The Assateague Lighthouse is approximately 1/4 mile away from Chincoteague Island and visitors can drive there from Chincoteague in about 5 minutes. Some people elect to rent bicycles or walk along the trail that leads from Chincoteague over to Assateague Island. The trail is maintained by the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service at Assateague Island. Visitors to the Maryland side of Assateague can drive to this area in about an hour. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home of the lighthouse.The lighthouse was constructed in 1833 at a cost of approximately $55,000. It has twin rotating lights that flash one after the other from a height of 154 feet above sea level. The lights can be seen 19 miles out to sea. The Assateague Lighthouse stands 142 feet high with a base that measures over 27 feet in diameter.

The Assateague Lighthouse is an active navigational aid and is in the National Register of Historic places. In 1933 the lighthouse was converted to be electrically operated and it's first light was a candle lantern. The Assateague Lighthouse has warned passing ships and local waterman of the shallow waters off Assateague for many years. Approximately 1,182 people traveled through this historic lighthouse at Assateague Island during Wildlife Refuge Week 2000.

The National Wildlife Refuge at Assateague is an excellent place for bird watching andother outdoor activities afteryou visit the lighthouse. The National Wildlife Refuge System reached its 100th Anniversary in 2003.