Camping & cabins with kids in Delaware state parks
Delaware is small, which means a first family camping trip is never far. Every park here is a short drive from a town (and a real bathroom), the campgrounds run from full-hookup RV sites to cabins and yurts for families who aren't ready to commit to a tent, and you can be home in two hours if the night goes sideways. These are the state-park campgrounds we'd point a family to — book early, because the good weekends fill fast.
1. Cape Henlopen State Park
Lewes
The marquee beach-camping trip: tents, RV sites, and yurts within walking distance of the ocean, the Fort Miles towers, and miles of trails. Family camping runs spring through fall and books up first — reserve early.
2. Killens Pond State Park
Felton
The four-season pick — its wooded campground is open year-round, with hookup sites, walk-in tent sites, and cabins with kitchens and bathrooms. Pair a summer stay with the on-site water park.
3. Trap Pond State Park
Laurel
Camp among the bald cypress at Delaware's oldest state park — tents, cabins, and yurts beside a pond made for paddling. The cabin-or-yurt option makes it a gentle first camping trip.
4. Delaware Seashore State Park
Rehoboth Beach
Camp on the narrow strip between the ocean and the bay — wake up to the water on both sides. A summer-camping classic with the Indian River Life-Saving Station museum right in the park.
5. Lums Pond State Park
Bear
The closest-to-NCC option — a campground on Delaware's largest freshwater pond, with paddlesports, the Go Ape ropes course, and trails. An easy first overnight without a long drive.
Good to know
- • Killens Pond State Park's campground is open year-round, with 59 hookup sites, 17 walk-in tent sites, and 11 cabins with kitchens and bathrooms. source
- • Delaware State Parks charge a per-vehicle entrance fee only March 1 through November 30; campground stays require advance reservations through the state parks reservation system. source
Questions parents ask
Can you camp without a tent in Delaware state parks?
Yes — several parks rent cabins and yurts, which make a great first family trip. Killens Pond has cabins with kitchens and bathrooms, and Trap Pond and Cape Henlopen offer yurts. Book well ahead; they're popular.
Which Delaware campground is open year-round?
Killens Pond State Park's campground is open all year. Most other family campgrounds (Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore, Trap Pond, Lums Pond) run roughly spring through fall.
How far is camping from Wilmington?
Lums Pond is the closest — about 30 minutes. Killens Pond is about an hour; the beach parks (Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore) and Trap Pond are 1.5–2 hours, making them better for a planned weekend than a spontaneous overnight.
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Checked against each place’s current info.
Admission and hours come straight from each place’s guide. Last reviewed June 16, 2026. Confirm anything dated on the source before you go.