Assateague Island National Seashore Oceanside Campground
Great experience
Right off the beach wild horses, deer, turkeys, and birds. Woke up and walked right out on the beach for some early morning beach combing, was a bit windy
Campgrounds near Delmar, Delaware feature a mix of public and private camping options within a region known for its coastal proximity and wooded settings. Camping near Delmar ranges from RV hookups and cabin rentals to secluded tent sites, giving campers a wide range of options across flat, accessible terrain. Trap Pond State Park Campground stands as a centerpiece with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, glamping options, and yurts available year-round. The Delaware Seashore State Park Campground provides another developed camping option along the coast, approximately 30 miles east of Delmar. Most campgrounds in this area support both tent and RV camping with varying levels of amenities, though some areas like Trap Pond also feature specialized accommodations including waterfront yurts and secluded island tent sites.
Several campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during the peak summer season when coastal campgrounds fill quickly. Campground accessibility varies with Trap Pond offering multiple camping loops, each with specific amenities and site configurations. Most developed campgrounds provide electric hookups, water access, and sanitary facilities. The terrain throughout the region is generally flat, making most campsites naturally level and easily accessible. Cell coverage is typically strong throughout the area, though some more remote camping areas may have limited connectivity. A visitor commented, "The sites have a picnic table and a fire ring and are plentiful. The bathhouses are nice and they have a handicap accessible shower and bathroom stall."
Campers consistently rate waterfront sites among the most desirable locations, particularly at Trap Pond where cypress trees create a distinctive camping environment. The pond access serves as a focal point for recreation, with multiple docks extending from camping loops allowing for fishing and launching kayaks. Several visitors mentioned the value of renting kayaks or canoes to explore the cypress swamp areas, noting this as a unique highlight of camping in this region. While camping loops typically feature adequate spacing between sites, some reviewers noted that certain RV sections provide less privacy than the walk-in tent areas. As one camper described, "The tent sites are far enough from each other that you are not disturbed by neighbors, lots of trees between sites." Many campgrounds in the area maintain trails for hiking and biking, with Trap Pond offering free bicycle rentals as an added amenity for exploring the surrounding landscape.
$22 - $56 / night
"This is Delaware which is flat land. The one issue with most every site are the trees. Most every site has a tree to watch out for."
"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."
"It’s a close distance to Salisbury (20 mins), ocean city (20 mins) and assateague (20 mins). Also close to Delaware for someone looking to explore there."
"Each tent site is far enough away from the other that you feel spread out and private. This is definitely a place I recommend to friends and family."
$28 - $39 / night
"and was well situated, with a nice open space between the edge of the site and the dunes."
"There is an outdoor shower and sink as well as several paths to the beach. The beach is beautiful and clean."
$42 - $425 / night
"Park Name-Delaware Seashore State Park Date of Stay-June 2018
Site-237
This is one of favorite local parks!"
"The really great aspect of Delaware Seashore State Park is your close proximity to the water. The park is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian River, and Indian River Bay."
$23 - $29 / night
"It’s just 45 minutes away from the beach at Assateague Island and an hour or so to Ocean City or Chincoteague."
"Open from April to September (except Waters Edge and Robins Nest loops which are open year round) the tent sites here can be a little close together. Particularly the sites at Waters Edge."
$42 - $136 / 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."
$40 / night
"The sites are close to bathrooms (I believe the national side has pit latrines). There are also showers, albeit cold. The sites are a decent size but be advised, they are completely sandy."
"We camped in the walk-in sites toward the end (south side) of the ocean side sites. You park along side the road and walk on a boardwalk to your site."
"Due to the location near Ocean City, this campground is primarily a resort for people staying 1 or more weeks."
"Shuttle to Ocean City, MD was convenient and general store was close by and stocked well!"
$19 - $71 / night
"I thought our site was tucked more in the forest based on the maps, but it was pretty close to the other sites. Good birdwatching from the site! Definitely some insect pressure at the site."
"Caddy corner from the bath house, but not so close to be disturbing, & it was very clean w/ nice hot water showers & spacious adjacent changing area with bench & lots of hooks to hang towel"
$40 - $80 / night
"We enjoyed bike riding around the island, catching glimpses of the wild ponies and running around on the beach."
"If you don’t mind wild horses joining you for dinner and trekking around your campsite at night, then this is your place!! The beach is absolutely gorgeous and so is the scenery."











Right off the beach wild horses, deer, turkeys, and birds. Woke up and walked right out on the beach for some early morning beach combing, was a bit windy
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
If you want to be close to the water, this is a great place to camp. There are lots of amenities and various ways to “camp” at this resort. In addition to full hook-up RV sites, there are cottages and glamping tents. Some cottages have a cool rooftop deck with furniture which would be a great place to watch the sunset.
This campground is in a nice location for exploring the area, but a bit pricey. It might be worth it if you use the amenities, but we did as we spent more time offsite. Since this campground is new, some sites look pretty rustic and it would be nice if there was more grass. Overall, we found the sites to be pretty close together. If you want to pay more, you can get a waterfront site or one with a paved patio and table and chairs, otherwise, you get a picnic table on a gravel pad. All utilities worked well and we were glad we had 50 amp since there was an unseasonable hot spell. The park is big-rig friendly and getting in and out was easy and not low hanging branches to avoid.
Some of the amenities include a food truck(not open when we were there), playground, pickleball courts, camp store, and more. There is a nice pool with a large deck but since we were early in the season it was not open. Along the water is a nice boardwalk and there is a long pier for fishing or to tie up your boat. (We took advantage of the free fishing. Saltwater anglers in VA can fish for free if you register for the Fisherman Identification Program, no license required.) If you have a large group gathering there is a large pavilion with charcoal grills and picnic tables open to campers for free.
The reason we came to the area was to visit Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and see the wild ponies. The refuge is fifteen minutes away and definitely worth it. Stop in at the visitor center to browse the exhibits before setting out to see the ponies. There is a nice viewing deck off the Woodland Trail that is a great place to see the ponies. Also stop at the Assateague Lighthouse to see the iconic red and white striped lighthouse. One more stop to make is at the Island Creamery (voted one of the 50 best places to eat in Virginia).
This is such a perfect way to hang by the ocean. Some sites are close but tenting is key. Showers and outdoor showers are my favorite. There isn’t much to dislike if anything? Oh, ai know. Light pollution. There is no light pollution and we always bring our telescope and then rvs will keep their leds on, but unless that is enforced. There isn’t much that can be done. 🤷🏼♀️
We allways have a blast everybody is so nice and lots to do
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.
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.
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.
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
Camping sites near Delmar, Delaware occupy flat, sandy terrain with elevations rarely exceeding 50 feet above sea level. The region experiences humid subtropical climate patterns with hot summers frequently reaching 90°F and mild winters. Campground cell service is generally strong throughout the area, though some campers report spotty reception in more remote locations during storms.
Paddle through cypress trees: At Trap Pond State Park Campground, kayaking offers close encounters with bald cypress trees. "We walked around the pond and rented boats and kayaks for the day and rowed back to our site which the kids loved. They got to spend the day learning to paddle on the pond," notes a visitor who enjoyed the water access.
Free bicycle rentals: Several campgrounds offer complimentary bikes to explore the surrounding areas. "They also had a bike shed where you can sign out bikes for free for the day which was super neat," shares a Trap Pond camper who appreciated this amenity.
Visit NASA center: Campgrounds provide convenient access to educational day trips. A Pocomoke River State Park reviewer mentions, "When open, there is Assateague National Park, Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge, Wallops Island NASA center, and the fun of Ocean City- all within an hour drive."
Observe wildlife: The region offers multiple opportunities to view native animals. "The smells, trails, the nice people, the water bowl outside of the camp store. The beaches also allow dogs, depending on the season or time of day," notes a visitor to Cape Henlopen State Park Campground who appreciated the pet-friendly atmosphere.
Well-maintained bathhouses: Campers consistently rate clean facilities as a top priority. "Bathhouses were fine. Near lots of shopping and restaurants," reports a Cape Henlopen camper who appreciated the convenient amenities.
Island camping sites: Unique camping experiences are available at select locations. "My sons and I spent four nights on the island site and loved it. We lucked out and had both sites to ourselves which I recommend. I couldn't imagine sharing the secluded site with strangers," shares a camper who enjoyed the privacy at Trap Pond.
Free amenities: Many campgrounds offer unexpected complimentary activities. A reviewer at Sun Outdoors Frontier Town noted, "You can enjoy free mini golf, free pool and waterside, free canoeing, and free billiards."
Themed activities: Family-oriented events enhance camping experiences. "There is a schedule of activities for kids. The entire camp is full of kids tearing around on bikes from sunup to sundown," explains a visitor to Frontier Town who observed the lively atmosphere.
Winter camping options: Year-round camping is available in some locations. "This place has been great to us. Even though we are tent camping in the middle of winter we have still made it work. It has great warm bathrooms that are very clean and sanitary," shares a winter visitor to Trap Pond.
Beach crowds vary seasonally: Coastal campgrounds experience significant seasonal variations. A reviewer at Assateague State Park Campground mentioned, "We visited in May - it was very windy and a bit cold, but no bugs!"
Wildlife precautions necessary: Unique wildlife interactions require preparation. "The Ponies are giant trash pandas. They're smart and can open latches so do bring bungee cords, kayak straps, or ratchet straps to lock all of your food in cases or coolers," warns an Assateague camper.
Flooding concerns: Some areas experience water issues during rain. "It had rained just before getting there. A few sites were flooded but most were okay," notes a camper at Shad Landing Campground who experienced variable site conditions.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. "Has a Nature Center, very nice campground and clean bath houses. Has events for children for Easter and at the Nature Center," reports a Trap Pond visitor.
Kid-specific activities: Scheduled events keep younger campers engaged. "The daytime activities for kids were fun as well and my son even 'set the alarm' so he wouldn't miss out on tie dyeing a t-shirt," shares a parent who camped at Fort Whaley RV Resort.
Educational opportunities: Nature programs offer learning experiences. "There is an arcade, camp store, heated pool, playground, dog park, and mini golfing! The main pavilion has rentals for recreational equipment at no extra cost (hula hoops, balls, etc.)," explains a Fort Whaley camper describing the variety of options.
Water activities: Swimming options vary by location. "The pool is a nice size and refreshing. They have done great activities for the kids to keep them busy," notes a visitor to Fort Whaley who appreciated the aquatic amenities.
Limited privacy between sites: RV campers should prepare for close quarters. "None of the sites are level. Sites are mostly small and close together. The closer you are to the camp store, the louder and busier it is," cautions a Cape Henlopen camper.
Site selection strategy: Choosing strategic locations improves camping experience. "Only 4 stars because the showers need upgrading," notes a Fort Whaley visitor who otherwise enjoyed their stay.
Hookup availability varies: Different campgrounds offer varying RV amenities. "Had electric but no water or sewage. With that said I knew this going in. Had a nice spot with walking paths, bike trails and kayaking," explains a Shad Landing camper who planned accordingly.
Tight turns in older campgrounds: Some campgrounds present navigation challenges. "RV sites are very tight. Anything over 35' in my opinion will be hard to get into sites," warns a Shad Landing reviewer who noted the size limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Delmar, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, Delmar, DE offers a wide range of camping options, with 82 campgrounds and RV parks near Delmar, DE and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Delmar, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Delmar, DE is Trap Pond State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 47 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Delmar, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Delmar, DE.
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