Tent Camping near Delaware City, DE

Tent camping near Delaware City, Delaware ranges from primitive sites to organized campgrounds within forested settings. Campers will experience flat terrain with pine and deciduous forest cover, typical mid-Atlantic climate with humid summers and mild winters. Most primitive sites around Delaware City lack designated tent pads, requiring campers to choose natural clearings for setup.

What to do

Hiking along creek trails: At Evansburg State Park Campground, trails follow small running creeks, offering moderate hiking opportunities. As one camper notes, "Great place to creek hike, nice for horses, we did get a lot of ticks, but not deer ticks, thankfully."

Bird watching: Fort Washington State Park offers exceptional bird watching opportunities. "Should you call yourself a bird watcher, you'll be particularly interested as from this very spot you can view the beautiful raptors that migrate here on a seasonal basis in both the Spring and Autumn," according to a visitor.

Fishing in stocked ponds: The children's pond at Hibernia County Park is stocked for young anglers. A camper mentioned, "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too."

Kayaking from campsites: At Goshen Pond Campground in Wharton State Forest, campers can access water directly. "Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent. We were able to put our kayaks in right next to the site which was very convenient."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Camping near Delaware City often features well-spaced sites. At Blackbird State Forest Campground, "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!"

Walk-in tent sites: Many campers appreciate the separation from vehicles. At Goshen Pond, one visitor commented, "I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time."

Secluded forest settings: Sites tucked into wooded areas provide natural immersion. A visitor to Blackbird State Forest noted, "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. Nice hikes in the area, great weekend!"

Boat-in access options: Tinicum Island offers unique camping accessible only by watercraft. A camper simply stated, "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft."

What you should know

Limited bathroom facilities: Most primitive sites feature basic facilities. At Blackbird State Forest, "There are multiple port a potties here but some sites are a bit far from them."

Insect awareness: Ticks and mosquitoes are common throughout camping areas near Delaware City. One camper at Goshen Pond warned, "Great sites, great trails, lots of hiking and off road trails for dirt bike/atv/trucks. Pretty good boating/fishing. Just gotta check often for chiggers and ticks."

Water access varies: Some campgrounds have limited potable water. At Hibernia County Park, a visitor observed, "There is one spigot at the bathroom, which brings me to... There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop, however there is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop."

Reservation systems: Many campgrounds have variable reservation requirements. For Hibernia County Park, "This campground is only open on the weekends, in season. Sites can be reserved online, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration."

Tips for camping with families

Spacious group sites: Families need room to spread out. In Blackbird State Forest, a visitor found, "My family had a great time here. The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy. Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents."

Kid-friendly fishing ponds: Hibernia County Park features special fishing areas for children. A camper shared, "We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. The lake is about a 3 minute hike down the clearly marked trails."

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas. One visitor to Hibernia County Park noted, "Great playground" among the amenities families can enjoy.

First-time camper friendly: For families new to camping, Ridley Creek State Park works well. A visitor recommended, "This place is great for first time campers. I go camping here almost every year and they have a nice open field with two sites and two fire pits. They also have a tone of trails to hike on."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Most tent camping near Delaware City isn't well-suited for large RVs. At Hibernia County Park, a camper advised, "I wouldn't attempt to park an RV up there."

No hookups at most sites: RVers should arrive prepared. A Hibernia County Park visitor warned, "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank."

Uneven terrain challenges: Expect to work to level your rig. A camper at Hibernia County Park observed, "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."

Limited dump stations: Plan ahead for waste disposal. At Hibernia County Park, "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home."