Looking for an adventure where you can explore Clayton and then fall asleep in your tent? Finding a place to camp in Delaware with your tent has never been easier. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
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.
$25 / night
Group Camping only by arrangement/reservation Qualified organized groups can use the 120-person area from April to October. A restroom with flush toilets, but no showers, is available. To reserve a group tent campsite, call 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday to Saturday, 7:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. except on the Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day holidays.
$28 / night
The park has two Youth Group Camping sites that are strictly for official youth groups only. The youth group camping sites are open from the beginning of April through the beginning of November. These rustic camping sites overlook the Chesapeake Bay. Each site has a small picnic shelter with two tables and a grill. Download a Youth Group Pass application online.
If your youth group would like to do a service project during your stay, please call the park two weeks before the date of your arrival and speak with the volunteer coordinator to set up a project.
Make youth group camping reservations on-line for Sandy Point State Park or call 1-888-432-CAMP (2267).
Little Tinicum Island has 1 designated campsite on the Island. It is located in the Delaware River is the site of one of the few tidal mud flats in Pennsylvania. This is also the site of several wetland species of plants and animals not commonly found in Pennsylvania. The island is a good place to observe waterfowl as well as some uncommon plants.
There is currently no water supply, and there are no restrooms available on Hart-Miller Island due to repairs and an unanticipated supply shortage. The current anticipated return of these amenities is July 2022.
Hart-Miller Island is a 1,100-acre island located in Baltimore County on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of Middle River and is a must see for those who want to get away from it all. The island was originally part of a peninsula that extended from Edgemere, Maryland. The two islands, Hart and Miller, were joined by the construction of a dike in 1981, and until 2009, the impoundment was filled with dredge material from Baltimore Harbor, eventually creating Hart-Miller island. In recent years, Hart-Miller Island has become a haven for boaters in the northern Chesapeake Bay, providing the public opportunities to encounter many different species of plants, insects and wildlife along with other fun recreational activities.
The western shore of the island offers safe mooring, wading and access to a 3,000-foot sandy beach. Hart-Miller Island State Park also includes Hawk Cove and Pleasure Island, which also provide recreational opportunities and camping. The park is well-known for its abundant migrating bird populations.
Camping is available from May 1-September 30.
Hart-Miller Island State Park offers 22 campsites available on a first come, first serve basis:
6 sites in the main camping area on Hart-Miller Island 11 sites at Hawk Cove 5 sites on Pleasure Island All sites have a picnic table, lantern post and campfire grill.
Campfires may only be built in the fire rings provided.
$6 / night
Traveler
The tent site was big with lots of choice locations for your tent. There is a lot of privacy between the tent sites because of the trees.
The bathrooms were clean and modern. The camp store had lots of little items that I needed. And there was a Little Library.
The hikes in the campground are beautiful. The historic aspect of the Cape amazed me. It was a site for WWII soldiers to watch for enemy invaders. The towers are still there.
The ocean is beautiful but a bit of a walk from the tent campsites.
RangerWe stayed in the G loop which is the group loop off the side of all the main loops. We were tent camping. If staying in the main loops, the center rows barely had room for tents and looked aimed for RVs. It would have been very tight if we tent camped at some of the inner loop sites. The tent sites were along the sides on the T sites and the even numbered A sites. The bathrooms were clean enough and there were ample showers that were free. There is a coin operated laundry facilities, a dish washing station and a playground in the middle of the loops. The wood was a bit wet and sappy. It was about a mile walk to the beach. There are multiple parking lots if you want to drive a bit closer to a beach entrance. We have two young kids and it was a bit too long a walk for them from the camp site. Bikes are prevalent and a great way to get around. We were there in July and it was very hot which is obviously to be expected. Friendly staff.
Ranger
Went for a a scout event May 2019 and was enjoyable. Lots to do. Caught a lot of fish. Tent camping.
Scout
Nice drive on sites for tent camping. A few well managed trails. A little heave on the rules(must use the wood they sell, clotheslines must come down overnight.
Scout
Sites are full hook up with about 5 tent sites.
All are pretty much level.
Close to shopping if needed.
Guide
There were so many great things about this campground. It was beautiful and had so many different amenities including a little man made beach in the center of the campground. Our only issues were it was pretty pricey for tent camping (65 a night) and the mosquitos were INSANE! Also, a few of the showers were down, so it was difficult to get in there and everything cost extra. It was a quarter run shower. The location was perfect if you wanted to visit Cape May or go into Wildwood only 15 minutes away. I’d say it is perfect for RV’s, campers, or if you are renting a cabin for your family, but as a tent camp location it was a little extravagant for what we were looking for with our trip.
TravelerNot a good place for tent camping. All tent spaces very packed together and without any foliage undergrowth separation whatsoever. More privacy in a subway car than these sites. Dogs allowed and poo everywhere. Wash stations a long walk away. Excellent system of paved bike paths.
Legend
Two thumbs up on this small campground with spacious, wooded sites!
We stayed here on a Thursday when the campground was almost empty, but there was a reservations list that showed the campground would be full for the Columbus Day weekend. We have good luck walking up to campgrounds during the week, but we look ahead to weekends and make reservations.
Spacious, Wooded Sites
- Lots of shade and trees on large sites and space between sites make this a pleasant campground.
Parking pads on the electric loop are asphalt.
There's very finely crushed rock on the non-electric loop. This includes the parking pad and tent pad.
There are 8 camper cabins, 4 on each loop. There are beds for 4 or 6 people, and the cabins have air conditioning, a ceiling fan and electricity. These are a nice alternative to camping in a tent.
Bathrooms are located in the middle of each loop, and there are spigots on the loops with potable water.
Small Park But Many Activities
Canoe/kayak launch between sites 46 and 48. The walk to Tuckahoe Creek from the parking area is very short, and the creek leads to Tuckahoe Lake (no gasoline motors) with more of the creek on the other side of the lake.
Fishing
20 miles of hiking trails are also open for biking and horseback riding.
Archery range
Disc golf
Hunting - as a hiker, I am extremely wary of hiking in parks at a time when hunting is allowed.
Legend& it was a great time! Need to go back now that I’m older...
We had a pop-up so I can’t speak to tent camping at this one!
Like most KOAs with standard activities, family friendly environment.
Scout
We stayed here for one night and it was awesome! The campground is a little dated... but the tent site we had was perfect. Great hammocking trees :)
Scout
A small koa but very nice, I stayed in a cabin for my MTB race weekend. Great! Pool is a tad small. Restrooms very clean and good looking tent sites.
LegendWe came back for another visit this September and the campground has undergone lots of renovations since I was here last so I wanted to provide an updated review.
As always, the biking and walking trails in the park are top notch! The Gordon's Pond trail offers beautiful salt march views with lots of birds especially first thing in the morning. Beach access is quick and easy from the campground, too!
We stayed in tent site 114 which was among a cluster of tent sites. Here you have to park in a parking lot and cart your stuff into your actual site. It's not a long haul but could be a pain in the neck if you tend to bring a lot of stuff with you when you camp. From our site there was a small path through the back of the site that provides quick and immediate access to the bike trails in the area.
The sites have newly built picnic tables (very heavy and sturdy) as well as new concrete pad fire rings with grates. They sit a little high off the ground than a traditional fire pit but are nice and well maintained thus far. As I mentioned, the tent site we were in was among a cluster of sites spaced out relatively evenly. However, if all of the sites had been full it would have been a bit close together for my liking. One thing that is nice about these sites is the amount of shade, super helpful in the late summer heat.
The bathroom facilities are also nice and well maintained. Be advised that many Delaware state parks require that you pack out all of your trash at most of their day use areas, the campground however DOES have a dumpster available for trash.
If you can get a reservation here it's totally worth the stay!
Scout
This was our first visit to this park and we really loved it. We stayed in a tent site which included a fire ring and picnic table, and we had two tents and plenty of space for everything. While we were there, I believe all of the cabins were full and some other tent sites reserved, but the grounds were still very quiet and peaceful. The bathrooms and showers were modern and very clean and looked to be only a brief, flat walk from most of the sites/cabins in the loop. The loops were smaller than I expected, but that wasn't a bad thing. There is also a large sink on one side of the bathhouse which was nice for cleaning up after cooking. AT&T phone service was slow but available. While in the area, we also visited WorkHorse Farm for a tour, First Fruits Orchard for PYO blueberries, and Denton Station antique mall.
Ranger
We got there, the host wasn’t very friendly. We had to pay $50 per night for a tent site that was sandy mud. The facilities were nice and they had a pool and some other amenities. Somebody found a snake in there trailer so watch out for those 😂
Scout
We did a tent site. Which was mulched? Yes mulched. Talk about having to keep an eye on your fire before it spread to the mulch. Very packed! Campsites we’re right on top of each other, thought I was going to hit someone’s car door with my truck door. We ended up leaving 2 days earlier to go elsewhere. Guess what no refunds. Which we left anyways.
Scout
My husband and I have stayed at Elk Neck twice. It’s a great campground with lots of different loops to choose sites from. The bath houses are very clean, and the folks responsible for their upkeep are great. There are sinks for washing dishes outside the bathhouses, making cooking cleanup very convenient (especially if your site is close by, like ours). I can’t speak for the camper/RV sites, as we tent camp. But overall our experiences at Elk Neck have been consistently great.
RangerMy 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.
It is a huge park, with secluded spots available for tent camping, cabins, and regular open spaces for camping rvs with electric hook up. Staff was friendly, campgrounds were well kept. It can get a little crowded but it’s worth it to stay. If you don’t like crowds, I suggest coming during the week days!
GuideWe do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.
Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.
Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!
TravelerWe stayed here because it was within biking distance of the beaches at Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Cape May. The tent sites were close together and since it was Labor Day weekend it was pretty full. There were a lot of things for kids to do but it was not the kind of camp ground for peace and quiet. Several sites were playing music until 11:00 every night. The bathrooms were a little worse for the wear but the pool looked nice.
GuideGreat state park with the beach on one side and the bay on the other. All reachable on bikes. Town of Lewes is right there and has cute shops and places to eat. Rehobeth is 5 miles away by bike on the trail, and has a boardwalk and great shopping. Campground also has Fort Myers tours and lots of other sites to see. We go back every year for the past 4 years. Worth going to see and stay. Tent sites, rv sites and cabins available.
LegendAs others have said, sites are tight, only one bathhouse…which was dirty and outdated. There are a ton of people, including tent sites, sharing one bath house. They do have porta pots but they are gross!! Lots of sand and flys. Also beware of the squirrels! They will eat through anything, including outdoor storage containers to get to food. They will destroy your things.
We did however enjoy the kayaks and the water park which we thought were very enjoyable for the kids. They also had great trails if you enjoy running!
TravelerFacilities (camp store, restrooms, showers etc.) were clean and well-maintained. Great bike paths all over the state park to explore the army bunkers, Ft. Miles, and the beach. We rented stand-up paddleboards and explored the calmer waters in Delaware Bay (pro-tip, don't wear your wedding ring out there, or it may end up at the bottom of Delaware Bay...oops). We were out there in the afternoon, but the guy at Quest kayak rentals (right in the state park, at the fishing pier) if you go out in the morning, you can sometimes see dolphins!
This campground was pretty busy. You need reservations well in advance if you want to have a choice of sites in the summer. We got a site at the last minute, just for one night. It wasn't the best site and a little expensive for us (we tent camp and were in an RV site), but there was shade, free showers, and lots to see and do. We had a great time here!
Traveler
We had stayed in this canpground about 5 years ago and we loved it. We returned this year with my 12 and 14 year olds and a 12 year old friend. The kids were bored. The only improvements in the 5 years is they took out tent sites and replaced them with cabin rentals. The go carts are old. The air pillow was flat. They took out the pool table. Hardly any games in the game room. We were very disappointed. They really need to ass something new to make it.more teen-friendly.
GuideTent site was fantastic, level, trees are well trimmed, but still with good coverage, sites are a nice size. Close enough to the bathroom and water options. Campground well appointed. Nice pool, clean showers, quarters for a shower. We paid $40 night in almost mid September. Its just faucets for water, no sinks for a dishwashing station. You are in a busier campground with lots of RVs, travel trailers and vacation rentals, so its not some peaceful small state campground. Only complaint really would be the folks who drove their golf carts like maniacs. Some enforcement from management would be good there.
GuideI arrived on a Tuesday a few days after they closed the pool, and by Wednesday I had the whole row of tent sites to myself. Maybe that's why it was so peaceful, but every night after my cacophonous conference in Philadelphia, I couldn't wait to turn down Timberlane Road and see that little KOA sign glowing in the darkness. In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods, you will find wonderful native plants like blueberry, viburnum, clethra, and meadow beauty.
TravelerThis is a beautiful campground! It is a mile walk to the beach. It has some of the best water and electric hookups I've seen. The tent sites are a good size and have a good mix of shade and sun. They also have a rv and camper section. Over 20 miles of trails through pine trees, with views of sand dunes. It also has historic ruins from ww2. The cape is amazing. You can walk into the water for what seems like miles and it only gets up to your shins. There is bay access for kayaking and fishing. A really great camp and hiking spot.
Traveler
This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting. Each campsite features a picnic table or two, and a fire pit, plus one bundle of firewood. The ground is dirt covered with woodchips and sometimes evergreen needles -- pretty easy to sleep in a tent. There are a couple portapotties in the camping area, which are a few feet from one campsite, or a few blocks from another. There is one water pump. And there are plenty of hiking trails in the state forest, complete with mushrooms, and deer-hunting-stands.
RV camping is not encouraged. Horseriding is encouraged. And you may regret not brining mosquito repellent. The blood-suckers are relentless.
My only beef is that it's a legitimate campground, which means, neighbors. But the neighbors aren't unreasonably close, so it's actually pretty good.
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