Cabin camping near New Castle, Delaware offers year-round lodging options within an hour's drive. The region sits at relatively low elevations of 25-400 feet above sea level with mild winters making many cabins available even during colder months. The area's coastal proximity creates a humid subtropical climate that allows for extended camping seasons, with most sites between the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay.
What to Do
Lighthouse hiking trails: At Elk Neck State Park, visitors can explore pathways leading to scenic views. "There are views of the Elk River from many sites. Stayed in the North East loop and there are mini cabins available as well," notes one visitor. Another recommends "the lighthouse trail is a must. It is about a five minute drive to get to the trail though, but is worth it!"
Fishing opportunities: Several parks offer fishing access at multiple locations. "There are two lakes, Scotts Run Lake and Hopewell Lake that you can fish at, kayak, canoe or just relax by," writes a visitor about French Creek State Park. The lakes contain "several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish."
Swimming options: Most family-oriented parks feature swimming areas during summer months. "They have a swimming pool and splash pad," comments a visitor about Old Cedar Campground. At Parvin State Park, "Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area."
What Campers Like
Spacious, private sites: Many campsites offer good separation between neighbors. "The sites were level, spacious, spaced apart, with packed gravel surface. Back in and pull through sites available," writes an Elk Neck State Park visitor. At French Creek, campers appreciate that "the sites are not right on top of one another. There is a lot of shade and the campground is laid out well."
Proximity to small towns: Local communities near cabin camping areas offer additional attractions. "The town of North East is close and is a quaint town with a Main Street and great little shops. Woodys famous crab house is there along with other restaurants. Turkey Point Vineyard is nearby," notes an Elk Neck visitor.
Natural surroundings: Wooded settings enhance the cabin camping experience. A Philadelphia-West Chester KOA visitor appreciated "Being on the Brandywine, you can fish and rent canoes. The river is usually very calm and good for a float." Another mentions, "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."
What You Should Know
Water quality varies: Some locations have issues with water. At Parvin State Park, "The water has a very high iron content. I couldn't even use it for tooth brushing. The toilets were clean but had the orange staining from the iron in the water." Pack extra drinking water if staying at locations with known water issues.
Distance from services: Some cabin sites are relatively remote. At Adventure Bound Campground (formerly Yogi Bear), one visitor advises, "Make sure you bring everything you need with you, because this place is literally in the middle of nowhere and a minimum 15 minutes ride to any type of civilization."
Reservation timelines: Popular cabin sites book quickly, especially for summer weekends. "You may want to wrap something around it to ensure you don't poke a hole in anything you don't want a hole through," notes a visitor about packing camping utensils at French Creek State Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Activity planning: Family-oriented parks offer structured programs for children. "They had a breakfast, games and crafts geared towards it. The pool and splash park were great but you needed to be at least 42 inches to go on the slide or bounce house," writes a visitor about Four Seasons Family Campground. They also have "many amenities from a lake to swim or fish, to playgrounds, there's a convenient store and even an arcade."
Playground proximity: Consider site location relative to play areas. At French Creek State Park, "There is a very nice playground situated conveniently between the loops of the campground. It had some slides, a bridge, lots of monkey bars, ladders to climb on and the best feature was the zip line."
Cabin selection for size: Different parks offer varying cabin capacities. A Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA visitor stayed "in one of the glamping tents. The staff was very friendly and the tents were more glamorous than we had tried before, but definitely had a good combination of woodsy and comfort."
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: Some parks have challenging entry roads or site approaches. At Woodlands Camping Resort, "Only 4 50 amp spots, luckily we secured one. No sewer hookup, but there is a dump station in the seasonal/permanent section."
Hookup variations: Electric and water connections differ between parks. A visitor to Old Cedar Campground notes, "The water hookups are shared every other site. I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
Seasonal availability: Year-round cabin camping options exist in the region. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great! The honor system of payment at the office makes it really easy to come in late and leave early, make sure you have cash on you," writes a French Creek visitor.
