Assateague Beaches Open Wide: Drive Any Vehicle Now!
Published Date: 3/3/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting April 2, 2026, Assateague Island National Seashore is dropping old rules that limited which vehicles can drive on its beaches. No more worries about your vehicle’s weight, size, or ground clearance—if it’s allowed on the oversand routes, you’re good to go! This change makes beach driving easier for visitors without any new fees or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
More Vehicles Allowed on Beaches
Starting April 2, 2026, Assateague Island National Seashore removes permit eligibility limits that required vehicles to have a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less, at least 7 inches of ground clearance, and be no more than 26 feet long and 8 feet wide. If your vehicle meets other permit rules and the two-axle limit, you may now be eligible for an oversand vehicle (OSV) permit without any new fees or costs.
Slight Increase in Eligible OSV Applicants
The NPS says about 10 percent of recent OSV permit applications were denied because vehicles exceeded the 10,000‑pound GVWR limit; removing that limit will increase the pool of eligible applicants. The agency expects only a slight increase in permits issued and does not expect noticeable additional traffic because designated OSV areas often reach capacity and are managed (e.g., one-off/one-on and a 145‑vehicle limit in Maryland designated areas).
Two‑Axle Requirement Stays In Place
Even after these changes (effective April 2, 2026), vehicles and towed trailers with more than two axles remain ineligible for OSV permits. The rule removes many measured standards but preserves the prohibition on more-than-two-axle vehicles or trailers.
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