Best Camping in Delaware
With more than 150 miles of trails, great coastal and inland fishing, and 20 state parks and forests, there are plenty of choices for camping in Delaware. Whether you like the convenience of an RV or the simplicity of a tent, camping in Delaware has many of options for outdoorsy visitors.
The most popular campground is Delaware Seashore State Park, a beach park just a few minutes' drive from the summer hotspot of Dewey Beach. Tent campers and RVers alike love the closeness to the Atlantic beaches and the calm coastal bays – six miles of sand and sun just steps away from your chosen campsite, with plenty of full-hookup spots.
During the summer, Delaware Seashore has beach wheelchairs available first-come, first-serve, and mobility mats allow standard wheelchairs access at Towers Ocean and South Inlet locations. For family members or friends who want to have a beach experience but don’t like camping, the Cottages at Indian River Inlet are a great close-by relaxing destination.
Many also campers like to enjoy the restaurants, bars and nightlife in Dewey Beach, about a mile north of the park. Dewey Beach offers plenty of watersports, eateries, dancing and live music for a great change of pace from a day of sunning and swimming.
A few miles north along Delaware’s Route One is Cape Henlopen State Park, a dream spot for lovers of nature and history. Formerly a World War II fort – Delaware’s shoreline is dotted with old military fire control towers – Cape Henlopen offers access to both calm Delaware Bay waters and Atlantic surf, as well as miles of shady wooded trails for hiking and bicycling through coastal marshes. Camping in Delaware at Cape Henlopen means you’re tucked into sandy woodland sites with picnic tables, campfires and plenty of pine trees, with small cottages also available.
If you're looking to escape summer crowds but still enjoy the beach, campers can drive about 10 miles south to Fenwick Island State Park, featuring three miles of beaches on the barrier island. Known as the "Quiet Beach," the ocean and bayside park is sandwiched between Ocean City, Maryland, and the "Quiet Resorts" of Bethany Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island.
If the beaches aren’t your speed, the state has plenty of inland parks and forests which offer a range of opportunities and fun for camping in Delaware - from Trap Pond’s primeval-looking water trails perfect for canoeing and kayaking to Lums Pond’s treetop daredevil ropes course and ziplines. Wherever your plans take you, The Dyrt is your guide to the best tips, tricks and insider advice for a great time camping in Delaware.