Just off the coast of Maryland’s Eastern Shore lies Assateague Island, a thirty-seven-mile-long barrier isle known for wild ponies, quiet beaches, and an untouched coastal landscape. Families have long visited Assateague for its state park campground, pitching tents or hauling RVs for a traditional camping experience. But for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without battling horse flies or worrying about rain, Assateague Cottage is a different kind of escape.
Tucked just off the dunes, the pint-sized, pastel-colored cottages offer crisp sheets, a cozy bed, and four sturdy walls but little else in the way of amenities. Five of them include a queen bed and a full-size futon, while one is designed for two guests. There’s no kitchen—guests are encouraged to cook outside around the fire—or bathrooms beyond the bathhouses of Assateague State Park, where the mobile cottages are parked.
“It’s a little rustic, and that’s kind of our intention,” says Megan Hines, who owns the cottages along with her husband, Brett. In other words, don’t expect luxury or reliable cell service; do count on the sounds of the ocean just outside and ponies grazing nearby.
The Hineses—Eastern Shore locals who grew up going to Assateague—purchased the cottages in the fall of 2025. Before that, they belonged to Ron Harrigan, who had rented pop-up campers on the island for two decades and later expanded that idea into Assateague Cottage. Though the Hineses made some updates, including adding shiplap and upgrading the floors, they sought to preserve their original character. “We tried to keep the soul of the cottages,” Megan says. That meant saving little imperfections and personal touches. “It’s like walking into a home,” she says. “Ron hand-painted some of the paintings on the walls, and the books have lots of dog ears.”
Beyond going to the beach, guests at the cottages can kayak through the Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays, watch sunsets over the marsh, and spot shorebirds along the water’s edge. But the appeal of Assateague is less about filling a schedule and more about slowing down. “We just want to let people appreciate nature and the simplicity of doing nothing but enjoying the island,” Megan says.
Anna Williams, a 2026 intern at Garden & Gun, grew up in Pittsville, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Georgia, where she studied journalism and sports media.