Fort DuPont State Park
Explore a real Endicott-era fort on the Delaware River — batteries, trails, river views, and even vintage baseball.
500 Old Elm Ave, Delaware City, DE 19706 · About 30 minutes
Hours
8 AM – sunset
Show the week Hide the week
| Sat | 8 AM – sunset |
|---|---|
| Sun | 8 AM – sunset |
| Mon | 8 AM – sunset |
| Tue | 8 AM – sunset |
| Wed | 8 AM – sunset |
| Thu | 8 AM – sunset |
| Fri | 8 AM – sunset |
Last checked 2026-09-11
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 5+ (little ones enjoy the grounds & river)
- Indoor / outdoor
- Outdoor
- Typical visit
- 1–1.5 hours
Trails, picnic areas and historic structures along the river. No playground here — pair it with the Delaware City waterfront.
The Quick Version
- • A 350-acre former Army coastal-defense fort on the Delaware River at Delaware City, now a state park — explorable batteries, old military buildings, and waterfront trails.
- • Low-key and uncrowded: walk the grounds, find the concrete gun batteries and an 1876 mine-control casemate, and watch the river traffic.
- • A few times a year the Diamond State Base Ball Club plays vintage, 1860s-rules baseball here — a fun, free spectacle.
- • A per-vehicle entrance fee applies in season; about 30 minutes from Wilmington, right by the Fort Delaware ferry.
Best Ages
Ages 5+ (little ones enjoy the grounds & river)
Plan For
1–1.5 hours
Adults
Free entry (per-vehicle fee in season, inland rate)
Kids
Free
What to Expect
Fort DuPont is a former U.S. Army coastal-defense fort on the Delaware River at Delaware City, built mainly in the Endicott era (1897–1904) and active from the Civil War through World War II — now Delaware's 13th state park.
Spread over about 350 acres are 75-plus historic military buildings and fortifications: concrete gun batteries you can walk up to, an 1876 mine-control casemate, officers' quarters and barracks, and the old War Department Theatre under restoration. For families it's a quiet, uncrowded place to roam, find the batteries, and watch ships move up the river toward Philadelphia. A nice bonus: the Diamond State Base Ball Club plays vintage, 1860s-rules baseball on the grounds a handful of times a year — free and genuinely fun to watch.
Set expectations: parts of the site are an active redevelopment (the Governor Bacon Health Center still operates here, and a Delaware Military Museum is in the works), and amenities are limited — so it's more 'explore the history outdoors' than a polished park. There's a per-vehicle fee in season. It's about 30 minutes from Wilmington — pair it with the Fort Delaware ferry from adjacent Delaware City.
Who It's Best For
Elementary-age kids and up get the most from exploring the fort and its batteries. Little ones enjoy the open grounds and the river, but parts of the site are uneven historic structures, so it skews older.
Highlights
The gun batteries & fortifications
Ages 5+Walk up to concrete Endicott-era gun batteries and an 1876 mine-control casemate — real history you can stand inside.
Delaware River views
All agesOpen waterfront with ship traffic heading up the river toward Philadelphia.
Vintage baseball
All agesThe Diamond State Base Ball Club plays 1860s-rules games on the grounds a few times a year — free to watch.
Roaming the grounds
All agesUncrowded historic roads and open space to explore at your own pace.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Expecting a playground or polished amenities — it's a historic fort under redevelopment.
- • Letting kids clamber on crumbling structures — look, don't climb.
- • Counting on restrooms or food on site — handle that in Delaware City.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Free entry (per-vehicle fee in season, inland rate)
Kids
Free
Under
Free
A per-vehicle state-park entrance fee applies March–November (inland rate); walk-in and bike-in are free, and an annual pass covers it. Confirm the current amount before you go.
Membership tip: A Delaware State Parks annual pass covers the entrance fee here and at every state park.
Getting There
Parking
Lots on the grounds; the per-vehicle fee applies in season.
Easy and uncrowded most days.
Entrance
Enter off Old Elm Avenue near Delaware City.
Parent Logistics
The paved roads and open grounds are mostly stroller-friendly; the historic structures are uneven, with stairs.
Limited facilities — plan ahead (parts of the site are still being developed).
Not confirmed — plan ahead.
A mix — the grounds and riverfront are open, with some tree cover.
Food & Snacks
No food on-site. No food on site; Delaware City is minutes away with restaurants.
Snack strategy: Bring water; eat in Delaware City before or after.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Check the Diamond State Base Ball Club schedule for a free vintage-baseball game.
- ✓ Pair it with the Fort Delaware ferry from Delaware City next door for a double-fort day.
- ✓ It's uncrowded — a quiet history walk most days.
- ✓ Bring water; on-site amenities are limited.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Spring through fall (the main operating season is roughly April–September). Catch a Diamond State Base Ball Club vintage game (a handful of times a year), and pair it with a Fort Delaware ferry day from adjacent Delaware City.
Seasonal Notes
Open 8 AM–sunset; main operating season roughly April–September. A per-vehicle entrance fee applies March–November (inland rate — confirm the current amount). Vintage baseball games run a handful of times a year.
Rainy Day?
An outdoor historic site — save it for a dry day.
While You're in the Area
Fort Delaware (ferry from Delaware City) and Delaware City's riverfront and restaurants.
Upcoming Events
Know when something good is on near Fort DuPont State Park
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