Delaware may get overlooked when it comes to the ultimate beach camping destination (Delawhere?), but there’s plenty of oceanfront real estate to call your own for a night or two along our 28 miles of coastline. Though pitching a tent in the sand on the Delaware beaches is not permitted, ample options to sleep under the stars await.
Big Oaks Family Campground
If access to Rehoboth Beach is a priority, Big Oaks Family Campground in Rehoboth Beach is your best bet. While sun and sand are what most visitors are after, there’s plenty to do right on this campground. In addition to tent and pop-up sites with water and electric, plus full-hookup RV sites, fun activities like art contests, bingo, shuffleboard, billiards and an on-site playground and pool are available.
Cape Henlopen State Park
With the ocean just a few steps away and accommodations for any kind of camper, this is the ultimate spot where the coast meets country (think a shaded, tree canopy amongst pine-covered, sandy dunes). This bike-friendly campground in Lewes offers sites for large rigs with hookups, walk-in tent sites and cabins. Bathhouses with showers, dump stations, a recycling station and a playground are all included with your state park reservation.
Jellystone Park Camp Resort
A bit further north than what people generally consider “the beaches,” but totally worth the half hour drive on Route 1 to Lincoln. This 32-acre campground is a destination in and of itself. A swimming pool, dog run, playground, volleyball, horseshoe pits, game room, clean bathrooms and laundry round out their amenities with sites accommodating big rigs and tents alike. If “glamping” is more your style, a variety of cabin rentals are also available.
Delaware Seashore State Park
Perhaps one of the most popular spots for roughing it at the beach, scenic Indian River Inlet in Rehoboth Beach offers two campgrounds on either side. The North Inlet features both three-point hookups and standard hookups and is best for bigger rigs. For tent camping, head to the South Inlet. Easy access to both the bay and the ocean are within walking distance.
Trap Pond State Park
If the smell of salt air while roughing it in the woods doesn’t rank among your camping priorities, head to Delaware’s first state park, 29 miles southwest of Lewes in the town of Laurel. There are 3,600 acres along freshwater wetland supporting one of the last natural stands of bald cypress trees is an easy trade for bay front views. Created in the 1700s, the pond originally dammed to provide power for the local sawmills harvesting the area’s old-growth timber. In the 30s, the state acquired the land and rehabilitated the pond and surrounding woodlands as a nature preserve and recreation space for which we are lucky to enjoy today. Tent and RV campers can choose from 142 sites set in five wooded loops — all with full hookups and all the essential amenities. The park also offers several rustic cabins and a couple of yurts. Take in some of the most breathtaking, natural beauty southern Delaware has to offer — a haven for bird-watching, angling trail hiking and paddling through jaw-dropping, tree-covered canopies.
Treasure Beach RV Park and Campground
Set on 100 acres among the shores of the Assawoman Bay, Treasure Beach in Selbyville is one of the few opportunities for truly waterfront camping. For beachgoers who prefer a quiet and peaceful ocean atmosphere, the beaches of Fenwick Island are just one mile east. Each RV site is equipped with water, electric, sewer and cable TV hookups, while tent sites include water and electric. Pet-friendly, wooded or lakefront cozy cabins, accommodating 6 guests, are also available. If the waterfront views aren’t enough, additional amenities include two lifeguarded pools and a splash pad, a playground, jumping pad, bike rentals, fishing and crabbing piers and paddleboat rentals.
