:
From 42nd Street at the end of the hotel strip and extending up to Fort Story, Army post, at 89th Street. This spot has easy access, varying sandbar breaks, and rides best with steady Southwest winds.
The surf at the North End is best at chest to head-high, but can handle more. North and south swells come through regularly, and the locals are friendly enough to share.
Surfing is restricted Friday through Sunday and holidays during the summer months. Check out the signs on each street access for specifics.
Assateague:
Coming into Assateague National Seashore, you could just as easily be entering Jurassic Park. Massive dung piles line the shoulders of the road, leading to speculation as to the species of ass from which it emanated. Then, the sign: “Wild Ponies Bite and Kick — Keep Your Distance and Do Not Feed!” Assateague is Maryland’s version of Hatteras, a protected wildlife preserve with nothing but dunes, marsh and waves. It’s a welcome relief from the carnival atmosphere back in town. While Assateague rivals its Carolina counterpart for seclusion, relaxation and biting horseflies swarming from the marshlands with a west wind, it lacks Hatteras juice. This is more of a beginner/longboard wave, breaking out on a bar with a trench near shore. When town is closing out, however, Assateague holds the size with outside peaks. With no main swell focus, it’s easy to set off with your friends and find a wave of your own.
There are bathhouses at both the state and federal park areas, complete with all amenities including ample parking (pay in summer). For the more adventurous, a four-wheel drive and permit allow you to venture off the beaten path where the park stretches some 10 miles to the Virginia border and beyond.