Camping in Delaware
Lots of people love camping, especially in the United States. Apart from its huge land area (4th in the world) it has countless spots with trails, trees, streams, ponds, and even beaches, which makes camping so much more enjoyable. If you’re the type to pitch your tent under the canopy of stars and relax in nature, the First State has many places for you to scratch your camping itch. Here are some:
Go Fishing
Part of the camping experience is catching dinner fresh from the lake (or beach, depending on where you are). Fishing isn’t for everyone, but for those who are into it, it combines nicely with camping to give you a perfect activity in the environment while being away from the bustle of the big city. The state parks of Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore are particularly good for water-based activities, but more on them later.
Make (and eat) S’mores by the Campfire
This classic camping snack is loved by almost anyone. Chocolate, grahams, and marshmallows come together to somehow taste better than them apart. If you’ve never tasted one and want to do so on your next camping trip, just pack the three ingredients. Break the graham cracker in two, put the chocolate on one half, a melted marshmallow on top, then enclose the thing with the other half of the graham cracker. Redden State Forest and Deep Branch Family Campground are awesome places to set that campfire and roast the marshmallows for your tasty treats.
Hiking
Hiking is a favorite pastime for many people. The First State, despite being the second smallest, has many, many miles of trails, both for hiking and biking. The paths run through habitats of numerous animals that scurry around while a variety of birds fly overhead. The state parks, such as Alapocas Run and Auburn Valley are good places to start if hiking is your thing.
Swimming
While this is admittedly only for campsites near water, such as lakes or the beach, it’s still a very fun activity, especially when camping. Away from stuff like computers and TVs (well, unless you bring the portable kinds, but who does that when camping?), swimming is not only enjoyable, it’s also one of the best ways to exercise the muscles in your body. That’s not even mentioning the games you can play while doing so. A definite activity won’t want to miss out on while camping near water.
Stargazing
Probably the most uncommon activity on this list (given that it can only be done at night), but is still breathtaking in its own right. And there’s probably no better time to do this than when you’re on a camping trip, away from the light pollution of the big cities, when the full splendor of the celestial objects is on display – a spectacular view, even without any telescopes. The Brandywine Creek and Trap Pond state parks are some of the better places to look up at the stars from the cozy ground of your campsite.
Places to eat while camping in Delaware’s State Parks
While many campers prefer to catch and or cook their own food, you can enjoy yourself in Delaware even if you forgot your foodstuffs. For those who want camping minus the whole catching/cooking your own food thing, here are some places you can visit for meals:
Crooked Hammock Brewery (Lewes)
The Lighthouse (Dewey Beach)
Taco Reho (Rehoboth Beach)
Places to Pitch your Tent or Park your RV:
Now that we’ve covered activities and food, let’s get to the actual locations. After all, you need to establish your base of camping operations as one of the first things on your list. While the places on this list are state parks, they aren’t the only ones, by any means, but they are a good place to start. Without further ado, here they are (in no particular order):
Cape Henlopen State Park
The largest state park of them all, Cape Henlopen is located in southern Delaware, with tons of activities such as Camping (of course), Canoeing, Kayaking, and even golf.
Learn more about Cape Henlopen State Park here
Delaware Seashore State Park
Coming in at fourth in terms of area, Delaware Seashore State Park is still huge, definitely big enough for some camping fun. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Bay, you can spend your time surfing, swimming, and fishing.
Learn more about Delaware Seashore State Park here
Lums Pond State Park
Named after the largest freshwater pond in Delaware which happens to sit within its borders, this state park’s many activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, or even trying the zipline!
Learn more about Lums Pond State Park here
Trap Pond State Park
Home to numerous Bald Cypress Trees within its borders, this state park’s activities include the water-based kayaking, canoeing, boating, and swimming. Though you can also bird-watch or have fun picnics within the area. Go wild!
