91°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
39%
22
Accomack County, VA · Atlantic Ocean
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach
8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague, VA 23336
The Virginia half of Assateague Island, accessed through Chincoteague. Miles of wild Atlantic beach, the iconic Chincoteague ponies (different herd from the Maryland side), and the annual July pony swim. Limited amenities by design — this is wildlife refuge first.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · NWS alert active · 76°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
A chance of rain showers before 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 103. South wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 8pm and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 13 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 91°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
- 39% rain — pop-up showers possible
Water
- 76°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — severe thunderstorm watch issued july 18 at 2:14pm edt until july 18 at 9:00pm edt by nws wakefield va
12 /100
skip
0 Swim
31 Sunbathe
12 Walk
23 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Water level 0.9 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Weather alert in effect
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 2:14PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:28AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Atmosphere
Air Temp
91°F
Haze
Wind
17 mph
S
Rain
39%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
86°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
76°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
13s · ESE swell
Water Quality
Clean
25 cfu/100mL · Fecal Coliform
USGS · sampled 2mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ652)
The AKQ office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- MDZ025 Maryland Beaches — Ocean City Beaches and Assateague n/a
- VAZ099 Accomack-Northampton — Chincoteague, Wallops Island, n/a
- VAZ098 Virginia Beach — Virginia Beach and Sandbridge n/a
- NCZ102 Outer Banks Currituck — Currituck County Beaches n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:53 AM
Sunset
8:21 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:04 AM | High | 4.6 ft |
| 6:10 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 12:29 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 6:29 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:47 AM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 6:56 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 1:17 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 7:25 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 7:42 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 2:05 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 8:20 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:13 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 8:28 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 2:53 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 9:12 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:58 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 9:13 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 3:45 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 10:04 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:47 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 10:00 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 4:40 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 10:57 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:43 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 10:50 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 5:37 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 11:51 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8631044, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
86°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
16%
46
82°
Mostly Sunny
12%
83
86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
51%
22
82°
Showers And Thunderstorms
81%
5
77°
Chance Rain Showers
36%
65
78°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
17%
77
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 17 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 76°F
- optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 39% rain chance
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 91°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Refuge lot, $25/vehicle 7-day pass.
Dogs
Dogs are not permitted in the refuge.
Entry Fee
$25/vehicle 7-day, or America the Beautiful pass
Address
8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague, VA 23336
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach today?
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs are not permitted in the refuge.
Is there an entry fee at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach?
$25/vehicle 7-day, or America the Beautiful pass
Are there lifeguards at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach?
Amenities at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, visitor center.
When is the water warmest at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach located?
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach is in Accomack County, VA, at 8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague, VA 23336.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS