Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in South Dennis is the way to go. It's easy to find South Dennis equestrian campgrounds with the Dyrt. These scenic and easy-to-reach New Jersey campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
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.
Open for camping 365 days a year at a cost of $25 per night per site. Online reservations only and credit card is required. Blackbird State Forest, located on the border of New Castle and Kent Counties, is Delaware's northernmost state forest. It is only a 30-minute commute from Wilmington and Newark. The ten tracts of Blackbird State Forest are open year-round at no cost to the public for nature walks, hiking, jogging, and horseback riding. The forest features a 1/2-mile, wheelchair-accessible wildlife and nature interpretation trail on the Tybout Tract as well as the Blackbird Education Center on the Meadows Tract.
$25 / night
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!
Scout
super pretty. shower up in the dark but was super easy to navigate with a map. people super friendly.
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.
TravelerSpent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it. I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by.
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.
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.
GuideThe 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!
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.
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.
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.
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
TravelerOnly 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return! No running water- only port a potties but they were clean
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.
ScoutSeems to be very popular, but the sites are just too close together for our tastes. Can be very difficult to pull out when leaving. No shade. Bathrooms were not particularly clean. There were dozens of black birds and seagulls flying around, sitting on and crapping on everyone's rig. No private camp fires allowed, they have designated areas with a pit already set up. A rather unremarkable campground. The only real plus is that the beach is within walking distance.
The white GMC truck in the picture is not mine. That is how close the sites are.
TravelerWe stayed in a full hook up site, and we found the campground to be clean, well maintained and so close to the beach. You can walk to the beach from the campground, and the beach has a restaurant, bar, showers, and a nice seating area/hammock seats. The campground itself has no trees, and the sites are a little close together, but it is bearable for access to the beach. There is room to sit outside, large picnic tables and enough private space. We did not use the bathhouses, and my brother in law went to the camp store and reported it was basic, but it is a state park. There is a really nice playground. There are no fires permitted at the sites, but there is a communal fire pit (may be more than one - not sure). We were at the South Park location. It is very close to Rehobeth the town and surrounding areas.
ScoutMy family had a great time here. The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy. There are multiple port a potties here but some sites are a bit far from them. Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents. I would highly recommend this campground and will be returning.
GuideYou should know ahead of time, the sites have no shade, and no camp fires, but there is a communal site for a fire. The view made up for it. Walking distance to beach
GuideCamping here you need to know up front there is next to no shade,no campfires (there's a communal site for a fire. But I loved being in walking distance to the beach. I saw numerous dolphins at the inlet
LegendThe 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. The park has two separate campgrounds divided by the Indian River Inlet. We stayed at the southern campground but both are similar with regards to the hook-ups, sites, and proximity to the water. Both campgrounds are wide open with no shade. Pads are paved but patios and area between sites is sandy with a little bit of grass. If you don’t like sand, this is not the place for you.
We were there in April so it wasn’t very crowded and temperatures were cool so we didn’t mind the lack of shade. Some campsites are open year-round and can accommodate various camping units from tents to 45’ RVs offering back-ins and pull thrus. Roads are fairly narrow and paved campsites barely fit big rigs as we had just a few feet to spare but were able to park the car in the sand/grass so it was not a problem. Most campsites have 30- and 50-amp electric, and water and sewer hook-ups. There are also no hook-up and tent sites. There are bathhouses with free showers scattered throughout the park and laundry facilities. Since we were there in the off-season only one bathhouse was open. There are no fire pits at your site but two community fire pits are located on the outskirts of the campground. Our over the air antenna picked up a dozen or so television channels and we had no problem getting cell or internet service with our Verizon phone.
Full hook-up sites range from $30-$55/night depending on if you are a resident and what day of the week you are there. No hook-up sites are available from $25-$50/night and tent sites range from $20-$35/night. We inquired about a senior discount and received it after a phone call to them. The south campground is about a half mile from the ocean access where there are two full-service restaurants(which were both closed when we were there). The beach is wide and great for walking on and dogs are permitted during certain times of the year. If you like to fish this is a great place for surf fishing in the Atlantic and bank fishing in the Inlet River. If you have personal watercraft, there is access to the marsh and bay directly from the park.
Near the north campground is a full-service marina with a bait and tackle shop, fish and seafood sales, and a short hiking trail. Just up the road is the Indian River Life Saving Station with a visitor center, museum and gift shop. Continue on up to the road and you will pass through the small town of Dewey Beach. Keep going another mile or so and you enter Rehoboth Beach where you will find everything you need(and don’t need). Rehoboth Beach is a typical beach town with everything from t-shirts to taffy and a mile-long boardwalk. If you are a beer lover there are plenty of breweries to choose from ranging from the smaller craft breweries like the Dewey Beer Company to the larger producer Dogfish Head..
ScoutI stay at this campground everytime I come to the beach. It is nice, clean and the staff is friendly. It's just a short walk to the beach if you don't want to drive. I will be back in August and I can't wait.
TravelerPopular because it's a destination for parties
GuideBeautiful views of the bridge
Close to water and beach
Nice walkways
ScoutReally awesome site with full hookups right near town and a beautiful bridge. Clean facilities, we highly recommend it if you're in the area. No problem fitting our 18ft RV and my inlaws join with their 30ft RV as well.
GuideWeather was beautiful, ocean access easy, quiet campground. Tip: much more space on end site. The busy road noise quieted down at night.
GuideThis campground is split into 2 sides . The south side offers tent camping , and the north side offers RV camping . We pitched tents on the south side but also drove to the north side to park and check out the beach view . As long as you have your parking pass for the campground you can park on either sides and explore or fish . The plus side to this place is the beach is very close and in walking distance . We found tons of pretty sea shells . The downside is there are no trees around any of the camping sites , so you have no shade what so ever ! There are no fire pits at any of the campsites so you can’t have fires at your site . We were a bit disappointed about that . There is a community campsite as you enter the campground that anyone is free to use . The sites are close together and exposed . The bridge over the inlet lights up pretty colors at night and is very beautiful! It’s fairly close to stores . We had to drive about 15 minutes to the closest grocery store . I did forget to mention you are right next to the highway so it can be a bit noisy at night . It’s definitely worth it to check this place out !
GuideThe campground was VERY clean, peaceful, and had offerings for just about any type of camping. The dogs enjoyed walking the park, but there is not much room for them to play here. Campsites are well maintained and you can’t beat the 3 minute walk to the ocean.
Horse camping in New Jersey offers a unique way to enjoy the great outdoors while accommodating your equine companions. With a variety of campgrounds featuring amenities tailored for horse enthusiasts, you can explore the beauty of the state alongside your horse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near South Dennis, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near South Dennis, NJ is Delaware Seashore State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 55 reviews.
