Photo by Delaware State Parks
Delaware offers many opportunities for overnight stays in the great outdoors — including sleeping under the stars in tents or yurts, traveling with a recreational vehicle, discovering a cozy cabin in the woods or even visiting the beach in the off-season in a cottage or waterfront house.
Camping is available year-round in Delaware State Parks, and fall is a popular time to visit its five campground parks — Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore, Killens Pond, Lums Pond and Trap Pond — and the unique and diverse programs, events or activities offered at each site. The parks system also has cottages and houses for rent along the coast for special occasions. All told, the state park system offers more than 900 sites from which to choose.
“Camping in our state parks is a great way to create lasting memories and new traditions,” said Matthew Ritter, Director of DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation. “There is something about a campfire that seems to quiet the world around us and allow people to reconnect with each other.”
Read more: Enjoy Camping in Delaware State ParksTent or Yurt
Get back to the basics with a tent or yurt in the woods or at the beach and immerse yourself in nature. The five campground parks as well as Brandywine Creek, Holts Landing and White Clay Creek State Parks, have areas that can be reserved for groups, including Girl or Boy Scouts or other other organizations.
Campsites are available at many parks for people with mobility challenges, designed with accessible pathways, restrooms and parking, to ensure a comfortable outdoor experience for all.
Recreational Vehicles
Delaware State Parks offers RV camping at five locations, including Killens Pond, Lums Pond, Trap Pond, Cape Henlopen and the Delaware Seashore State Parks. The sites have all the comforts of home in picture-perfect surroundings.
Cabins
Three of the campgrounds feature cabins, including Cape Henlopen, Killens Pond and Trap Pond, and can sleep 4-6 people depending on the location. Lums Pond will add a new 14-cabin complex, with two and three bedrooms, with two cabins expected to open in 2026 and the remaining 12 in 2027, adding even more options for people looking to spend the night in the great outdoors in the First State.
Cottages and Rental Houses
The Delaware parks system also has three waterfront locations for lodging along the coast, including 12 cottages at the Indian River Inlet that sleep six; Assawoman Canal house in Ocean View that sleeps 7 and the Oceanfront House off Coastal Highway at the northern boundary of Delaware Seashore State Park that sleeps six.
Leashed pets are welcome at campgrounds but must be attended at all times, and there are designated cabins and cottages for animals so check reservation details at the time of booking.
For more information on camping at Delaware State Parks, visit the destateparks.com/overnight-accommodations/ website.