Geology
The park is located on a barrier island shaped by the stormy seas and gentle winds along the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. The island is approximately 37 miles long with the state border running close to the island's halfway point. The Sinepuxent District of Assateague Island National Seashore contains all of the land north of the Virginia border, with the exception of a small Maryland state park. The only entrance to both the state park and this district is via the Verrazano Bridge on Route 611. One must drive about two miles through the state park in order to reach the national park.
The National Park Service also operates the much smaller Chincoteague District on the Virginia side of the island that only contains a visitor center and lifeguarded beach. While it staffed by national park rangers, it is technically in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This should not be confused with Chincoteague Island, which is the island directly to the west of Assateague Island and has a residential community on it. One must drive over Chincoteague Island in order to reach this district of the national park.
Read more about this topic: Assateague Island National Seashore