With just eight drive-in sites spread across a forested section of Blackbird State Forest, this $25-per-night campground runs a straightforward operation: designated tent sites, no hookups, and no running water. Sites are spaced generously apart, which gives each one a degree of privacy that reviewers consistently note as a highlight. Hikers pass through occasionally, since some sites sit close to nearby trails, but the foot traffic is light enough that it rarely disrupts a stay.
Each site comes equipped with a fire pit, a grill, and one or two picnic tables, with firewood available on-site. The ground is a mix of dirt and wood chips, with evergreen needles scattered across some sites, making tent setup straightforward. Portable toilets serve the campground. As Sarah M. noted, "No running water, only port a potties but they were clean." Mosquitoes can be aggressive, particularly in warmer months, so repellent is worth packing.
The forest supports hiking trails and designated deer hunting areas, and the campground is ADA accessible. Cell service is available. Horses are welcome; RVs are not encouraged given the site layout. The campground draws hunters, hikers, and tent campers who want a low-cost, low-amenity overnight in a working state forest. Campers looking to compare nearby options can browse campsites near Blackbird State Forest for additional choices in the area. This setup suits self-sufficient campers who bring their own water and don't need electrical hookups.
Description
Open for camping 365 days a year at a cost of $25 per night per site. Online reservations only and credit card is required. Blackbird State Forest, located on the border of New Castle and Kent Counties, is Delaware's northernmost state forest. It is only a 30-minute commute from Wilmington and Newark. The ten tracts of Blackbird State Forest are open year-round at no cost to the public for nature walks, hiking, jogging, and horseback riding. The forest features a 1/2-mile, wheelchair-accessible wildlife and nature interpretation trail on the Tybout Tract as well as the Blackbird Education Center on the Meadows Tract.
Fee Info
Minimum per night charge of $25 plus security deposit with a maximum stay of 9 nights per month.
Reservation Info
Campground is transitioning to an online, fee-based computer reservation system and all reservations must be booked using this method. Reservation system is expected to be back in operation by later in the summer of 2020, but right now the booking site is not functional and campground is not accepting reservations for future dates.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsBlackbird State Forest Campground is located in Delaware near Townsend
Public CampgroundAddress
502 Blackbird Forest Rd
Smyrna, DE 19977
Coordinates
39.37336513 N
75.67001318 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/17/26- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/17/26
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 16 min from Dover, DE
- 56 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 1 hr 13 min from Vineland, NJ
- 1 hr 16 min from Baltimore, MD
