I LOVE heading out to Cape Henlopen, especially in the Winter! The beaches are gorgeous and teaming with wildlife. For the beach comber, it's easy to find unique shells, sea glass, and even the occasional weird object (My BF & I found a very ocean-battered Ariel doll.) One of my favorite parts about visiting Cape Henlopen is seeing the Horseshoe Crabs cruising along the shores. I will be heading back there soon and hope to take so many beautiful photos! One of my favorite places in Delaware for sure! read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

Let me start off this review with the same advice I give everyone who heads out to the beach here with me: For a pleasant stay, do not google the words "shark attack" and "cape henlopen". Then you should be fine. For the longest time, I neglected the state parks of Delaware, until I did a summer share in Rehobeth and discovered Cape Henlopen was like the Delaware version of Assateague. I actually would have never thought of going to Cape Henlopen, until a group of East of Maui employees brought me out here.This is one of the places I love to camp at on the beach, basically because it's one of the few that has campsites available in the summer that aren't booked six months in advance. It's also a great place for a day trip. Here are a couple of pluses to Cape Henlopen -Campground has convenient bathrooms, and cabins available so it's not just tent camping. Camping rates and reservations are here: http://www.destateparks.com/camping/cape-henlopen/index.asp. They vary by season/ and weekday vs. weekend. -MILES and MILES of bike/walking trails through gorgeous wetlands. This might be the biggest advantage to the whole park. Don't have a bike? You can walk these trails but I'll just run you over with my pink beach cruiser or for the bike less, they actually have large shed/barn type thing next to the visitors center. Trust me, you want to do the bike trails here. It's not strenuous, since it is mostly flat and half the time you're riding over boardwalks, the scenery is incredible along Gordons Pond trail. It's apparently great for bird watchers and you'll see a lot of osprey. -Great fishing pier and shop (where you can buy a license), which is temporarily closed. I went fishing here for the first time, and had a blast. Managed to catch pretty much nothing though. -Several beaches to go to within a short distance. -Yelper Olivia D is absolutely right that the campers and fishers here are either rednecks or Korean church groups. It made for interesting campfire songs, which you will hear cause the campsites are right on top of each other. Let me tell you, one of these groups always has beer and they are pretty generous with it and the other group really likes Creed. Bring ear plugs. -The greatest advantage to camping out or hanging out here is the proximity to other activities, should nature or listening to Creed gets to be too much. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is just a short bike ride away too. The Rehobeth boardwalk is 2 miles away. Nearby Lewes has a couple great bars and restaurants. Disadvantages -The whole Creed thing and the campsites being close together. -Sharks read more

Absolutely worth visiting. Go to the nature center, climb the top of the observation tower, visit the battery at Fort Miles, walk the pine trails, but most importantly visit the main attraction which are the beautiful beaches and the two amazing lighthouses off Cape Henlopen point!!! Every American should visit this place at least once in their life. read more

I absolutely loved this park. The deep wooded trails are amazing and peaceful. The sand dunes near the beach are fantastic. There's a WWII tower used to watch for a German invasion that today is open to climb, good views. The best part was the point that overlooks the water and a lighthouse. However I'm only giving 4 stars because out of state residents have to pay $10 while Delaware residents pay only $5. Not very good hospitality. read more

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Such an insightful preservation of WW2 History and a reminder of how our grandparents served for our freedom. Fascinating.

What a beautiful state park and a great campsite! I camped here for a few days and had an amazing time! They have great bike trails and you can bike from the state Park to the Rehoboth area. The campsite may be a bit tight and crowded but don't let that scare you! The beach is gorgeous and very empty at times! read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - Bike trail to Rehobeth - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

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5++ Happened to be in the Lewes area for New Years and unexpectedly saw a posting for a squid dissection. What?! Had to go. Day of, there was an issue and the scheduled dissection was canceled after we arrived. Fortunately, the worker there was SUPER helpful and provided us with details of other things to try. She also said we could come back by later and we might be able to see the squids. We borrowed three bikes and pedaled down some trails. WHAT A GREAT TIME! Who knew there was a park with free bikes to borrow? Awesome. We climbed up into an observation tower and checked out the military history items too. The barracks and guns make for great photo opportunities. We're so pleased we found this park. Plus, we did get to see a squid! And, a toadfish and a burrfish (super cute). Although there aren't a lot of fish tanks, they are well appointed and well cared for which is most important. read more

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My wife and I visited here to see Fort Miles, the WW2 era gun batteries and just had our breath taken away by this place. The guns and bunker are impressive and the staff are really friendly helping you understand what this sites role was in the second world war, but the walks along the dunes are just wonderful. On the day we were there we had rain, sunshine, thick fog, pretty much any type of weather short of snow but the park seen from the walks, the dunes and even from the war era observation tower was lovely. For someone with an interest in the period or just the love of nature, this is a great place to visit. read more

Two main things before you go: 1.) They charge admission. $10 per car, per day, for out-of-state residents ($5 for DE residents). Admission is free in the months of Dec, Jan and Feb. I've never known state parks to charge admission. 2.) Admission is CASH ONLY!!!! (they lose a star from me for this) We are day trippers, not campers, so my review is just about taking a nice long walk on the beach with pets. We had not been to this park for about a decade. Prior to that, we used to go each year, on New Year's Day, to get our dogs on the beach. We had also been, with my husband's friends, to play frisbee golf at their frisbee golf course. (Sorry I can't comment on the quality of the course because frisbee golf is totally not for me, but if you like frisbee golf, have at it.) There are a lot of confusing meandering roads in the park, but GPS was helpful, actually, necessary. A lot of the woods here are similar to the NJ Pine Barrens, but with a shorter canopy, probably due to the vicinity to the ocean/winds. Saw a lot of shore birds on the beach, and a large heard of deer in a meadow, but no other wildlife aside from that this trip. As others have mentioned, no trash cans anywhere. Extremely annoying. You'd think with all that $$ they charge on admission they could afford some trash cans. Again, our state parks in PA have trash cans and dog poo bags everywhere. Be prepared to bring your own bags and to hoard your trash in your car for your entire visit, then good luck finding a public trash can in town somewhere, to finally get rid of it. RIDICULOUS! Beaches are clean and beautiful. Sand was so plentiful and perfect, it looked imported, but maybe it's just dredged and put back, not sure? We did see boats dredging when we were there. Dunes are in great shape, and look amazing. Note that dogs are allowed on leash, but there are areas they may not go. There are pamphlets in the park office to instruct you about this. I am posting pics of some of this info, FYI. read more

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Just so you know all federal parks are free for veterans and so are most state parks this one is not. He did thank me for my service. Lol

The most beautiful park ..maybe my favorite in my top 10 of my life. Birding, running trails, scenic vistas, clean, air for bikes, water for humans and dogs..just wow..Gorgeous, well run. 10.00 for out of state. Bring your pet. read more

We absolutely love it here and have been coming for years. You pay $10 for our of state and $5 for in state per Vehicle which is a great deal. They have bathrooms and a snack bar. You can also rent umbrellas and chairs. However, this past visit, I have never seen it so crowded. They had us parking so far away it was insane. Also the beach was different. The sand was so high up and when you walk down to the water, it's a big drop with just one giant wave. I guess this was caused by beach erosion in the winter. Still our favorite beach compared to any jersey beaches! read more

Great beaches, trails, campsites. Please take your trash with you. Stop leaving your cigarette butts in the sand. read more

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Great facilities and easy pull-in/pullout camping for RVs and whatnot. But they really pack you in like sardines at this spot, and they sold us wet wood at a pretty inflated price. Probably would give 4 stars had it not been so packed and we brought our own wood. Close to the beaches and Dogfish Brewery, plenty of biking trails and a local beer spot down the road. Definitely wins for location. read more

An excellent park to visit for the day with plenty of amenities and activities- trails to bike and hike, exploring the bay life, beach house/swimming beach, fishing and crabbing, camping, Fort Miles from WW2, and a visitor center with aquariums to learn local fish habitats. We have found the grounds to always be kept up and clean. read more

One of my favorite places to visit. There's so much to do! You can go to the beach, fish, go see historical sites, camp, bike, hike, play disc golf, etc. There's also a nature center and you can go bird watching. A nice place for anyone looking for a relaxing time. read more

Some research and word-of-mouth from locals lead us to this gorgeous retreat into Cape Henlopen. We came here on a rainy day with less tourist traffic. The rain stopped and our afternoon turned into a very enjoyable excursion. Two areas you must go to: The beach next to the Barracks & the fishing pier. Bring a picnic, a fishing pole, and a friend. People watch the surfers. For God's sake, put away your phone. You're just one step closer to heaven as you dig your toes in the smooth sand. The fishing pier is all the way on the other side of the park. Recently renovated. A small convenience store sells all your fishing supply needs including bait. Grab yourself an ice cream and head over to the pier that brings you right into the middle of the ocean. Enjoy the view. Annoy a seagull or two. Contemplate life. This was the place that changed my mind about Delaware. It brought Delaware to "just ok" to "pretty awesome." Highly recommend spending a few hours here during your trip to the beach. Tips: Delaware State Park = $10 per day fee BUT it allows you to visit ALL the parks in Delaware that day so TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!!!! On nice days, parking can be hard to find so plan accordingly! read more

We camped here with friends and loved it so much we already have our reservations for next year. Friendly staff that is eager to help you have a great stay, and a nice layout giving access to the Atlanta ocean. Clean showers & toilets a short walk from any site. Plenty of side area for kids to run around without disrupting other campers. We pitched our tents on white sand and soft nettles under the shade of pine trees, and we fell asleep to the sound of waves. Yes, you can actually hear the ocean from the campground. You can also hear a fog horn throughout the night which isn't the fault of the Park but light sleepers take note. Hiking, taking a thousand steps to the WW2 watch towers, there's so much to do in the area I don't wanna drag out my review on something other reviews already did great justice, suffice to say it's easy to stay busy OR just relax, depending on your preference. Oh, and it's Delaware so: TAX-FREE SHOPPING YA'LL!!!! Oh yeah, it's also a great place to get married if you're into non traditional settings. YES kid friendly read more

Great state park with tons to do! There are miles and miles of bike and hike trails, tons of sandy beach, historical sites on the grounds, the first ever town in the US just five minutes away, and the campground is huge with big, paved sites that offered lots of shade. Every worker we met there was so nice and willing to help! They even have kayak/SUP rentals on site! This park exceeded all our expectations! We'll definitely be back!! read more

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Awesome park! On a rainy day in Rehoboth, we decided to explore a little bit. We drove up to this park after the rain had cleared out a little bit. We didn't do much planning - but we found this large flat area where the water had receded. The area was literally crawling with critters. Hermit crabs, snails, shellfish, crabs, stranded jellyfish. The kids had a blast exploring nature. We didn't get to explore everything we wanted to, but would definitely come back if in the area again. read more

I love this campground. Have been coming since the summer of 1999 and it never seizes to disappoint. The campground itself has adequate bathrooms, water spickets throughout, and staff who help keep the area clean. Some campsites are better then others in terms of size and privacy, the back bend towards the path to the beach is probably the best. The beach is great! If you are willing to swim in the unguarded part it is never too crowded on weekdays, sometimes on weekends due to fishing vehicles. And it is just a short bike ride or walk from the campground. There is also the guarded beach which is a little further up, has a parking lot, is accessible via the walking/bike path, and has a beach house with food/bathrooms. Within the park you'll also find WW2 era remnants such as an observation tower open for climbing, old barracks, large weapons on display, and they are currently renovating one of the old Batteries, check out a tour during the summer! There's a nature center where you can find information on the various park programs such as kayaking from the fishing pier, bike borrowing program (it's free!), ghost crab walks, and more! Also have some marine life and gifts. The campground is extremely family friendly and a great, much cheaper, option then staying in a hotel or rental home. If you enjoy camping or want to try it out I recommend the stay! Or if you are staying in the area the park is worth checking out, in state residents are 4 bucks a day and out of state are 8! read more

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If you want camping near the beach and plenty to do, Cape Henlopen is great. The camping sites (RV and tent) are a bit tight--I thought our site was a bit cramped, but it's a mile from the beach or less and who can beat that? A six-mile beach to hike and camping nearby. Cape Henlopen has year-round hiking and biking , a World War II Observation Tower, and many nature trails. You may see an osprey. There is a learning center and pets are allowed at the beach (ON LEASH.) You can visit nearby Lewes, a pretty little seaside town with good dining opportunities and just pretty streets to walk, if you want a change from Nature. There are shopping outlet malls not 20 minutes away, so you aren't stuck in the wilds. (Rehoboth Beach isn't all that far.) If you want, you can take the ferry across to Cape May, a very scenic town in New Jersey known for its colorful cottages. Plenty to do with the family for minimal cost, if you are into camping. read more

Wow, this place is amazing!!!! If you are heading down DE coast along Rte 1, then you should stop by the park to see the lighthouses and beaches. ADMISSION It's $4 for DE resident and $6 for out-of-state for your car entrance fee. So, we all carpooled together to save on the park fee. Once inside, there are plenty of things to do such as the nature center, youth camp, camp grounds, and Point parking for lighthouses. BEACH We walked along the coast from Cape Henlopen all the way to Rehoboth Beach. It took about 2.5 hours and plenty to see around here. There are some watch towers that looks like it was used for military- kinda freaky in a sci-fi way. Plus, you have tons of sea fishing here as well. You do have to have a license so check ahead of time. Also, we caught a pod of dolphins swimming close to the shoreline. Pretty cool!!!! TRAILS I decided to do a 1-way hike from Cape Henlopen to the Tanger Outlet Parking by the bike/hiking trail- Junction and Breakwater. This trail comes off from Rte 1 in Rehoboth Beach and goes to the back of the Seaside Tanger Outlet. There are 3 plazas for Tanger Outlet so be sure you are parked at the one with the trail head at the end. Nice hiking trail and woodsy which is definitely different than the beach coastline walk. read more

Definitely a two-fer vacation. Beach fun by day and camping fun by night. That being said the park gets five stars... the camp ground only two. We got the last three sites for mid July and they were definitely the worst. It seemed like the sites were split in two: half was blacktop for humongous camper parking and the other half was a measly sandy area for firepits and tents. Our firepit was approx 10 feet from neighboring site. Yuck. Too close!!!! On our way to the beach we spotted some more secluded sites (#s in the 70s) that I'd like to check out maybe in the fall. Coming from Philly it was only a 2 1/2 hr drive (huge plus) and I would love to go back when it is not so crowded. The walk from the campground is about 15 minutes to the beach. Theres a really neat observation tower and path goes through Fort Miles too. The beach is very clean and not crowded at all compared to neighboring Rehoboth or Lewes Beach. I think if you have a camper or pop-up this would really be a nice spot to stay. read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - Beach was wide open at Fort Miles entrance - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

We drove from Maryland just to see this private beach and I can honestly say it was worth the drive. It's clean, parking is easy, and even if you have dogs, you can bring them on the beach on a leash. I snapped some photos on our family beach day I won't soon forget. We all had a wonderful time here. read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

This is probably the best state park in all of Delaware. There are miles of trails, both paved and unpaved, which is good for biking or walking. There are so many events for kids and adults alike, from science talks to beach walks to history events. There is a nice visitor center, too, with sting rays for kids to touch and learn about. There is a museum at Fort Miles where you can learn about Delaware's role in military history. Of course, there is lots of beach in this park, which is great for beachgoers and fishers alike. The park has several scenic overlooks, and the Gordon's Pond Trail is a beautiful place to birdwatch. Dogs are allowed here year round, but their access is restricted in certain areas. Dogs are not allowed on sunbathing or swimming beaches from May through September. read more

Wide, clean beach. Better than the Jersey Shore because you only have to pay $8 per car instead of $9 per person to be admitted to Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. The water was not too cold on the day I went. We staked out a nice spot and didn't feel too crowded in. You can rent umbrellas and chairs if you need to. This beach allows cars and dogs on on leashes. Some of the cars were driving too fast on the beach. There weren't too many kids on this beach but my kids had a good time there. You have to bring your own food and drinks as there are no concessions at this part of the beach. Another part of Cape Henlopen Park that is about a mile away from where I went does have concessions but it's much more crowded at that beach. In all it was a fun day at the beach and I would go there again. read more

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Awesome state park! So much to do including bike riding, camping and the beach. Love to go to the private unguarded beach. Less crowded and we can enjoy some beers too. read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - Private beach - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

Dog-friendly beaches, bike trails, campsites, fishing pier & air stations for pumping up your tires. If you have 4-wheel drive, fishing rods & the beach vehicle pass you can drive your car onto the beach. Think you let air out of your tires down to about 5 or 10 psi, so it's nice having air pumps handy. People are nice & considerate when playing their music. There's plenty of room to spread out without being on top of each other. It's more family-friendly than Rehobeth. I have such a great time & so does the poochie! The ferry to Cape May is close by too. You can drive your car on or just do the foot traffic ride. There are also stores close by to rent chairs, umbrellas & so forth. read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - Fishing, doggies, sun, surf and sand! - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

Came over easter to go for a walk to enjoy the weather. As others have mentioned it's $10 per car, which is a little pricey for a hike, BUT you are supporting a state park, which I am 100% on board with. The trail winds itself around a big lake on a flat easily bikeable/walkable/runnable surface. It's 2.6 miles or so between the two parking lots, and I only saw port-a-potties at the northern lot, so come prepared. I shortened my hike a bit by walking back to my car via the beach, which allowed me to pass the old WW2 bunkers, which stand like ominous sentries looking out over the sea. Lots of pups on the trail, but little to no 'wildlife' - I still enjoyed myself! read more

I love going to Cape Henlopen State Park! It's such a fun and family friendly park with plenty to do! There's excellent bike trails, walking trails/hiking, beach access on foot or with a vehicle, frisbee golf, and basketball courts and more! The fort miles museum is in the park and is brand new and nice. Great views of the ocean & very clean park overall. read more

Cape Henlopen State Park - World War 2 watch tower, there's a couple you can walk up in and see from the top. - Parks Near Me - Lewes, Delaware

Very secluded campsite with all of the amenities that you need. We were conveniently located right beside the bathhouse, playground, and camp store. The camp store is tiny but has all of the things you need for a campground. Each site has a water and electricity hook up, as well as a fire pit and grill rack. Only downside is that the campsites are VERY close together and we unfortunately had some rather rude neighbors who did not understand boundaries. Service is pretty spotty here if you have AT&T. read more

We went here on a small get away to Delaware. A wonderful place to hike, bike, swim, surf, and just enjoy the outdoors. A large area with many types of hiking and biking trails that provide stunning views of the coast. If you are a history buff then check out the museum and many other outdoor exhibits about World War II. $5 dollar for Delaware residents/$10 non-residents if you drive into the park. But there are place to park a little ways away in off season if you want to walk. read more

What a wonderful place. Great biking and hiking. The beach was wonderful. Fishing peir is a great place to cast away on a afternoon. To top it off the Fort Miles camp with the history of the artillery at the fort was really cool. Just a Super Great Place!!! -Jim B read more

We always come to Cape Henlopen Park when in the area. It is a very nice park with lots to do and see. Go visit the old WWII bunkers and towers. Check out the ocean over looks or just relax on the beach. Great place for the family and kids. If you have the bikes, break them out and ride the many trails through the park. read more

Really excellent seaside park. Entrance is not free, but it's worth paying for. A significant area is blocked off as a wildlife sanctuary, but there are nonetheless wide swaths of beaches. It'll never be as crowded as Rehoboth Beach, and you'll see a lot more interesting wildlife here. There's a historic guard tower of the sort you'll see periodically along these shores, and campgrounds and athletic fields that I haven't used but which seem substantial. There's a pretty good-sized nature center with aquariums, a preview for the bounty you'll see at the beach. You'll invariably see horseshoe crabs, and this area is home to the bizarre horseshoe crab blood harvesting industry (not making this up; read the news stories). They allow you to bring your own pets to the beach, which Rehoboth does not. There are no lifeguards at state beaches, so it's wise not to muck around. But on the whole this is a pleasant experience and a welcome diversion to commercial beaches. The park is also near the Cape May ferry, which makes for some nice traveling possibilities, and you get to watch the ferry from the beach. read more

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? So my girlfriend, my service dog and I embarked on a day trip to Delaware. I did some quick homework - using the internet and "Bring Fido" to plan our day. I specifically asked for a place where there was a beach, a boardwalk with shops and eateries, etc - like Venice Beach back in California. I had never been to Delaware, so we packed a cooler, some snacks and headed out. After a longer than anticipated trek due to traffic issues, we finally made it to Lewes Delaware and Cape Henlopen State Park. I drove up to the fee vestibule and asked the guy POINT BLANK, "Is there a boardwalk with shops and restaurants?" He says, "Oh yeah, there's a boardwalk and all sorts of things to see and do." Since we're not from Delaware, they charged us TEN dollars to enter. We drive to the parking lot, and walked to the "boardwalk." Half across this "boardwalk" I came to the stark realization that there was NOTHING BUT A BEACH and a lot of people. NO shops. NO restaurants. NOTHING but a beach. So I just paid $10 to look at a beach and I was infuriated that the guy lied to me. On the way back to the car, my dog took a dump in some sand. I picked it up and looked for a trashcan. Apparently, these people pull in tons of cash on a daily basis, yet can't afford one trashcan or someone to empty it? LAME. The locals told us that we needed to carry our trash out with us? Really? So I need to put a smelly bag of crap in my car? WTH? I tried to toss it out in the men's room and they don't even have a trash can in there. My girl mentioned that someone left a sanitary napkin in the woman's restroom and we spotted several people just leaving bags of trash everywhere. This was just stupid. I drove back to the "Park Office" waited in (a sweltering hot) line for almost thirty minutes only to be told that they refused any refunds. Really? We were there for all of six minutes and were told BY THEIR EMPLOYEE what we were to look forward to. He misrepresented the park but gladly took our cash. They do NOT accept credit or debit cards by the way. Again, they take in all that money, yet can't afford a better air conditioning system? I am so outraged by this place and would NEVER recommend it to anyone. We ended up going to Rehoboth Beach and found exactly what we were looking for... A strand with shops and eateries. I wish we had more time to visit the many antique shops in the area. ** TIP ** If your dog has a #2 bathroom incident, bag it, take the "stuff" into the bathroom and dump the stuff into a toilet. That way, all you have is a bag to deal with. read more

Beautiful! My friend and I spent the morning doing some of he nature trails. We did the salt marsh trail, dunes trail, and Gordon's pond trail. All of which were beautifully maintained and very scenic! They were all very easy trails as well. We passed by people picnicking and a bunch of pups! It's a great place to get out into nature and walk or bike. I will definitely be back! read more

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This was suuuuch a beautiful beach to go to during off and on season! Easy to picnic, easy to have your own space, beautifully kept up by the state rangers. Water was clean, slightly cold, but when the sun is out you really can't beat this beach. read more

The park may be very nice, but this review is focusing on the beach in Cape Henlopen. The sand was quite dirty to me, and quite too dark in color, There were a lot of sticks, and trash all over the beachy area/ The water was very relaxing, and at a good temperature to swim in. The beach was actually nice and pleasant to relax, but really the sand was what made me uncomfortable. I also got pinched by a crab, while I was in the water, but I'm used to that. I might visit the park another time, but there was the beach in the park which was pleasant. read more