Chincoteague is one of the most visited national wildlife refuges in the United States. Located on the Virginia portion of thirty-seven-mile-long Assateague Island, it is a less than a day's drive away for millions of people. Assateague is a barrier island along the coast of Virginia and Maryland. It is separated from smaller Chincoteague Island, where the town of Chincoteague is located, by a narrow bay. Because a refuge is named either after the town from which it gets its mail or after a specific person or wildlife species, it is from nearby Chincoteague that that this barrier island refuge derives its name.

More than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest make up Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. A knowledgeable refuge staff encourages the growth and ability of various species to thrive on the refuge, and also offers environmental education to anyone interested in learning. Birding and wildlife viewing top the list of priorities for most visitors, but there are also numerous opportunities to fish, crab, hunt, hike, and hit the beach.