S
Steven W.
Traveler
TravelerCape Henlopen State Park Campground
Tight spaces
Nice campground. Way bike trails to the nearby fort and museum, site E11 was right on top of site E9 so you get to know your neighbors other sites were less crowded
Best Campgrounds near Dover, DE
The area around Dover, Delaware has several good camping spots within an hour's drive. Cape Henlopen State Park Campground sits about 34 miles from Dover, with beaches and hiking trails that campers can walk to from their sites. Another option is Delaware Seashore State Park Campground, 44 miles away, which puts you right by the water for fishing trips. Both parks have decent bathrooms and hot showers that stay pretty clean even during busy weekends. You'll see deer, foxes, and lots of birds at these campgrounds, so hang your food properly at night. Spring and fall are really the sweet spots for camping here - the weather's comfortable and the crowds are smaller. If you're thinking about a summer trip, book months ahead since sites fill up fast. Winter camping works if you don't mind the cold, though some water might be shut off. The online reservation system for both parks works well, but don't wait until the last minute, especially for holiday weekends. You can bring either a tent or an RV to both places, with sites that work for different setups. These campgrounds make good home bases for day trips around the Dover area.
Campground Showdown near Dover, DE
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
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Round 1 of 5
Best Camping Sites Near Dover, Delaware (114)
1. Killens Pond State Park Campground
22 ReviewsFelton, DE13 milesWebsite+1 (302) 284-4526$22 - $89 / night
"First time staying overnight at a campground in Delaware. The cabins are tiny on the inside but that porch really provides very useful space.
No paper towels, soap or kitchen utensils.""Delaware seemed short on camping options and this one was probably top of the line 40 years ago. It's dated in every way, but it's in a good spot. Seemed to have some residents mixed in."
2. Lums Pond State Park Campground
52 ReviewsKirkwood, DE29 milesWebsite+1 (302) 368-6989$22 - $40 / night
"Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle."
"Great place to stay and check out “Lower, slower Delaware.”"
3. Dover AFB Famcamp
2 ReviewsLittle Creek, DE4 milesWebsite+1 (302) 677-3959$8 - $20 / night
"This campground is on Dover Air Force Base so you must be able to access the base with a Department of Defense identification card."
4. Tuckahoe State Park Campground
31 ReviewsRidgely, MD26 milesWebsite+1 (410) 820-1668$21 - $70 / night
"Tuckahoe State Park is tucked away onto the Eastern Shore of Maryland, close to the Chesapeake Bay. It features every kind of camping you can imagine."
"It is less than 40 mins from Annapolis and close to DC and Baltimore. Yet it is isolated and quiet. There’s some great trails as well as walking between the camp loops and picnic areas. "
5. Cape Henlopen State Park Campground
69 ReviewsLewes, DE34 milesWebsite+1 (302) 645-2103$30 - $99 / night
"Cape henlopen is one of five or six Delaware state parks that offer RV camping. Sites vary in size so make sure you check the details before you book."
"My group was there, on two adjacent sites, from Sunday to Tuesday, in early June. The weather could not have been more ideal! We were on sites G12 and G13, which were both really large."
6. Elk Neck State Park Campground
60 ReviewsPerryville, MD34 milesWebsite+1 (410) 287-5333$21 - $55 / night
"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."7. Blackbird State Forest Campground - CLOSED TIL FURTHER NOTICE
6 ReviewsTownsend, DE17 milesWebsite+1 (302) 653-6505$25 / night
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
8. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
12 ReviewsMilford, DE21 milesWebsite+1 (302) 491-6614"Campground well maintained and relatively quiet given its peak season for Delaware beaches. Off the beaten path from beach noise but does require a 15-30 minute drive to popular beaches."
"Close proximity to the beach. Lots of family friendly activities. Full stocked camp store."
9. Martinak State Park Campground
24 ReviewsDenton, MD27 milesWebsite+1 (888) 432-2267$18 - $77 / night
"Park is that the Electric loop (B) has all of the sites on the outside of the drive loop so you are not looking across the road at other campers."
"Just off highway, nice wooded area, access to a good boat ramp."
10. G & R Campground
5 ReviewsHarrington, DE17 milesWebsite+1 (302) 398-8108"Quickly stopped through G&R which is a nice, quiet campground hidden in the middle of Delaware. Plenty of spaces for campers and more than enough utility spaces available."
"There is a smell due to being next to a chicken or animal farm; however, after a few minutes outside, the smell goes away."
Recent Camping Photos near Dover, DE
240 Photos of 114 Dover Campgrounds
Laure D.
Killens Pond State Park Campground
Andrea H.
Huck and Buck Farm
William C.
G & R Campground
Emily M.
Blackbird State Forest Campground - CLOSED TIL FURTHER NOTICE
Aliceon W.
Adventures Await Retreat
Chris C.
Adventures await retreat
Blue Water M.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
Adam and Suzanne B.
Tuckahoe State Park Campground
Jen V.
Martinak State Park Campground
Chris G.
Deep Branch Family Campground
Echo
Lums Pond State Park Campground
andrew
Redden State Forest Campground
Recent Reviews near Dover, DE
785 Reviews of 114 Dover Campgrounds
Nancy W.
LegendLums Pond State Park Campground
Clean, big-rig friendly, large sites.
Overall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
Matt S.LegendBay Shore Campground
What stands out about this campground? The view!
We spent a week at Bay Shore Campground to explore Rock Hall, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What stands out about this campground? The view!
For me, this is a 4-star campground because of the view and nice staff, but not 5-stars because of the sloped site packed in with the neighbors and no sewer connection.
THINGS I LIKED:
— Great view from our site of the Chesapeake Bay— especially for sunset each evening
— Friendly staff
— Nearby Rock Hall, Chestertown, and Eastern Neck Island Wildlife Refuge
— They offered a promo to pay for 6 nights, and the 7th was free
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
— Our site(Site B) had an amazing view of Chesapeake Bay, but the slope made it difficult to get even close to level— even with my front jacks fully extended. I had to buy additional leveling blocks from the camp store(at twice the price of Amazon) just so we didn’t feel like walking uphill to walk around our motorhome. I admit, I am spoiled but really appreciate the campgrounds that level their sites. I think it could be done in a few hours with a rented front loader at a couple nights’ cost.
— Our site(Site B) was tight. The neighbor’s awning was just inches from our motorhome. I understand the need for any business to maximize revenue, but this was unpleasantly close.
— There are no sewer hookups at the sites. They do have a couple of dump stations for your way out and provide a pump-out service once per week at$40 a pop. They were nice enough to pump me out a second time since I stayed 7 nights. Again, I know I’m spoiled, but a sewer connection is a necessity when you’re staying 8 days.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Sure thing, but we’d stay at a different site.
- SShannon D.
ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond
Bathrooms are clean and staff is nice
Chareen K.ScoutTrap Pond State Park Campground
Best place
We allways have a blast everybody is so nice and lots to do
- jjohn L.Traveler
Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay
Nice resort
We had a nice visit. Sun is in the process of fixing the place up. The swim up bar was being restored. My only negative was the site two places up played there stereo live music loud. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM. They did get called out for it by management.
Aaron S.
GuideTrap Pond State Park Campground
Best campground in Delaware
From well spaced sites to helpful staff, Trap Pond is Delaware state parks crown jewel. The pond itself is beautiful, camp sites are well maintained and spaced apart nicely.
Stacy R.TravelerTrap Pond State Park Campground
Go for the paddle trail!
Trap Pond SP is a lovely park that has everything you need. Electric/water hookups, docks on the pond at each loop, clean bathhouses, and the "day" side of the park on the other side of the pond! A few miles of walking trails, and an incredible, prehistoric feeling paddle trail through gorgeous bald cypress trees. Reasonable camp store. Sites are a wee bit close, but comfortable and level.
- John D.Guide
Beachcomber Camping Resort
Beachcomber RV Resort
Website says RV Resort and cabins. Turns out 75%+/- of camping area is made up of Tiny Homes, owned by people, and some for rent, plus cabins.
In fairness, this isn't our type of camping. Many RV's were season with no one there. Thursday was dead, but Friday campers came in for Mother's Day weekend. We went to the bathhouse only to find out it was closed (seasonal). So a nice easy walk to do laundry turned into a lengthy walk or drive. Made no sense. Then on Friday, I was outside reading a book and an employee rolled into our site on a riding mower kicking up dirt all over me and into the trailer, with rocks kicked up into the picnic table. Lucky, no broken windows. Lippert no longer makes the window, so they would have been buying five (5) ones
This is a great place for families with young children. Just not our cup of tea
Guide to Dover
Located a short drive from Delaware Bay, Dover is ideally positioned for campers wanting to explore both forest and coastal environments. The camping season typically runs April through October, with July temperatures averaging 85-90°F. Interior campgrounds near Dover offer quieter alternatives to the more popular beach destinations during summer weekends.
What to do
Kayaking on Tuckahoe Creek: Martinak State Park's water access provides excellent paddling opportunities. One reviewer noted, "Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports. No real hiking trails. Overall small quiet campground."
Fishing at multiple locations: Tuckahoe State Park Campground offers stocked waters and gear rentals. "You can rent kayaks, canoes and fishing gear," writes one camper. Another mentions, "There is a kayak launch between sites 46 and 48. The walk to Tuckahoe Creek from the parking area is very short."
History exploration: Cape Henlopen State Park Campground features military historical sites from WWII. A visitor explains, "As a former military installation, there are lots of military historical items and sites. Underground bunkers and batteries and such. There's a wonderful observation tower built on top of one of these that affords beautiful 360 degree views."
Hiking forest trails: Blackbird State Forest Campground offers wooded trail systems. One camper observed, "The woods are full of nature and diverse species. We counted over 17 different species of fungi in a 25 foot stretch!"
What campers like
Clean, updated facilities: Lums Pond State Park Campground earns praise for its infrastructure. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," notes one reviewer. Another adds, "The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple parks offer bird and wildlife spotting opportunities. A camper at Martinak State Park shared, "We took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
Spacious, private sites: Blackbird State Forest receives compliments for site layout: "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!"
Kid-friendly amenities: Killens Pond State Park Campground provides dedicated children's facilities. "My son absolutely loved this place. There's anything and everything you could think of available to keep everyone busy. A water park, volley ball field, playgrounds, amphitheater, nature center, nature trails, and boat rentals at the lake," writes one parent.
What you should know
Reservation requirements vary: Some parks require advance planning, especially for summer. A Lums Pond visitor advises, "Book early because it fills up fast!"
Military base access restrictions: Dover AFB Famcamp has specific entry requirements. "This campground is on Dover Air Force Base so you must be able to access the base with a Department of Defense identification card," explains one reviewer.
Site sizes and layouts differ significantly: Some campgrounds have size limitations. At Tuckahoe State Park, one camper warns, "I watched people with 25+ footers struggle to back into the sites. We booked site 21, blind. The web site does not say site 21 is extremely small."
Seasonal facility closures: Water systems often shut down in winter. At Elk Neck State Park, a late-season camper mentioned, "Finished the season at this state park in MD with full hook up and the water was still on in November. Bathhouses were open with hot water."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for different ages: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers extensive water features. "Splash pad was nice, I enjoyed that more so than the pool. My son absolutely loved this place," writes a parent. Another adds, "The pool area was closed but looks very nice. Cabins look very nice, one of the best camping cabin options I've seen."
Nature centers with interactive exhibits: Several parks offer educational opportunities. At Cape Henlopen, a camper notes, "There is a fantastic nature center (FREE) complete with touch tanks and knowledgeable park staff. Free bike rentals are available, some with baby seats and trailers."
Book cabins for easier family trips: For families new to camping, cabins provide comfort. A Martinak State Park visitor shared, "We stayed one night in a small cabin. It was cosy and warm on a cold night for fall. The cabins are clean and tidy and the campground is well run."
Playground proximity considerations: When booking, check proximity to play areas. One Killens Pond camper explained, "This site and the one next to it are the closest to the port-a-potties. This site is also the closest to the playground. You can't hear the kids on the playground, but it's close enough to be able to send them in a group and call for them."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: At Lums Pond, experienced campers advise checking site details. "In the full hook up loop pay close attention to the lengths specified. The actual pads are fairly level but some of the driveways to them are very sloped. Long rigs will have issues in a few of the sites."
Full hookup availability varies: Not all dover delaware campgrounds offer sewer connections. Tuckahoe State Park has "sites with electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both."
Dump station locations: Most state parks provide dump stations even without full hookups. At Martinak, "Sites have fire rings and picnic tables. There is a dump station available. Sites are level, in a loop around the bath house."
Off-season advantages: Shoulder seasons provide better availability for larger rigs. "We visited off season (early April) and absolutely loved it. The location was great and the beaches are quiet. I hear it gets packed and I see that it's hard to book if you don't book early."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Dover, Delaware?
What are the best campgrounds in Dover, Delaware?
Dover offers several excellent camping options for travelers. Dover AFB Famcamp is a convenient option for those with Department of Defense identification, offering 10 full hook-up sites with water, electric, and sewage connections plus bath facilities. For families seeking more recreational activities, Killens Pond State Park Campground is nearby and features a water park during summer months. Those willing to drive a bit further can enjoy coastal camping at Delaware Seashore State Park or the wooded setting at Trap Pond State Park, known for its cypress trees and paddling opportunities.
How much does camping in Dover, Delaware typically cost?
How much does camping in Dover, Delaware typically cost?
Camping costs in the Dover area vary based on amenities and location. Trap Pond State Park Campground offers electric and water sites at moderate rates, with pull-through options in Loop D. Private campgrounds like Holly Lake Campsites charge around $60 per night for full hook-up sites. State parks generally offer the best value, with most sites ranging from $25-45 per night depending on hook-ups and season. Many campgrounds offer discounts for extended stays, and Delaware state parks typically charge additional entrance fees for non-residents. Prices tend to increase during peak summer season, especially at coastal locations.
What amenities are available at Dover campgrounds?
What amenities are available at Dover campgrounds?
Dover area campgrounds offer varied amenities to suit different camping styles. Tall Pine Campground provides family-friendly facilities that appeal to younger campers. For water enthusiasts, Susquehanna State Park Campground offers river views and hiking trails. Most campgrounds in the region provide clean bathhouses with showers and toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Many state park campgrounds include electric hookups, water access, and dump stations for RVs. WiFi availability varies by location, with private campgrounds more likely to offer this amenity. Laundry facilities, camp stores, and playgrounds are common at larger establishments, while some also feature swimming areas, boat rentals, and fishing access.
Are there tent camping options near Dover?
Are there tent camping options near Dover?
Yes, several tent camping options exist near Dover. Delaware Seashore State Park Campground offers tent camping particularly on its south side, which is more tent-oriented than the north side. The park's proximity to beaches makes it popular with tent campers. For a wooded experience, Tuckahoe State Park Campground is within driving distance and offers walk-in tent sites alongside drive-up options. Tent campers should note that summer humidity can be significant in Delaware, and coastal sites often have limited shade. Most tent sites include a fire ring and picnic table, with access to communal bathhouses.
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