Camping in Delaware

A complete guide to camping in Delaware

Serene camping scene in Brandywine Creek State Park, Delaware by M Ralph

Photo Credit: M Ralph

Overview

Delaware is the second-smallest state in the country, and its camping scene fits within a coastal plain that never rises above 450 feet. The entire state sits on the Delmarva Peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay, and the Chesapeake watershed. Beach camping at Delaware Seashore State Park and Cape Henlopen State Park near Lewes and Rehoboth Beach accounts for most of the camping demand. The Atlantic coastline draws summer visitors from the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC metro areas.

Inland Delaware holds a quieter camping character. Lums Pond State Park near Bear provides the closest camping to Wilmington and Newark. Trap Pond State Park near Laurel protects the northernmost natural stand of bald cypress in the US. Killens Pond near Felton serves the Dover area. The state park system is well-maintained and affordable, but the limited number of campgrounds means summer weekend reservations are competitive.

Browse All RV Parks & Campgrounds in Delaware

Best Seasons to Camp in Delaware

Spring

Mar-May

Beach campgrounds open in April. Temperatures reach the 60s and 70s. Horseshoe crab spawning on Delaware Bay beaches peaks in May. Migratory shorebird viewing draws birders to Bombay Hook and Prime Hook.

Summer

Jun-Aug

Peak beach season. Delaware Seashore and Cape Henlopen fill daily. July averages 76 degrees. Ocean water warms to the low 70s by August. Humidity builds. Thunderstorms occur but less frequently than inland.

Fall

Sep-Nov

September extends beach season with warm water and thinner crowds. October brings comfortable temperatures and fall color in the interior. Campgrounds stay open through October at most parks.

Season	Months	Avg High	Avg Low	Conditions
Spring	Mar-May	—	—	Beach campgrounds open in April.
Summer	Jun-Aug	—	—	Peak beach season.
Fall	Sep-Nov	—	—	September extends beach season with warm water and thinner crowds.
Winter	Dec-Feb	—	—	January averages 35 degrees.

Camping Regions in Delaware

Region	Terrain	Key Areas
Atlantic Coast	Coastal	Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach
Southern Delaware	Plains	Millsboro, Laurel, Seaford, Georgetown
Northern Delaware and Delaware Bay	Plains	Dover, Bear, Felton, Smyrna

Atlantic Coast

Coastal · Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach

Delaware Seashore State Park between Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach sits on a barrier spit between the ocean and Indian River Bay. Cape Henlopen at the north end of the coast provides pine-forest camping near the beach and the Lewes-Cape May ferry terminal. The primary camping destination in the state. Tall Pines Campground Resort and Big Oaks Campground near Rehoboth Beach provide the primary private options along the coast.

Southern Delaware

Plains · Millsboro, Laurel, Seaford, Georgetown

Trap Pond State Park near Laurel protects bald cypress swamp with paddle trails and campground. Millsboro and the Nanticoke River area provide a quieter, more rural camping character. The terrain is flat coastal plain with agricultural surroundings. Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay near Millsboro and Trap Pond State Park campground near Laurel serve the southern half of the state.

Northern Delaware and Delaware Bay

Plains · Dover, Bear, Felton, Smyrna

Lums Pond State Park near Bear has the largest freshwater pond in the state with camping and a zip line course. Killens Pond near Felton serves the Dover area. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge on Delaware Bay draws birders. More suburban-adjacent than the beach parks. Lums Pond State Park Campground near Bear provides the closest camping to Wilmington, while campgrounds near Dover serve the capital area.

Camping Tips for Delaware

Delaware Seashore State Park campground fills months ahead for summer. Book as soon as the reservation window opens. The park sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay with beach access on both sides.
Cape Henlopen State Park near Lewes provides beach camping with World War II observation tower history. The campground sits in pine forest within walking distance of the beach.
Delaware state park camping reservations open three months in advance. The window is shorter than most states, making timing critical.
Ticks carrying Lyme disease are active statewide from April through November. Check after every outing in wooded or grassy areas.
Horseshoe crab spawning on Delaware Bay beaches in May is one of the East Coast's most significant wildlife events. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna provides viewing access.
Mosquitoes near inland ponds and marshes can be intense from June through September. Beach campgrounds with ocean breeze have fewer issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is beach camping available in Delaware?

Delaware Seashore State Park and Cape Henlopen State Park both provide camping within walking distance of Atlantic beaches. Delaware Seashore sits on a spit with ocean on one side and bay on the other. Cape Henlopen has sites in pine forest near the beach. Both fill quickly for summer.

How far ahead should I book Delaware beach campgrounds?

Delaware state parks open reservations three months in advance. For summer weekends at Delaware Seashore or Cape Henlopen, book on the first available day. Weekday availability is better. September offers warm water with less competition.

What is Trap Pond State Park?

Trap Pond near Laurel protects the northernmost natural stand of bald cypress trees in the US. The park has camping, paddle trails through the cypress swamp, and a disc golf course. It is quieter than the beach parks and rarely fills except on holiday weekends.

What is the horseshoe crab spawning?

Every May, hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs come ashore on Delaware Bay beaches to lay eggs. The eggs fuel the migration of shorebirds including red knots flying from South America to the Arctic. Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges are the primary viewing locations.