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
A beach-camping option with tent and RV sites plus cabins, rather than yurts. Cape Henlopen's cabins offer a colder-season alternative to a tent; check the reservation calendar for your accommodation and dates.
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 close-to-home option for NCC families — camping and yurts beside Delaware's largest freshwater pond. Trails anchor the stay; boat rentals and Go Ape are seasonal extras to confirm separately.
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 — Killens Pond has cabins with kitchens and bathrooms; Cape Henlopen also has cabins. Yurts are at Lums Pond and Trap Pond. Check each accommodation's equipment and facilities before deciding what to pack.
Can you stay in Delaware state parks in winter?
Yes — Killens Pond's campground is open year-round, and the parks system describes year-round cabin stays at Cape Henlopen, Killens Pond, and Trap Pond. Tent, RV, and yurt availability varies by accommodation; check the reservation calendar and winter facilities before booking.
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.
Get the good ones before they fill up
One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
More guides
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.