1. Buses will begin operation at 7am from Chincoteague Municipal Center at 6150 Community Drive. This service is free.
2. All visitors riding the Pony Shuttle will be taken to Veteran's Memorial Park. This is not the pony landing site. If you wish to go to the landing site, you will need to walk from Veteran's Memorial Park. Seating is not provided at either location. The pony landing site at Pony Swim Lane is marshland.
3. A large screen will be located in Veteran's Memorial Park with a live feed of the swim.
4. Volunteer guides are available on some buses to assist you. Other volunteers will be available to answer questions.
5. Please be prepared for hot and humid conditions on swim day. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and insect repellant. Pony Swim Lane is marshland so wear proper shoes. Flip flops not recommended.
6. Parking for persons with disabilities is available at the Chincoteague Municipal Center, 6150 Community Drive, ONLY. There will be a bus to transport to Veteran's Memorial Park. Parking is very limited. No handicap parking will be available at Veteran's Memorial Park as in past. Please see a Pony Shuttle Volunteer for assistance.
7. Day visitors should use Chincoteague Municipal Center, 6150 Community Drive. Turn left at the stoplight at the foot of the bridge. Proceed to Chincoteague High School and turn right onto Hallie Whealton Smith Drive. Continue as directed by Town officials. There may be some parking available at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds, 3648 Main Street. Shuttles stop in front of the Carnival to go to the swim and return behind the Carnival grounds. There is no parking at other pick-up points. Tour buses should contact the Town of Chincoteague at 757-336-6519 for parking instructions.
8. Please remember where you are parked. Parking Lot A (Municipal Center), Parking Lot B (Elementary School), Parking Lot C (Island Nature Trail), Parking Lot D (Donald Leonard Park/High School) or Carnival.
9. The shuttles will leave the Municipal Center and pick up in locations along Maddox Boulevard and Main Street. Please look for the Pony Shuttle Stop Signs. There are no stops south of the Carnival.
10. DECISION! Immediately after the swim, two lines will form in the front of Memorial Park (where you were dropped off for the swim). One line is for transportation to the Carnival (where the ponies are going) and one line is for transportation to the Municipal Center, motels, and other locations. If you are going to a motel, you will first be transported to the Municipal Center where connections may be made to your lodging.
11. You must be in line to get shuttle transportation at Memorial Park. Please be patient after the swim! In the several hours before the swim, we transport thousands. We cannot accommodate thousands immediately after the swim. If you paid to park in areas around Memorial Park, you will need to walk back to your car as there are no stops at the park after swim site is empty (approximately one hour after swim).
12. Walking from the swim site to the Carnival after the swim is recommended. The distance is approximately 1/2 mile.
13. If you walk from Memorial Park to the pony landing site, you must return to the front of Memorial Park within 30 minutes of the ponies coming ashore. 21. The "Pony Express", the Island's trolley system, will begin service across from the main entrance of the Carnival Grounds on Main Street at approx. 1pm. The fare is 50ยข per person. View trolley brochure and schedule.
22. Buses will run on WEDNESDAY ONLY.
Bus Stops for Pick-up
[Stops are subject to change]
Bus Stops For Pick Up
Municipal Center at Deep Hole Road Trolley Stop Day Visitors and Handicapped Visitors should report here. There is no parking at other pick-up points. There will be one bus equipped for handicapped. Please see a Pony Shuttle Volunteer for assistance.
Corner of Maddox Boulevard and Deep Hole Road Serving Chincoteague Inn, Atlantic Shores Inn & Suites, Sea Hawk Motel, America's Best Value
Corner of Main Street and Taylor Street (On Way Back to Municipal Center) Serving Island Resort, Holiday Cottages
Corner of Main Street and Clark Street
Serving Watson House, Inn on Main, Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn & Key West Cottages
Corner of Main Street and Church Street At Don's Seafood Restaurant serving Channel Bass Inn & Miss Molly's Inn
Corner of Main Street and Marlin Street (BEFORE SWIM ONLY) At Fairfield Inn
Main Street Between Marina Bay/Anchor Inn & Waterside Inn
(BEFORE SWIM ONLY)
Traffic Circle on Maddox Boulevard
At entrance of Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort serving Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Days Inn, The Reef Vacation Villas, Refuge Inn, & Best Western
Memorial Park
Closest stop to the Swim Site. After the Park is empty this will not be a stop. (Before and Immediately After Swim Only)
Carnival Grounds
Stop at front of Carnival Grounds BEFORE SWIM ONLY. Stop behind Carnival Grounds AFTER SWIM ONLY.
- North bound traffic on Deep Hole Road from Taylor Street to Hallie Whealton Smith Road
- Memorial Park Drive
Bunting Road will close prior to the swim at the discretion of the Town.
Once the flare goes up and until the ponies have cleared the streets, the following street closures will be in effect:
- Main Street from Jester Street too Beebe Road
- Ridge Road south of Sunset Drive to south of Beebe Road
- Beebe Road
- Eastside Road from Ridge Road to Sunnywood Drive
No pets or emotional support animals are permitted on shuttle buses, Pony Express Trolleys, at Veteran's Memorial Park, or at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds. Service animals specifically trained to aid a disabled person are permitted.