Where are you located and what can I find at each location?
We are excited to say that we now have 4 different locations. The bike stand, will be the first one that you encounter located in the parking lot of the National Seashore Visitor Center. There you can rent bikes and purchase food, drink, ice, and souvenirs. Our next location, the beach hut, is located inside of the National Seashore in the large parking lot to the left of the entrance gates. There you can purchase beach related items along with snacks, drinks, ice, firewood, and souvenirs. Our third location, and busiest, is the kayak stand located at the end of Bayside Drive. To get to our kayak stand simply plug ‘Assateague Outfitters Bayside Rental Stand’ into google and follow the directions. At the kayak stand we rent bikes, canoes, kayaks, SUPs along with selling snacks, drinks, ice, firewood, souvenirs, and OSV gear. All of our wildlife discovery tours also depart from this location. Our newest location, The Five Tides, provides fresh eats at Assateague State Park. We also offer a camping supplies, beach gear, ice, apparel, souvenirs and more!
How can I book a rental/tour?
The easiest way to make a reservation is right here on our website. Simply click on the big blue ‘BOOK NOW’ button, select tour or rentals, select the option you want to book and follow the instructions. If you have any questions that you don’t see answered here, you can always call us during our business hours.
Will we see the wild horses?
Probably. There are many bands of horses that hang out in the developed areas of the park. We do not guarantee you will see them on a rental or tour, but we often do, and our guides scout locations every day to make your experience as complete as possible. They are wild animals, and there are no fences on the island (except the state line), so there is a bit of luck involved as well.
The horses are cute! Can I pet one?
No, wild horses are unpredictable and dangerous, and you should always keep at least a school bus length distance from the horses. Our guides will always keep you a safe distance on tours.
Is there an entrance fee?
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
Yes, the entrance fee is $25 per vehicle, it is valid for 7 days. You can purchase one at the gate, near the Ranger Station, on Bayberry Drive. AINS is open 24/365
ASSATEAGUE STATE PARK
Hours of Operations:
7 a.m. to sunset
Day-use Admission Fees:
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day- $5/person
After Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend and after 4pm- $5/vehicle
What about bad weather?
There is no charge if we decide to cancel a trip or rental, usually due to storms or high winds. The wind is our biggest enemy. Anytime winds are over 15mph sustained, kayaking becomes difficult to say the least. Canoes and Stand Up Paddleboards have an even lower threshold, we stop renting them when the winds are 12 mph sustained. You can always call us during our business hours to check on conditions for the day.
Are the bugs as bad as I read on Facebook?
Not on the water. The bugs leave you alone when paddling, but sometimes they are bad on land. Mosquitos have a top speed of 5mph, and prefer shaded, wind blocked areas. So if you head into the woods after a hatch, it can get pretty intense. However, we have good wind exposure at all of our locations, and they are not a problem on the water.
What should I bring?
1) Sunscreen
2) Extra layer (Preferably Synthetic)
3) Weather appropriate boating attire (water shoes or old sneakers, synthetic clothing, etc.)
4) At least 32 oz of water per person
5) Any personal medical equipment necessary (EPI pens, inhalers, athletic braces, etc.)
6) Cheap Sunglasses
What about dry bags?
We provide one drybag per tour group. For hourly rentals dry bags are available for purchase in our store. If possible, it is always best to bring your own.
How old do kids need to be for tours?
5 years old, but you know your kids better than we do. If they will do well on a 2-2.5 hour kayak tour then they are more than welcome to join us.
How old do kids need to be for rentals?
All Paddlers age 15 and younger must paddle alongside an adult in their group. If you think your child has the ability to paddle their own kayak, and the conditions are decent, we will let them try, and if it does not work out, we will switch them out to a tandem kayak with you, no problem. Active adult supervision is required for the entirety of all rentals for participants under 15, no exceptions.
Is there a weight limit?
Yes. All boats have weight limits, but most likely we have something that will accommodate you. If you are concerned about the weight limit, give us a call and we will make sure get you the proper gear.
How many people can I fit in a canoe/tandem/kayak/sup?
Single Kayak - One Person
Tandem Kayak - Seats two adults, plus a small child (under 4) or pet. Can also be paddled solo from center seat.
Stand Up Paddleboard - One Adult, plus a small child (under 4) or pet.
Canoes - Two Adults and two small kids or pets, or three adults.
Pets? Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are allowed in Assateague Island National Seashore, as long as they are on a 6 foot or less leash. We also allow well behaved doggos on rentals, but not on tours (as we have to be mindful of other tour groups). Please remember to clean up after your pup! Dogs are not permitted in Assateague State Park.
What if we get lost?
We have some great, safe nearby coves that are easy to navigate and hang out in. We also have more advanced areas for paddlers to explore. We do our best to prevent misdirection, by familiarizing you with the map and your surroundings, and actively managing our shoreline. We also recommend you take your phone as Google Maps can be a great friend. If you get turned around, you can either call us or check google maps if you have service.
How deep is the water?
The Sinepuxent Bay is shallow. Fun Fact: Sinepuxent is Algonquin for “shallow”. So it’s a great place to learn. Most of the water we paddle in is no more than 3 feet deep. There are a few channels here and there, but most of it is sandy and shallow.
Do I have to wear a life jacket?
Our 2021 policy is that anyone aged 12 and under is required to wear a life jacket at all times. Anyone 13 and older will be provided with a life jacket that must be kept in the boat, but does not have to be worn.
Where do we launch the kayaks/canoes/SUPs from?
Our rentals launch right at our kayak stand location. There is no need to transport or carry the rentals anywhere.
Where can we bike?
There is one dedicated bike path on the island that follows the main road up until the National Seashore entrance gates. Besides that trail, the rest of the biking is done on the roads inside of the park. We often recommend biking through the campgrounds as those are the roads with the least amount of vehicle traffic. However, make sure to be mindful of the campers when riding through.
Can you deliver bikes/boats to our campsite?
We do not deliver any rentals to either the National Seashore or the State Park. We simply do not have the staff numbers of vehicles to make this a possibility. If you have a multi-day rental you can either transport the boats/bikes to your campsite so that you have access to them any time of the day or you can use them from our kayak stand location each day during our business hours.
What is your cancellation policy?
Tours: Guided tours are generally planned for and reserved in advance. Our tours can fill up weeks in advance and therefore require 48 hours cancellation prior to your scheduled tour time. Cancellations received through email or phone prior to 48 hours will be fully refunded. If you must cancel within the 48 hour period, you will receive a digital gift card in the full amount of your reservation to use on your next visit, with no expiration.
Rentals: Rentals require at least 24 hours notice to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund. Cancellations within the 24 hour period of your scheduled rental time, will receive a digital gift card in the full amount of your reservation to use on your next visit, with no expiration.
Retail/ Apparel: Items purchased in any of our retail locations must be returned to the location it was purchased at. A full refund will be issued for items deemed to be damaged or defective.
For apparel: Unworn apparel can be returned for a refund or exchanged at the location you bought the item.
We are excited to say that we now have 4 different locations. The bike stand, will be the first one that you encounter located in the parking lot of the National Seashore Visitor Center. There you can rent bikes and purchase food, drink, ice, and souvenirs. Our next location, the beach hut, is located inside of the National Seashore in the large parking lot to the left of the entrance gates. There you can purchase beach related items along with snacks, drinks, ice, firewood, and souvenirs. Our third location, and busiest, is the kayak stand located at the end of Bayside Drive. To get to our kayak stand simply plug ‘Assateague Outfitters Bayside Rental Stand’ into google and follow the directions. At the kayak stand we rent bikes, canoes, kayaks, SUPs along with selling snacks, drinks, ice, firewood, souvenirs, and OSV gear. All of our wildlife discovery tours also depart from this location. Our newest location, The Five Tides, provides fresh eats at Assateague State Park. We also offer a camping supplies, beach gear, ice, apparel, souvenirs and more!
How can I book a rental/tour?
The easiest way to make a reservation is right here on our website. Simply click on the big blue ‘BOOK NOW’ button, select tour or rentals, select the option you want to book and follow the instructions. If you have any questions that you don’t see answered here, you can always call us during our business hours.
Will we see the wild horses?
Probably. There are many bands of horses that hang out in the developed areas of the park. We do not guarantee you will see them on a rental or tour, but we often do, and our guides scout locations every day to make your experience as complete as possible. They are wild animals, and there are no fences on the island (except the state line), so there is a bit of luck involved as well.
The horses are cute! Can I pet one?
No, wild horses are unpredictable and dangerous, and you should always keep at least a school bus length distance from the horses. Our guides will always keep you a safe distance on tours.
Is there an entrance fee?
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
Yes, the entrance fee is $25 per vehicle, it is valid for 7 days. You can purchase one at the gate, near the Ranger Station, on Bayberry Drive. AINS is open 24/365
ASSATEAGUE STATE PARK
Hours of Operations:
7 a.m. to sunset
Day-use Admission Fees:
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day- $5/person
After Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend and after 4pm- $5/vehicle
What about bad weather?
There is no charge if we decide to cancel a trip or rental, usually due to storms or high winds. The wind is our biggest enemy. Anytime winds are over 15mph sustained, kayaking becomes difficult to say the least. Canoes and Stand Up Paddleboards have an even lower threshold, we stop renting them when the winds are 12 mph sustained. You can always call us during our business hours to check on conditions for the day.
Are the bugs as bad as I read on Facebook?
Not on the water. The bugs leave you alone when paddling, but sometimes they are bad on land. Mosquitos have a top speed of 5mph, and prefer shaded, wind blocked areas. So if you head into the woods after a hatch, it can get pretty intense. However, we have good wind exposure at all of our locations, and they are not a problem on the water.
What should I bring?
1) Sunscreen
2) Extra layer (Preferably Synthetic)
3) Weather appropriate boating attire (water shoes or old sneakers, synthetic clothing, etc.)
4) At least 32 oz of water per person
5) Any personal medical equipment necessary (EPI pens, inhalers, athletic braces, etc.)
6) Cheap Sunglasses
What about dry bags?
We provide one drybag per tour group. For hourly rentals dry bags are available for purchase in our store. If possible, it is always best to bring your own.
How old do kids need to be for tours?
5 years old, but you know your kids better than we do. If they will do well on a 2-2.5 hour kayak tour then they are more than welcome to join us.
How old do kids need to be for rentals?
All Paddlers age 15 and younger must paddle alongside an adult in their group. If you think your child has the ability to paddle their own kayak, and the conditions are decent, we will let them try, and if it does not work out, we will switch them out to a tandem kayak with you, no problem. Active adult supervision is required for the entirety of all rentals for participants under 15, no exceptions.
Is there a weight limit?
Yes. All boats have weight limits, but most likely we have something that will accommodate you. If you are concerned about the weight limit, give us a call and we will make sure get you the proper gear.
How many people can I fit in a canoe/tandem/kayak/sup?
Single Kayak - One Person
Tandem Kayak - Seats two adults, plus a small child (under 4) or pet. Can also be paddled solo from center seat.
Stand Up Paddleboard - One Adult, plus a small child (under 4) or pet.
Canoes - Two Adults and two small kids or pets, or three adults.
Pets? Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are allowed in Assateague Island National Seashore, as long as they are on a 6 foot or less leash. We also allow well behaved doggos on rentals, but not on tours (as we have to be mindful of other tour groups). Please remember to clean up after your pup! Dogs are not permitted in Assateague State Park.
What if we get lost?
We have some great, safe nearby coves that are easy to navigate and hang out in. We also have more advanced areas for paddlers to explore. We do our best to prevent misdirection, by familiarizing you with the map and your surroundings, and actively managing our shoreline. We also recommend you take your phone as Google Maps can be a great friend. If you get turned around, you can either call us or check google maps if you have service.
How deep is the water?
The Sinepuxent Bay is shallow. Fun Fact: Sinepuxent is Algonquin for “shallow”. So it’s a great place to learn. Most of the water we paddle in is no more than 3 feet deep. There are a few channels here and there, but most of it is sandy and shallow.
Do I have to wear a life jacket?
Our 2021 policy is that anyone aged 12 and under is required to wear a life jacket at all times. Anyone 13 and older will be provided with a life jacket that must be kept in the boat, but does not have to be worn.
Where do we launch the kayaks/canoes/SUPs from?
Our rentals launch right at our kayak stand location. There is no need to transport or carry the rentals anywhere.
Where can we bike?
There is one dedicated bike path on the island that follows the main road up until the National Seashore entrance gates. Besides that trail, the rest of the biking is done on the roads inside of the park. We often recommend biking through the campgrounds as those are the roads with the least amount of vehicle traffic. However, make sure to be mindful of the campers when riding through.
Can you deliver bikes/boats to our campsite?
We do not deliver any rentals to either the National Seashore or the State Park. We simply do not have the staff numbers of vehicles to make this a possibility. If you have a multi-day rental you can either transport the boats/bikes to your campsite so that you have access to them any time of the day or you can use them from our kayak stand location each day during our business hours.
What is your cancellation policy?
Tours: Guided tours are generally planned for and reserved in advance. Our tours can fill up weeks in advance and therefore require 48 hours cancellation prior to your scheduled tour time. Cancellations received through email or phone prior to 48 hours will be fully refunded. If you must cancel within the 48 hour period, you will receive a digital gift card in the full amount of your reservation to use on your next visit, with no expiration.
Rentals: Rentals require at least 24 hours notice to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund. Cancellations within the 24 hour period of your scheduled rental time, will receive a digital gift card in the full amount of your reservation to use on your next visit, with no expiration.
Retail/ Apparel: Items purchased in any of our retail locations must be returned to the location it was purchased at. A full refund will be issued for items deemed to be damaged or defective.
For apparel: Unworn apparel can be returned for a refund or exchanged at the location you bought the item.