Are you an equestrian lover who prefers a more rustic experience when you visit Cape May? Equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. These scenic and easy-to-reach Cape May campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
Located within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Seashore State Park’s two campgrounds are popular with campers seeking a beach experience. The campgrounds are located on the north and south side of the Indian River Inlet and are connected by a bridge with a separate walking and biking path. Campsites can accommodate a variety of camping units, from tents to large recreational vehicles. Most campsites have 30- and 50-amp electric, and water and sewer hook-ups. Bathhouses and laundry facilities are located in both campgrounds. A camp store on the south side carries convenience items and souvenirs. Amenities and services close to the campgrounds include two restaurants; a full-service marina with a bait and tackle shop, fish and seafood sales, and head boat service; bike and walking trails; and the Indian River Life-Saving Station and gift shop, a must-see. Severe weather may limit availability of some amenities.
Just an hour’s drive south of Dover, Trap Pond State Park is a 3600-acre recreation area that features a freshwater wetland that supports one of the last natural stands of baldcypress trees. The pond was created in the 1700s when it was dammed to provide power for the local sawmills that were harvesting the area’s old-growth timber. Once the trees were gone, the area was used as a drainage for the surrounding farmlands. Finally, in the 1930s, the state acquired the land and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) rehabilitated Trap Pond and surrounding woodland as a nature preserve and recreation space. This created Delaware’s first state park. It has since become a haven for herons, owls, woodpeckers and eagles, and a place where campers and recreationists can enjoy some outdoor time.
The campground at Trap Pond features 142 sites for tent and RV campers. Sites are set in five wooded loops: A, B, and C Loops have back-in sites with full hookups; D Loop has pull-through sites with full hookups; E Loop has primitive, walk-in tent sites. Each site is equipped with picnic tables and fire rings with grills. All camp loops have access to bathhouses with showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and trash and recycling receptacles; a dump station is available near the campground entrance. The campground also has a picnic pavilion and kids’ playground between A and B Loops. The park also offers several rustic cabins and a couple yurts. Dogs are permitted, but must remain leashed. Campsite rates are $15–$25; cabin and yurt rates are $40–$52; reservations accepted.
The nature center at Trap Pond is a good place to start a visit to the park. Interpretive exhibits and nature programs provide information about the history of the wetlands, as well as its flora and fauna. Once acquainted with the park, it’s time to hit the trails and water to discover more and enjoy the natural setting. More than 10 miles of multi-use trails invite hikers, bikers and horseback riders to explore the woods and wetlands. Paddlers can take to the ponds and explore 2.5 miles of water trails. Boat rentals are available in the park, as well as launches and docks for small watercraft. For anglers, common catches in the ponds include pickerel, crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Visitors can also play at the sports courts or disc golf course, or take in bird-watching for waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors.
$21 - $150 / night
Located along the beautiful Sinepuxent Bay just five miles from Ocean City, Sun Outdoors Frontier Town (formerly Frontier Town Campround) offers an award-winning camping experience that the whole family will love! Choose from nearly 600 campsites and enjoy all the amenities we have right on site!
Relax on the Lazy River winding through the Water Park while the kids race down the waterslides. Play 18 holes of Miniature Golf amongst a peaceful setting of waterfalls and shade trees. Take a step back in time at the Western Experience, featuring our classic Wild West Shows and Native American Village. And keep in mind, we have plenty of camper-only deals! If you stay with us during peak season, you’ll receive FREE access to the Water Park and Western Theme Park.
Prefer things a bit more leisurely? Head bayside to the 200-foot-long fishing pier. Go for a kayak tour or fishing charter. Take part in our planned activities. Visit the arcade and gift shop. Stroll along the nature trails. We even havetwo dog parks for your furry family members to enjoy! And if you forget something or need a meal away from the campfire, our fully-stocked camp store, full-service restaurant and bar, and ice cream parlor are sure to fix you right up.
Legend
General: There are two units to this state park campground - one north of the Charles W. Cullen Memorial Bridge and one on the south side. We stayed on the south side, so this review focuses on this part of the park. The south side has over 300 campsites, some with hookups and some without. I don’t know what the difference is between the designated tent sites and the sites with no hookups. Regardless of which type of site you choose, there is NO privacy/separation between sites, however, we were there on a Monday the week after Memorial Day and while the sites with the hookups were completely full, there were plenty of empty non-hookup sites.
Site Quality: All of the non-hookup sites are sand/grass/gravel and completely level; the hookup sites have paved camper pads (and are also level). As mentioned above, there is zero privacy/separation between sites, but this is the price you pay for easy and close beach access!
Bath/Shower house: Reasonably clean, especially being so close to the ocean. No garbage receptacle which was slightly annoying. The utility hooks are outside of the showers compromising some privacy. I didn’t use the shower so I cannot comment further.
Activities/Amenities: This is a popular fishing spot on the inlet. There is direct access to the beach under the bridge where there are restaurants, concessions, and other activities at the Big Chill Beach Club. There is also a pedestrian walkway on the bridge which was kind of cool. The playground is large and modern. There is a camper store, but it was not open when we were there. The dumpsters are a bit of a walk depending on where your site is located. Our site was almost directly under the bridge (and also a power pole!) but this was cool, especially at night when the bridge was lit up.
I’m glad we were not there on a weekend OR in the hookup sites; we had no neighbors directly on either side of us so it felt more private, but I would imagine that on weekends when all sites are completely full, it would be a different story!
Traveler
Good site space.. no check in before time. We were there Halloween so all sites full. Great biking(mountain and gravel). All in..would stay again
GuideWe took our travel trailer down for a long weekend at the end of the season. It was pretty full, but didn't feel crowded. There are a few (seasonal) restaurants with in a few minutes walk/drive.
There is an unmarked speed bump on the way in, so go SLOOW.
GuideOur second time staying here. Spacious campsites in the D loop with half-circle drive in. Clean bath houses and facilities.
Decent walking trails around the lake. Lots of water activities in you're into that.
Camp store has the basics plus a few extras. Firewood for sale at reasonable price.
Guide
If you can make it their Halloween season is awesome. It usually lasts every weekend through October. Lots of activities for the kids.
TravelerThis place is simply amazing. Nothing negative about it, just go and experience for yourself
LegendWe had a great experience at Trap Pond. Price was reasonable. D Loop sites were a good size. Comes with a fire ring and picnic table. Site wasn't super level, so just bring enough leveling blocks if you're in a camper. D14 specifically is the last site on the row with an unobstructed view of the pond- we loved it. All sites in D loop had great tree coverage. It was also right near the showers, which were clean & warm, just what was needed. Tent sites are more secluded and are walk-in; our buddies tent camped the same weekend. There was a dock within walking distance of our site. Canoes were available for rent & I highly recommend canoeing water trails through the beautiful Cypress trees. No sewer connects, but there are 2 dump stations and we didn't wait long at the dump station heading out on a Sunday in July. Camp store has all the necessities, yet still simple. Free concerts at the nature center every Saturday in the summer. Nice walking/hiking trails around the grounds also. Dog friendly was a plus!! Lots of dogs were on leads at campsites including ours.
GuideWe stayed here on our way down to South Carolina so we didn’t get to spend too much time exploring but we got a little taste of this beach-side campground.
It was located inland next to a bridge on the South side of the Indian River inlet. I understand there is a Northside of the campground too, on the other side of the inlet. We pulled in at night and didn’t have trouble finding our site, it’s very flat with no trees so you have good visibility. We had an electric hook up, picnic table, and there was a shared dump station on the grounds. The lot was sandy and level, easy to level. Unfortunately, there was a big rainstorm that night so some of the sites were flooded, tent campers were rained out.
The bath houses were okay, hard to keep clean especially after the rain we got, but they were also very smelly inside and out. The bridge was also stinky. Pretty sure the smells were amplified by the hot, humid air, not sure if it’s like that all of the time.
The beach is super close! We went to take our dog for a walk and, though the tide was in, it was shallow enough for me to walk out a bit. It was dark so I can’t comment on cleanliness but we heard from locals it’s a nice beach.
We were very close to Dewey Beach and stopped at Nalu for a drink. I loved the tiki bar theme and everyone was so nice, we even made a few new friends.
TravelerJust wow. We made an impromptu visit and camping trip. The walk-in tent sites are BEAUTIFUL!! It’s really great to be able to set up camp and be in nature without the sound of someone charging their phone or blowing up their mattress in the site next to you. All the wall in tent sites on loop E are HUGE!! You can easily fit two tents plus all the glamping extras! The bathrooms are short walk away and are lovely. Clean and big with free showers. The wheelbarrows provided are great for the drop off of equipment. The first night it rained (literal buckets). The site was under 3 inches of water within a half hour!! Once the rain stopped though the puddles were gone just as fast! The hiking is always beautiful and easy to access. The flat trails are wide and loop across to the national park side. The camp store is also a huge plus! They have everything you need for emergency’s and then some! The bikes, ice, and firewood are easy to access. The only complaint is that although there is boating a place to cool off was missed greatly. A pool or splash pad would make a great addition to an almost perfect campground! An added note, during the storm a branch from a tree became loose and we went to the check in to let them know. They gave us expedited care. The checked out the tree and decided for our safety we needed to change sites. They were able to give us a new site right away and even offered to help move us!! Customer camper care is definitely number 1!
TravelerThe amenities are good and nearby nice, but expensive restaurant within walking distance. You can go out on a fishing boat in the ocean on the north side of the inlet. There are virtually no trees here and none in tent camping areas. Bring your own shade.
RangerThis campground was wonderful for our family of 5 with 6. 4 and 2 year old boys. The setting is wooded with great shade and a very peaceful pond backdrop. We stayed in loop A, and found that A and B loops are the place to be if you have young children- the playground is awesome and is sandwiched between them. The loops get progressively quieter as you go towards E. All sites are great, but the best ones are definitely the ones closest to the pond. We really enjoyed the pontoon boat ride- this is definitely not a typical pond! The cypress trees are stunning and the history there alone is definitely worth the price of admission, not to mention the otherworldly narrow passages through cypress swaps and all kinds of wildlife on display. The trail around the campground goes through nice pine forests and crosses the swampland and pond. It is smooth stone dust, great for foot travel or any kind of biking. The sites are not huge but spaced well. Important to note- this pond is NOT for swimming. Very shallow and lots of trees just under the surface. If you are kid free or have older kids, they have kayaks for rent and I would highly recommend taking a paddle across the pond and deep into the water trails through the cypress forest. Magical. The camp store is fantastic. The sites are dirt/grass and not full hookup, but they have two dumpstations on the way out. Our site was nice because it had trail access and only one neighbor. Be forewarned that there are ticks here, the tiny dangerous kind.... we found some on us, so just check thoroughly. Overall a great place!
GuideCamp store is well stocked with essentials and extras (fishing licenses are not sold but can be purchased online). Facilities are clean. Showers have water saver flow. Sites with water benefit from a water filter attachment at the source. Park has playgrounds for kids. Boat rental and other services can be seasonal so best to check in advance.
GuideAlthough this is not my favorite type of camping it may be yours. Easy level sights on asphalt parking lot.Nothing separates you from others and there is no room for privacy. The bathhouses in the front are slightly cleaner and the ones toward the back are used more frequently and all could use attention-cleaning. Bike paths are easy to access and well maintained outside of the park. Ocean City, Lewes etc are a short distance.
LegendAmazing views and fantastic beach! A fisherman’s perfect campground right on the inlet. Full hook up sites, bathhouses and laundry on site as well.
Dogs are allowed on the Northern inlet beach but not the Southern. Only drawback was high winds and a swampy smell.
ScoutWe stayed with my parents for the weekend on a walk in site. HUGE SITE. I was amazed at the size, especially since the car / RV sites were on top of each other. The bathrooms were individual rather than shared. As usual, we had a malfunction and had our car battery die our last night there. Thankfully we were with a bunch of other people & were able to get back on the road in the morning.
GuideOverall we had a wonderful stay. The campground is huge and I suggest renting a golf cart (if you don't have one) to unlock the full potential of the grounds.
It was bike week so the campground was a bit more lively than we anticipated but that was more on us for not double checking the events calendar. All the bikers and their families were solid people. One guy even let my son borrow his fishing rod and bait the one evening and just told us to return it after we were done.
It was off season so the waterpark was closed and things were winding down. We knew that to be the case so no knock there. We keep busy on our golf cart rental taking scenic drives, heading to the pier to crab and fish, and a few spirited games of ice hockey in the arcade.
The campground is at a great location to either head towards Assateague Island or Ocean City. We normally stay in Ocean City over the summer in July so we chose to explore more of the Assateague side. With that said, Route 611 has a lot to offer if you have the time to explore.
Assateague Surf Shop - amazing breakfast
Sinepuxent Brewing - great beer and smoked pull pork
The Shrimp Boat - tasty seafood takeout
Assateague Island State Park - beautiful beach and park
My only major con was the trash removal at 5 or 6AM!! It sounded like the trash truck and dumpster were inside our camper. I think that only occurred 2 mornings but it was more than enough. - minus a half star
Also the pricing is a bit outrageous. For all the work you put into set up and prep just to pay close to what you would for a mid level hotel stay is kinda insane. Stayed from Thursday to Monday and it was right around or above the $500 mark for ONLY electric and water hookups. - minus a half star
Overall we had a very enjoyable time as a family and that was the goal.
GuideThis is an absolutely excellent park at the Delaware Shore. We had beautiful walks down by the Indian River Inlet and through the park itself. Beach Access is so easy, my 80 year old grandmother who came camping with us made it over with no problem.
The sites are a little close together, but it's not noticeable. Everyone was so friendly including the staff that it was a pleasure to visit. When our dog got out of her harness on the beach, everyone jump ed in to help out.
The park is extremely dog friendly, and I highly recommend bringing your furry friends along.
GuideThere is a lot to do the water park is good and the lazy river is nice and big the Wild West shows are great. It’s a bit expensive but all in all it’s a great place for family that just wants to get way for a few days
TravelerGreat for the kids always something to do
TravelerStayed in Yurt 1 waterfront. It may be the most beautiful campsite I’ve had the pleasure of staying at. Stayed in early June. There was plenty of tree cover, and the breeze coming off the pond was wonderful. It was such a lovely surprise. The Yurt had electric and AC! Big cozy inside with a small table and two beds. There is water Spickets close by and the bathrooms are close as well. It’s nice that the cabin area is walk-in only so no worries about loud trucks all times of day. The bathrooms are shared individual and free clean showers!! There is a park and boat launches everywhere. DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE HIKING! Such beautiful trails all over. Could spend a whole weekend doing a separate trail each day. Long and short ones.
LegendOur first time camping here was in 2019 and we loved it! The weather that time was perfect! Last year and this year, the weather was terrible. This year it rained and was cold. Fire pits are not allowed at your site and the wind is such that you can’t sit outside when it’s chilly. The campground itself is nice. Full hookups, walking distance or short drive to 2 restaurants, though neither is dog friendly, walk to beach and also a dog beach. If the weather cooperates and you love the beach, this might be for you! Otherwise, skip it and find something inland. Site 235 was and end site with views of the bridge, at least when the fog lifted there was a nice view. Close to Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Fenwick, Lewes, and Ocean City isn’t too far away.
RangerSites are somewhat close together but this is not a "camping" campground. There is plenty to do here with the water park, playgrounds, and Western theme areas. Also close to the Beach and boardwalk. Check your calendars though. We stayed during OC bike week and it was loud! Our fault for not checking the calendar
GuideTrap Pond is well rounded. Has distinct areas for tents, car camping and trailers, as well as RVs. Signs are clear and easy to find your way around. The picnic tables at each site are brand new. Also, obvious signs of land management and planting of new, diverse trees.
LegendDelaware Seashore SP
This was our 2nd trip to this campground. We were with 2 other couples. Two of us stayed north side in RVs and one couple stayed on south side in a tent. This trip had a lot of wind. It was almost hard to sit outside. The weather was sunny but cooler than we’d hoped. Our site faced the inlet and bridge which was beautiful but again with the wind we couldn’t sit outside much. There are no trees, or very few, to block wind or sun. The other couple camped next to us and when we sat outside their RV, our RV blocked some of the wind. These two sites were spacious and gave us a lot of room to spread out and set up corn hole. No campfires are permitted at individual sites. The bathhouse was clean. We walked our dog to the dog beach area on the north side and down to the marina where there is a restaurant. The south side area has access to the beach for swimming and a restaurant with amazing views. Fishing is allowed with a license and you can fish right in the inlet across the campground road from the RV site. You can also fish at the north side dog beach. The campground was at full capacity and getting a reservation on the north side requires a year lead time if you want a site with a view and several months lead time for other sites. There is no last minute reserving at this campground. Locally you can choose between several beaches and small towns with boardwalks, restaurants, and entertainment
LegendLast family trip of the year and it didn’t disappoint. We stayed in site D25 again just as we did 2 yrs ago. It’s a pull through site as are all sites in loop D. This is pet friendly and has electric and water. Dump station is across from loop D. There are 5 loops with Loop E being tent and cabins/hurts only. That Loop also has island tent sites. We couldn’t walk into that area. Each loop or area has its own bathhouse which appear to all be individual family style bathrooms.
The layout of the sites in loop D is not typical. All sites in this loop are pull through and parallel to the road, so the left drivers side of your camper faces the road and the right side faces your camp area. If you stay in an inside loop site you will be facing the camper on the other side of the loop. For instance D11 and D14 face each other. The distance between sites across the loop isn’t huge or blocked by any foliage but didn’t seem to be an issue for our friends who stayed in D24. If you stay on the outside of the loop you will either face the woods (higher numbered sites) or loop C through the trees ( lower numbered sites). Our site is pretty level as are most sites. 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. Other loops are all back in sites and many of those have trees to keep an eye on as well. This is a shaded campground. At the end of each loop is a pier on the pond which is large and beautiful. There are playgrounds in each loop and bike rentals at the camp store.
The tent area is walk in but they provide wheelbarrows or carts to haul your stuff. These sites are very private and well spaced off the walk-in path and from each other. The cabins and yurts are also walk-in but again you have the use of carts. Some of the cabins are facing the pond and offer gorgeous views.
There is a primitive group camp area complete with bathhouse, screened in pavilion, open air pavilion, numerous picnic tables, horseshoe and volleyball courts and sits at the point so the views of the pond are plentiful.
There is a disc golf course within walking distance and the weekend we were there a competition was happening. There is a day use area with boat rentals and lots of trails for hikers or horses to use.
The town of Laurel nearby has a few stores. I found This and That Country Store which was so cute. The owner was super nice. The beach areas of Delaware are not too far away if you want a beach day.
This has become one of our favorite campgrounds in DE.
TravelerWell actually accidentally made a reservation here instead of the camp site about 10 miles north of here near Lewes. But was happy I did, easy to get to and the bridge lights at night give it a fun ambiance. Bathrooms are nice with large showers, concrete slabs for parking. Walking distance to beach. It’s a little pricey ($51 per night after booking fees) but was great for one night.
TravelerThe site I was in A34 is a little more secluded. The kids yelling and dogs barking ruined my peace and quiet. Once they left it was much better. Park has a nice lake and you can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats. There is a pontoon tour of the lake that is nice and tells of the history of the Cypress farms. You can hike or bike the trails and there is a small nature center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cape May, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cape May, NJ is Delaware Seashore State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 55 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cape May, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Cape May, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
