H
Henry 
Scout
ScoutCape Henlopen State Park Campground
Cape Henlopen DE
Great place. Close to beach. No septic hookup
Camping near Dover, DE
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The area around Dover, Delaware has several good camping spots within an hour's drive. Cape Henlopen State Park Campground sits about 34 miles from Dover, with beaches and hiking trails that campers can walk to from their sites. Another option is Delaware Seashore State Park Campground, 44 miles away, which puts you right by the water for fishing trips. Both parks have decent bathrooms and hot showers that stay pretty clean even during busy weekends. You'll see deer, foxes, and lots of birds at these campgrounds, so hang your food properly at night. Spring and fall are really the sweet spots for camping here - the weather's comfortable and the crowds are smaller. If you're thinking about a summer trip, book months ahead since sites fill up fast. Winter camping works if you don't mind the cold, though some water might be shut off. The online reservation system for both parks works well, but don't wait until the last minute, especially for holiday weekends. You can bring either a tent or an RV to both places, with sites that work for different setups. These campgrounds make good home bases for day trips around the Dover area.
Best Campgrounds near Dover (115)
1. Killens Pond State Park Campground
"First time staying overnight at a campground in Delaware. The cabins are tiny on the inside but that porch really provides very useful space.
No paper towels, soap or kitchen utensils.""Delaware seemed short on camping options and this one was probably top of the line 40 years ago. It's dated in every way, but it's in a good spot. Seemed to have some residents mixed in."
from $29 - $112 / night
Check Availability2. Lums Pond State Park Campground
"Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle."
"Great place to stay and check out “Lower, slower Delaware.”"
from $29 - $51 / night
Check Availability3. Dover AFB Famcamp
"This campground is on Dover Air Force Base so you must be able to access the base with a Department of Defense identification card."
from $8 - $20 / night
Check Availability4. Tuckahoe State Park Campground
"Tuckahoe State Park is tucked away onto the Eastern Shore of Maryland, close to the Chesapeake Bay. It features every kind of camping you can imagine."
"It is less than 40 mins from Annapolis and close to DC and Baltimore. Yet it is isolated and quiet. There’s some great trails as well as walking between the camp loops and picnic areas. "
from $21 - $70 / night
Check Availability5. Cape Henlopen State Park Campground
"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."
from $42 - $136 / night
Check Availability6. Elk Neck State Park Campground
"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability7. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
"Campground well maintained and relatively quiet given its peak season for Delaware beaches. Off the beaten path from beach noise but does require a 15-30 minute drive to popular beaches."
"Close proximity to the beach. Lots of family friendly activities. Full stocked camp store."
8. Blackbird State Forest Campground
"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."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
from $25 / night
Check Availability9. Martinak State Park Campground
"Park is that the Electric loop (B) has all of the sites on the outside of the drive loop so you are not looking across the road at other campers."
"Just off highway, nice wooded area, access to a good boat ramp."
from $18 - $77 / night
Check Availability10. G & R Campground
"Quickly stopped through G&R which is a nice, quiet campground hidden in the middle of Delaware. Plenty of spaces for campers and more than enough utility spaces available."
"There is a smell due to being next to a chicken or animal farm; however, after a few minutes outside, the smell goes away."
Drive Time
- 58 min from Salisbury, MD
- 1 hr 29 min from Vineland, NJ
- 1 hr 32 min from Baltimore, MD
- 1 hr 52 min from Atlantic City, NJ
Recent Camping Photos near Dover, DE
240 Photos of 115 Dover Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Killens Pond State Park Campground
Huck and Buck FarmA
G & R Campground
Blackbird State Forest Campground
Adventures Await Retreat
Adventures await retreatC
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
Tuckahoe State Park Campground
Martinak State Park Campground
Deep Branch Family Campground
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Redden State Forest Campground
Recent Reviews near Dover, DE
800 Reviews of 115 Dover Campgrounds
TaylorScoutYogi 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
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
Patel D.
TravelerBig 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.
- Patel D.Traveler
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.
- CChris C.Traveler
Adventures Await Retreat
Perfect campground for our family of 4
They have a meadery and fishing pond and everything my kids love. Been here several times great place for kids and everyone else
Paul W.ScoutWoodlawn Campground
Woodlawn Campground is a gem!
Manager is very friendly and helpful. Lovely, peaceful place to spend a few nights. Plus it's reasonably priced and convenient to dining and shopping.
- TTrevorTraveler
Bay Shore Campground
Fred’s bay shore
One of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
B
GuideSusquehanna State Park Campground
A little noisy - park stuff, not campers
A beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
Guide to Dover
Located a short drive from Delaware Bay, Dover is ideally positioned for campers wanting to explore both forest and coastal environments. The camping season typically runs April through October, with July temperatures averaging 85-90°F. Interior campgrounds near Dover offer quieter alternatives to the more popular beach destinations during summer weekends.
What to do
Kayaking on Tuckahoe Creek: Martinak State Park's water access provides excellent paddling opportunities. One reviewer noted, "Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports. No real hiking trails. Overall small quiet campground."
Fishing at multiple locations: Tuckahoe State Park Campground offers stocked waters and gear rentals. "You can rent kayaks, canoes and fishing gear," writes one camper. Another mentions, "There is a kayak launch between sites 46 and 48. The walk to Tuckahoe Creek from the parking area is very short."
History exploration: Cape Henlopen State Park Campground features military historical sites from WWII. A visitor explains, "As a former military installation, there are lots of military historical items and sites. Underground bunkers and batteries and such. There's a wonderful observation tower built on top of one of these that affords beautiful 360 degree views."
Hiking forest trails: Blackbird State Forest Campground offers wooded trail systems. One camper observed, "The woods are full of nature and diverse species. We counted over 17 different species of fungi in a 25 foot stretch!"
What campers like
Clean, updated facilities: Lums Pond State Park Campground earns praise for its infrastructure. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," notes one reviewer. Another adds, "The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple parks offer bird and wildlife spotting opportunities. A camper at Martinak State Park shared, "We took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
Spacious, private sites: Blackbird State Forest receives compliments for site layout: "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!"
Kid-friendly amenities: Killens Pond State Park Campground provides dedicated children's facilities. "My 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," writes one parent.
What you should know
Reservation requirements vary: Some parks require advance planning, especially for summer. A Lums Pond visitor advises, "Book early because it fills up fast!"
Military base access restrictions: Dover AFB Famcamp has specific entry requirements. "This campground is on Dover Air Force Base so you must be able to access the base with a Department of Defense identification card," explains one reviewer.
Site sizes and layouts differ significantly: Some campgrounds have size limitations. At Tuckahoe State Park, one camper warns, "I watched people with 25+ footers struggle to back into the sites. We booked site 21, blind. The web site does not say site 21 is extremely small."
Seasonal facility closures: Water systems often shut down in winter. At Elk Neck State Park, a late-season camper mentioned, "Finished the season at this state park in MD with full hook up and the water was still on in November. Bathhouses were open with hot water."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for different ages: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers extensive water features. "Splash pad was nice, I enjoyed that more so than the pool. My son absolutely loved this place," writes a parent. Another adds, "The pool area was closed but looks very nice. Cabins look very nice, one of the best camping cabin options I've seen."
Nature centers with interactive exhibits: Several parks offer educational opportunities. At Cape Henlopen, a camper notes, "There is a fantastic nature center (FREE) complete with touch tanks and knowledgeable park staff. Free bike rentals are available, some with baby seats and trailers."
Book cabins for easier family trips: For families new to camping, cabins provide comfort. A Martinak State Park visitor shared, "We stayed one night in a small cabin. It was cosy and warm on a cold night for fall. The cabins are clean and tidy and the campground is well run."
Playground proximity considerations: When booking, check proximity to play areas. One Killens Pond camper explained, "This site and the one next to it are the closest to the port-a-potties. This site is also the closest to the playground. You can't hear the kids on the playground, but it's close enough to be able to send them in a group and call for them."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: At Lums Pond, experienced campers advise checking site details. "In the full hook up loop pay close attention to the lengths specified. The actual pads are fairly level but some of the driveways to them are very sloped. Long rigs will have issues in a few of the sites."
Full hookup availability varies: Not all dover delaware campgrounds offer sewer connections. Tuckahoe State Park has "sites with electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both."
Dump station locations: Most state parks provide dump stations even without full hookups. At Martinak, "Sites have fire rings and picnic tables. There is a dump station available. Sites are level, in a loop around the bath house."
Off-season advantages: Shoulder seasons provide better availability for larger rigs. "We visited off season (early April) and absolutely loved it. The location was great and the beaches are quiet. I hear it gets packed and I see that it's hard to book if you don't book early."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Dover, Delaware?
What are the best campgrounds in Dover, Delaware?
Dover offers several excellent camping options for travelers. Dover AFB Famcamp is a convenient option for those with Department of Defense identification, offering 10 full hook-up sites with water, electric, and sewage connections plus bath facilities. For families seeking more recreational activities, Killens Pond State Park Campground is nearby and features a water park during summer months. Those willing to drive a bit further can enjoy coastal camping at Delaware Seashore State Park or the wooded setting at Trap Pond State Park, known for its cypress trees and paddling opportunities.
How much does camping in Dover, Delaware typically cost?
How much does camping in Dover, Delaware typically cost?
Camping costs in the Dover area vary based on amenities and location. Trap Pond State Park Campground offers electric and water sites at moderate rates, with pull-through options in Loop D. Private campgrounds like Holly Lake Campsites charge around $60 per night for full hook-up sites. State parks generally offer the best value, with most sites ranging from $25-45 per night depending on hook-ups and season. Many campgrounds offer discounts for extended stays, and Delaware state parks typically charge additional entrance fees for non-residents. Prices tend to increase during peak summer season, especially at coastal locations.
What amenities are available at Dover campgrounds?
What amenities are available at Dover campgrounds?
Dover area campgrounds offer varied amenities to suit different camping styles. Tall Pine Campground provides family-friendly facilities that appeal to younger campers. For water enthusiasts, Susquehanna State Park Campground offers river views and hiking trails. Most campgrounds in the region provide clean bathhouses with showers and toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Many state park campgrounds include electric hookups, water access, and dump stations for RVs. WiFi availability varies by location, with private campgrounds more likely to offer this amenity. Laundry facilities, camp stores, and playgrounds are common at larger establishments, while some also feature swimming areas, boat rentals, and fishing access.
Are there tent camping options near Dover?
Are there tent camping options near Dover?
Yes, several tent camping options exist near Dover. Delaware Seashore State Park Campground offers tent camping particularly on its south side, which is more tent-oriented than the north side. The park's proximity to beaches makes it popular with tent campers. For a wooded experience, Tuckahoe State Park Campground is within driving distance and offers walk-in tent sites alongside drive-up options. Tent campers should note that summer humidity can be significant in Delaware, and coastal sites often have limited shade. Most tent sites include a fire ring and picnic table, with access to communal bathhouses.
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