Chincoteague Island Milky Way Photography Location

Chincoteague Island is one of the best places in the world to photograph the Milky Way. The island perfectly aligns with the galactic center, making it an ideal location for astrophotography. But that’s not all! The island is also home to some of the darkest night skies in the country due to its lack of light pollution. So, if you’re looking for a place to capture some stunning nightscape photos, Chincoteague Island should be at the top of your list. We will explore the best places to photograph the Milky Way on Chincoteague Island. We will also provide tips on getting the most out of your astrophotography experience.

Chincoteague Island

Chincoteague Island is one of the best places to photograph the Milky Way. The island is located in Virginia and is part of a group of barrier islands. The island is known for its natural beauty, wildlife, and beaches. Several state parks on the island offer great views of the night sky.

MILKY WAY AT CHINCOTEAGUE

There are many great locations on the island for Milky Way photography. One of the best spots is Assateague Island National Seashore. This location offers wide-open views of the night sky. There are also several hiking trails to explore, allowing you to find your perfect spot. Another excellent location for Milky Way photography is Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge. This refuge offers over 14,000 acres of protected land, making it one of the dark sky preserves in the United States. During the day, there are also plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife at this location.

Chincoteague Island is a photographer’s paradise with dark skies and beautiful landscapes.

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND MILKY WAY NIGHT SKIES

Chincoteague Island is a beautiful place to capture the night sky.

BEST LOCATIONS ON THE ISLAND:

1. The Beach—The beach is a great place to set up your camera and capture the Milky Way, but plan for foreground material. There is not much on the beach. We caught a bus leaving, creating light trails in our image.

2. Maddox Family Cemetery – This cemetery offers a unique vantage point for photographing the night sky. The gravestones make for exciting foreground elements in your pictures.

3. Assateague Lighthouse – The lighthouse is a classic landmark on Chincoteague Island.

4. Ponies – These wild ponies are an iconic part of Chincoteague Island and are challenging to plan. The ponies roam primarily at a distance, so don’t count on getting this type of shot. Lighting them up in the darkness would also be difficult unless you get lucky enough to find a pony standing still for your long exposure that is not far in the distance.

5. The main road – It has a few good spots where the waters reflect the stars, as seen in the images above, next to the sign entering the park. The road around the loop closes at night, so don’t scout that area during the daytime looking for sites unless you plan to do a lot of walking.

WHEN TO GO AND WHERE TO STAY

Chincoteague Island is a popular summer vacation destination in Virginia’s Eastern Shore region. The island is home to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, known for its abundant wildlife, including the famous Chincoteague ponies.

The best time to visit Chincoteague Island for photography is during the summer when the weather is warm and sunny. However, it’s essential to remember that the island can be pretty crowded this time. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, the shoulder season (May-June and September-October) is a good time to visit. Don’t forget to be sure it is Milky Way season and Milky Way week before planning your trip.

THE REFUGE INN – OUR PICK BEST HOTEL

There are several hotels and resorts on Chincoteague Island, but we recommend booking your accommodations in advance at the Refuge Inn for the best rates, service, and overall outstanding experience. It is located just outside the park entrance, so the convenience is also a plus.

The comfortable, at-home atmosphere is what draws us to this luxury experience. We found the hotel uniquely decorated for comfort, style, and relaxation. The staff is outstanding and highly knowledgeable. They guided us to several potential Milky Way Photography locations throughout the area and gave us all the information we needed to enjoy our trip.

Each room features a private patio or balcony, in-room coffee maker, refrigerator, private bath, flat-screen TVs, free high-speed wireless internet access, phone, voicemail, in-room hair dryer, plush towels, and sliding doors to fresh air. Special attention to little details and extra touches gives you the feeling that checking into The Refuge Inn is like slipping into something memorably comfortable.

DAYTIME PHOTOGRAPHY AT CHINCOTEAGUE

Chincoteague NP is a 20,000-acre cypress swamp and freshwater lagoon that attracts bird watchers worldwide.

The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of the Shawnee herds of wild ponies, who have been free-roaming the islands for the past 200 years. The fire company has owned one of those herds since 1943 and has a special permit to graze 150 of them on the refuge.

The refuge has many habitats for diverse wildlife. You can find the ponies and birds on the beach. Still, you’ll also see many birds, such as migrating and federally endangered peregrine falcons, arriving in late September and October. The dunes are a nesting ground for piping plovers and other shorebirds with shrubs where migratory birds and monarch butterflies live. The forest is home to deer, fox squirrels, and more, while waterways are a habitat for ducks.

The Refuge Inn

BREAKFAST

Just fill out the form, hand it to your door, and breakfast arrives!! You can look at the image above and see the variety of things you can order. There is a coffee bar downstairs by the office. We sat outside on the balcony patio in our room overlooking the grounds and the indoor/outdoor pool, and enjoyed our breakfast before heading off to do photography.

DELUXE ROOMS

Offering unsurpassed island elegance, their well-appointed King rooms feature carefully chosen furnishings, textures, toiletries, and fabrics. King rooms comfortably sleep two guests.

QUEEN ROOMS

The individually decorated queen rooms are furnished with two queen beds, exceeding the average, so four guests can comfortably sleep in them.

BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE

T-SHIRTS & MORE

Think Tank Camera Bags

CHINCOTEAGUE LIGHTHOUSE

The Chincoteague Lighthouse is a historic landmark located inside the park. It was built in 1833 and has been in operation ever since. The light from the Chincoteague Lighthouse can be seen for miles, making it a popular tourist destination.

PHOTOGRAPHING THE LIGHTHOUSE

The Chincoteague Lighthouse is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Nestled on the edge of Assateague Island, the lighthouse offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Bay.

Visitors to the lighthouse can explore the grounds, climb to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of the area, or take a tour of the lighthousekeeper’s quarters. The grounds also offer a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts to capture the beauty of nature.

Whether you’re looking for a place to enjoy a sunset or snap some photos of Virginia’s coastline, the Chincoteague Lighthouse is sure to please.

The Chincoteague Lighthouse has undergone several changes over the years. Still, it remains an active aid to navigation—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists it as part of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

HOW TO GET THERE

Chincoteague Island is a small island off the coast of Virginia. It is accessible by car, ferry, or plane.

If you visit the Eastern Shore round-trip within 24 hours, your return trip is only $6 during off-peak periods and $2 during peak periods.

If you are visiting Chincoteague from Maryland or Delaware, you can take the highway at Pocomoke City and go down towards Chincoteague.

The island can be reached by car via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which connects it to the mainland. The bridge is about 23 miles long and has a toll of $14 for cars and $18 during peak periods, Friday through Sunday, May 15 – September 15.

THE BIRDS OF CHINCOTEAGUE

The sun rises over Chincoteague Island, and the air is alive with the calls of myriad birds. Photographers flock to the area, eager to capture the beauty of these feathered creatures in vibrant colors and intricate patterns. Every click of the shutter reveals a new bird and a new moment that won’t be repeated.

Some of the birds at the refuge:

– American Avocet

– Black Skimmer

– Great Egret

– Snowy Egret

– Osprey

– Peregrine Falcon

– Northern Harrier

– American Oystercatcher

– Willet

– Laughing Gull