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Tent Camping near Dagsboro, DE

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    Tent campsites near Dagsboro, Delaware include several primitive options in surrounding state forests and natural areas, ranging from reservable forest sites to backcountry tent camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Redden State Forest Campground offers seven reservable tent sites in a secluded pine forest setting, while several backcountry tent sites are available at Assateague Island National Seashore, including Pine Tree, Tingles Island, Green Run, Pope Bay, and State Line, approximately 30-40 minutes from Dagsboro.

    The tent sites at Redden State Forest feature basic amenities including fire pits, grills, and picnic tables with firewood available via an honor system payment box. No potable water or electric hookups are provided, making this a true primitive camping experience. Campsites are situated on either packed gravel pads (sites 8-18) or dirt/grass surfaces (sites 1-7), with the latter better suited for tent stake placement. A single portable toilet serves as the only sanitation facility. According to one visitor, "The campsites are small and close together, but the campground is beautiful, secluded, clean, and peaceful."

    Tent camping areas within reasonable driving distance maintain varying reservation requirements. Redden State Forest now requires advance reservations through bookyoursite.com with a maximum stay of three consecutive nights, while Assateague Island's backcountry sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis through the ranger station. Sites are typically shaded and level enough for tents, though some highway and train noise may be audible at Redden. A review mentioned, "Where this little area shines is in its proximity to Lewes and Cape Henlopen" with beaches about 30-40 minutes away. Most tent sites in the region do not permit vehicles larger than 25 feet, and campers should be prepared for carry-in/carry-out policies requiring them to pack out all trash and leave no trace of their stay.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Dagsboro (9)

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      1. Redden State Forest Campground

      4.4(7)16mi from DagsboroTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "There is firewood, but it is not free. You pay for it on the “honors system”. Bring cash. There is no water, no electric, no bathroom. This is primitive camping/boondocking."

      "Quiet primitive campsites with slight road noise. We didn’t hear any train during our stay. We stayed at site 10 on the left branch where the newer gravel tent sites are in the pines."

      from $28 / night

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      2. Woodlawn Campground

      5.0(1)18mi from DagsboroRVs, Tents
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      3. Pine Tree Backcountry Site — Assateague Island National Seashore

      5.0(1)28mi from DagsboroTents

      "Not sure what the other review is about, but this is a ~6 mile hike-in campsite that is first-come first served by showing up at the ranger station when it opens day of."

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      4. Tingles Island Backcountry Site — Assateague Island National Seashore

      Be the first to review26mi from DagsboroTents
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      5. Shellbay Campgrounds

      4.3(3)42mi from DagsboroRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Looking for a trip to the Jersey shore (near Stone Harbor, Avalon, Wildwood, Cape May, & more) - look no further than Shellbay Camping Resort."

      "I remember my excitement to go camping, meet other kids at the campground, and have plenty of things to do close by (beach, shopping, swimming pool)"

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      6. Vienna Maryland Wooded Campsite

      Be the first to review32mi from Dagsboro1 siteTents

      from $30 / night

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      7. Green Run Backcountry Site — Assateague Island National Seashore

      Be the first to review32mi from DagsboroTents
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      8. Pope Bay Backcountry Site — Assateague Island National Seashore

      Be the first to review34mi from DagsboroTents
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      9. State Line Backcountry Site — Assateague Island National Seashore

      Be the first to review35mi from DagsboroTents
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    View all 9 campgrounds

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dagsboro, DE

    1 Photos of 9 Dagsboro Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Tent Camping Reviews near Dagsboro, DE

    838 Reviews of 9 Dagsboro Campgrounds

    • KThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 24, 2026

      Redden State Forest Campground

      Quiet primitive campsites with slight road noise. We didn’t hear any train during our stay. We stayed at site 10 on the left branch where the newer gravel tent sites are in the pines. The potalet is nearby. It’s was dark at our campsite when we arrived. Nice and level gravel pad with plenty of room - sites are large enough to pull into and k turn if needed (although we saw the sign saying to park parallel to the site entrance in the morning- we have a roof top tent on our vehicle). When I put my headlamp on there were all these tiny sparkles on the ground out among the pine trees surrounding our campsite. When I walked up really close to one and shined my lamp on it, I saw that they are pretty big spiders. A little unnerving but also pretty? Told my brain I was in a glittery fairy forest and slept fine. 🤣

    • AThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 21, 2026

      The Depot Travel Park

      Enjoyed my stay

      I’ve stayed here multiple times over the past 15 years and I have enjoyed each trip.

      Depot Travel Park is a well-maintained family-owned campground. It is also reasonably priced, especially given the location that is within a bicycle ride to the beach, the ocean, and lots of shops and restaurants in Cape May. It is the only campground on the Cape May side of the canal.

      Please note that this is not a resort campground and it doesn’t have a pool. There is so much to do in Cape May that is doesn’t need to be a resort.

      Since it’s not a resort campground, there are not many golf carts, so most people use their bicycles or cars to get around. That also makes the campground pretty quiet, even during the peak of summer.

      The campground sells firewood and propane, but there is no camp store. Again, it doesn’t really need one, since there is a farmers market at the end of the driveway, and a CVS and an ACME supermarket within bicycle riding distance.

      If your site doesn’t have a sewer hookup, the dump station is a little awkward to access, but they have a daily honey wagon for a reasonable fee, which is great. If you notify the office the day before you need it and they are usually there in the morning.

      They close for the season n October, but they reopen briefly during the Cape May Christmas Parade weekend in December. That’s one thing that I’d like to do soon.

      I really like this campground and I am always recommending it to friends.

    • MThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 16, 2026

      Assateague State Park Campground

      My happy place!

      This place is so special! The beaches are so peaceful, you can ride bikes, kayak, and the park also offers activities through the spring and summer — even Yoga on the beach! The spaces are large, the bathrooms are very clean. It is safe and quiet. There are wild horses, and you have to be mindful of how you store your food but it is fun to watch them. There is something so exciting when you come over the bridge to the Island and see the marshes and dunes. Plenty of restaurants and other things to do in the area, but we often don’t want to leave once we are there! We do like to go to Berlin Md once while there. 410 Social is a great place. Anyway you can’t beat the sunrises and sunsets at Assateague. It’s not easy to get a reservation, but don’t give up, it’s worth it!

    • Adam and Suzanne B.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 13, 2026

      Assateague State Park Campground

      Lovely but

      It is a big, busy campground with only two loops with electric hookups. There is no shade. You are steps from the beach and at many sites can hear the ocean at night. The horses can be a menace and will raid campsites. There are sites of many sizes and some pull- throughs. It's nice but very weather dependent.

    • christian G.
      Sep. 13, 2026

      Delaware Seashore State Park Campground

      Fin beach trip

      Pretty easy camping trip, plenty of room to set up camp. Level spots. We stayed on south inlet campground. They have small camp store multiple laundry and bath houses. Great stay if you enjoy fishing, as. You can fish the inlet at the campground. They have a very nice playground for kids as well! Only negative is no camp fires allowed, they do have a community area you can have a camp fires allowed. Also no wifi

    • HThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 1, 2026

      Milburn Landing Campground

      Lovely campground with shaded campsites

      Spacious sites among tall mature trees. No undergrowth to provide privacy between sites. I reserved a site online this morning, but site said "available" when I arrived, so don't count on reservation being updated same-day. Sign at Park entrance says no alcohol allowed without permit. Pets allowed.

    • Taylor
      Aug. 16, 2026

      Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches

      Yearly goers

      Love it every year . We g for mother's Day. And the schedule for the events they do during even just the weekend make for fun filled hassle free weekend

    • Patel D.
      Aug. 9, 2026

      Big Oaks Campground

      ⚠️ Think Twice Before Booking— Our Family Felt Targeted and Intimidated

       I am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied consistently to every child, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background. Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground. If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.

    Guide to Dagsboro

    Dagsboro, Delaware sits at an elevation of 23 feet in Sussex County, approximately 8 miles inland from the Atlantic coast. The area experiences a humid subtropical climate with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows around 30°F. Camping options near Dagsboro range from primitive forest sites to developed campgrounds with amenities, all within a 30-minute drive radius.

    What to do

    Hike forest trails: Redden State Forest Campground offers secluded trails through pine forest. "The campground is beautiful, secluded, clean, and peaceful. I think it's a best kept secret," notes Tiffany M. However, she cautions that "the trails to hike weren't marked well enough for this first timer so I didn't explore much."

    Beach excursions: For the best tent camping near Dagsboro, Delaware, consider proximity to coastal attractions. Pine Tree Backcountry Site at Assateague Island National Seashore provides a unique experience. Jacob shares, "This is a ~6 mile hike-in campsite that is first-come first served by showing up at the ranger station when it opens day of. This was an excellent campsite at the perfect time of year."

    Family recreation: When looking for established tent camping sites near Dagsboro, Shellbay Campgrounds offers recreational options. Alyssa D. remembers, "I remember my excitement to go camping, meet other kids at the campground, and have plenty of things to do close by (beach, shopping, swimming pool)."

    What campers like

    Secluded forest camping: Many campers seeking tent sites near Dagsboro appreciate the privacy at Redden State Forest Campground. Fern B. highlights the "Secluded. Spacious sites. Firewood available. No facilities. Quiet" nature of this location.

    Beach proximity: Campsites within driving distance of coastal areas rate highly. Christopher E. notes about Shellbay Campgrounds, "We stayed here because it was within biking distance of the beaches at Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Cape May."

    Seasonal timing: Fall and spring camping near Dagsboro offers fewer insects and moderate temperatures. At Pine Tree Backcountry Site, one camper experienced "No insects, great weather. 5 sites each with a picnic table and fire pit."

    What you should know

    Reservation requirements: Several campgrounds near Dagsboro now require advance booking. BA K. explains about Redden State Forest: "This is no longer a first come, first served campground. Reservations must be made in advance at bookyoursite.com, only 3 days consecutive allowed."

    Vehicle restrictions: Size limitations apply at some sites. "Travel trailers, pull behinds, motorhomes are not allowed. Tents, cars, overlander SUVs, minivans and small Class B camper vans are allowed. Nothing over 25 ft allowed," notes BA K. about Redden State Forest.

    Primitive facilities: Many forest campgrounds lack amenities. Madison S. observed at Redden State Forest, "Clean, feels safe, good open space, nice seating, pretty level, and wood on site. Only complaint is the train that's right next door and you can here the traffic on the busy road not too far away."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dagsboro, DE?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dagsboro, DE is Redden State Forest Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Dagsboro, DE?

    TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Dagsboro, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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