Bellevue State Park
A 1.2-mile loop on the old du Pont horse track, free summer concerts on the lawn, and a du Pont mansion — North Wilmington's easiest state park.
800 Carr Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809 · ~10 min from downtown Wilmington (I-95 Exit 9)
Hours
8 AM – sunset
Show the week Hide the week
| Fri | 8 AM – sunset |
|---|---|
| Sat | 8 AM – sunset |
| Sun | 8 AM – sunset |
| Mon | 8 AM – sunset |
| Tue | 8 AM – sunset |
| Wed | 8 AM – sunset |
| Thu | 8 AM – sunset |
Last checked 2026-09-07
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- All ages
- Indoor / outdoor
- Outdoor
- Typical visit
- 1-3 hours
Flat mile-ish oval track that takes a stroller, with a playground, tot lot, restrooms, horses and a disc golf course off it.
The Quick Version
- • Delaware State Park in North Wilmington just off I-95 Exit 9.
- • The headline is the 1.2-mile loop on William du Pont Jr.'s old horse-training track: crushed stone, easy, with the paved Northern Delaware Greenway also running through the park.
- • Free Summer Concert Series on the lawn, Sunday and Thursday evenings June-August.
- • State park entrance fee in season (Mar 1-Nov 30): $5/vehicle DE-registered, $10/vehicle out-of-state. Walk or bike in free year-round.
- • Budget 1-2 hours for a loop walk + playground. Half a day if you stay for a concert with a picnic.
Best Ages
All ages
Plan For
1-3 hours
Adults
Free entry; per-vehicle fee in season
Kids
Free
What to Expect
Bellevue is the easiest state park in North Wilmington — close, flat, well-maintained, and exactly the right size for a quick family visit. It used to be the William du Pont Jr. estate, and you can still feel that — the open lawns, the mansion (Bellevue Hall) at the center, the bandstand, the equestrian center on the back side. It's a polished park, not a wild one.
The headline is the loop: William du Pont Jr. built this 1.2-mile track in the 1930s to train his thoroughbreds, and today it circles the park's meadows, woods, and pond. It's crushed stone and rated easy, so it's a good jogging-stroller walk and a fine bike loop for kids past the wobbly stage. For smooth pavement (umbrella strollers, scooters, balance bikes), use the Northern Delaware Greenway, which runs through the park. Plan on 20-30 minutes for the loop if you're walking with kids who stop to look at every duck.
The playground is modest by big-park standards — think classic equipment in a fenced-ish area, not a destination playground like Can-Do or Glasgow. Good for a 30-45 minute add-on, not a reason to drive across town. Shade is partial.
The pond is small and quiet, with a path along the edge. Casual fishing is allowed (DE fishing license required for ages 16+); the park has stocked it in past seasons. There's no rod rental on site, so bring your own. Bellevue Hall, the white mansion at the center of the park, is mostly used for private events — you can walk around it but not casually tour the interior.
The real reason to know Bellevue exists is the free Summer Concert Series. Sunday and Thursday evenings, June through August. Bring a blanket, low chairs, a picnic, the kids in PJs, and let them run around on the lawn while a local band plays from the bandstand. It's exactly the kind of low-stakes summer evening that's hard to manufacture otherwise — and it's free. Parking near the bandstand fills early on concert nights; the playground lot is the easy workaround.
The vibe is North Wilmington family. Stroller crowd in the mornings, joggers and dog walkers throughout the day, picnic blankets on concert nights. Not a tourist park — just a really useful one if you live anywhere near 95.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers: the loop works with a jogging or all-terrain stroller and the paved Greenway with any stroller, the playground works for the under-3 crowd, and the open lawn near the bandstand is safe for staggering around. Preschoolers: scooters and balance bikes on the paved Greenway, pond fishing with a parent, summer concerts. Elementary: first real bike rides on the loop, tennis/pickleball if you bring rackets, fishing. Tweens and up: tennis, paths for longer walks, concert nights on a blanket with friends.
Highlights
The 1.2-Mile Track Loop
All ages; jogging strollers and kids on pedal bikesWilliam du Pont Jr.'s old horse-training track, now an easy crushed-stone loop around meadows, woods, and the pond, with playgrounds along the way. Jogging and all-terrain strollers do fine; the paved Northern Delaware Greenway through the park is the smooth option.
Free Summer Concert Series
All agesSunday and Thursday evenings, June through August. Local bands at the bandstand. Bring a blanket, low chairs, and a picnic — it's a real local-secret summer routine. Free.
Playground
Ages 1-7Modest classic playground near the central lawn. Partial shade. Worth a 30-45 minute stop bolted onto a loop walk; not a destination on its own.
Fishing Pond
All agesSmall pond with a walking path along the edge. Casual fishing allowed (DE fishing license required for ages 16+). No rod rental on site — bring your own gear. Reliably good for ducks and geese.
Tennis and Pickleball
Ages 8+Multiple courts at the tennis center on the north side of the park. Some courts striped for pickleball. Reservations may apply during peak times — check the park office.
Bellevue Hall (the du Pont Mansion)
Anyone who likes a little history with their walkThe white Greek Revival mansion at the center of the park, former William du Pont Jr. estate. Often used for private events, but the park offers scheduled tours of the mansion; otherwise walk the grounds and admire it from outside.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • The equestrian center area unless your kids are confident around horses and you've called ahead.
- • Expecting a destination-grade playground — head to Can-Do or Glasgow for that.
- • Concert nights with a baby who's not portable — the lawn fills up and parking is a hike with a stroller after 6 PM.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Free entry; per-vehicle fee in season
Kids
Free
Under
Free
Delaware State Parks charges a daily entrance fee per vehicle from March 1 through November 30: $5/day for DE-registered vehicles, $10/day for out-of-state. Walking or biking in is free year-round. Tennis/pickleball court reservations and pavilion rentals are separate fees.
Membership tip: An annual 2026 DE State Parks pass is $50 for residents and $100 for non-residents (50% off for seniors and active military). DE residents 65+ can get a lifetime pass for $150. One pass covers all 17 Delaware state parks. At $5/day for an inland park like Bellevue, both passes pay off at about 10 paid vehicle visits a year. You can also reserve a free daily pass online using your Delaware library card.
Getting There
Parking
Multiple paved lots throughout the park. The main lot near the bandstand and Bellevue Hall is closest to the open lawn. Separate lots near the playground, the pond, and the tennis center.
On Sunday and Thursday concert nights in summer, the lot near the bandstand fills by 5:30-6:00 PM. Park at the playground lot or near the tennis center and walk over — it's a short, flat walk on paved paths. Don't try to park on Carr Rd shoulders; the park has more lots than it looks.
Entrance
Main entrance off Carr Rd, just off I-95 Exit 9. Pass the fee station (in season) and follow signs to your destination — Bellevue Hall, the playground, the pond, or the tennis center.
Parent Logistics
Good. The 1.2-mile loop is crushed stone, rated easy, so a jogging or all-terrain stroller handles it; an umbrella stroller will work harder. For smooth pavement, use the Northern Delaware Greenway, which runs through the park. The playgrounds sit along the loop.
Permanent restrooms near the bandstand/picnic area and near the tennis center. State park bathrooms — clean enough, not fancy. Adequate for a quick change.
Changing tables are typically available in the main restroom buildings — bring a portable pad as backup if you need a sure thing.
Mixed. Long sections of the loop run through mature trees — good shade. The open concert lawn is fully exposed (bring hats and sunscreen for daytime visits). The playground has partial canopy shade. The pond edge is mostly exposed.
Food & Snacks
No food on-site. No permanent concession. Concert nights occasionally bring food trucks to the lawn — check the DE State Parks calendar before you go if you're planning around dinner.
Snack strategy: Pack everything, especially for concert nights — blanket, chairs, dinner, snacks, water. Wawa is a 5-minute drive on Marsh Rd or Philadelphia Pike. Janssen's Market on Kennett Pike is a fancier picnic-prep stop if you're coming from that direction.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Annual DE State Parks pass pays for itself at about 10 paid vehicle visits a year (both resident and non-resident, at inland-park rates). If you live nearby, just buy it.
- ✓ Concert nights: arrive by 5:30-6:00 PM, claim a blanket spot on the lawn near the bandstand, eat dinner there. Music typically runs 6:30-8:00 PM.
- ✓ Park at the playground lot or tennis center lot on concert nights — main lot fills first.
- ✓ Reserve a free daily park pass online using your Delaware library card — skips the per-vehicle fee.
- ✓ Walk or bike in to skip the fee entirely (year-round). The Northern Delaware Greenway connects nearby.
- ✓ Bring a balance bike or first scooter. The loop is the venue.
- ✓ Fishing: pack your own rods and bait. No on-site rental. License required for ages 16+.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings for a quiet loop walk. Sunday or Thursday evenings June-August for the free concert series — arrive by 6 PM for a good spot. Spring and fall weekends for the playground without summer crowds.
Seasonal Notes
Entrance fees in effect March 1–November 30; walk/bike entry is free year-round. The Summer Concert Series — 2026 is the 39th annual season — runs Sunday and Thursday evenings, June through August (typically 15–20 shows). Concerts start at 6:30 PM at the Bellevue Bandshell. Concert hotline for weather cancellations: (302) 761-6965. Fall brings hayrides; the park has hosted outdoor ice skating in past winters when conditions allow.
Rainy Day?
All outdoor. On a rainy day, the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science (10 min) or the Delaware Children's Museum (15 min) are the easy pivots.
While You're in the Area
Janssen's Market (Kennett Pike) is 8 minutes for fancy picnic prep. The Brandywine Zoo and Brandywine Park are 10 minutes south for a different kind of stroller day. The Delaware Museum of Nature & Science is a 10-minute drive if a rainy spell rolls in.
Upcoming Events
Bellevue Farmers Market
Oct 23 · Oct 30
Families can explore a weekly open-air farmers market offering local produce, baked goods, and prepared foods. The market is stroller-friendly, and its location within Bellevue State Park means trails and a playground are nearby for children to enjoy.
More infoFireside Folklore
Wed, Oct 28 at 6:00 PM
Families will gather around a campfire at Bellevue with park naturalists and historical interpreters to hear local folklore and fables rooted in Northern Delaware’s long human history. The program includes storytelling and discussion, likely in a relaxed, informal setting suitable for shared listening and quiet engagement. Registration required — book ahead to secure a spot.
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