Reservations - Delaware State Parks (2024)

The latest weather projections from the National Weather Service have the major impacts of the storm hitting Delaware in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 4th, sometime around 2 a.m., and continuing through Tuesday evening. This weather event includes heavy rains, minor coastal flooding and sustained winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour, with higher gusts.

Camping Advisory: We recommend that you take all necessary precautions to secure and protect your camping equipment and if possible, move to higher ground during this period. A liberal cancellation policy is in effect; cancellations may be made by contacting 1-877-987-2757. Full refunds will be issued for all cancellations.

Surf Fishing and Swimming Advisory: All surf fishing crossings will close at sunset on Monday, August 3, and all guarded swimming beaches are closed Tuesday, August 4. In addition, the Killens Pond Water Park is also closed on Tuesday, August 4, with refunds for any advanced tickets purchased.

General Information

Campsite rates are for up to four people. Additional persons are $2 per night, up to a maximum of eight people per site.

Campgrounds at Cape Henlopen, Killens Pond, Lums Pond and Trap Pond State Park are open year-round. The Cottages at Indian River Marina are also open year-round, and the campground at Delaware Seashore State Park is open year-round, although during the winter months, it is open for self-contained units only.

Campsites can only be registered to park visitors 18 years of age or older who will be staying on site for the duration of the reservation. Campsites cannot be re-sold or transferred to nonregistered persons or third parties. Any unauthorized re-sale or transfer to a non-registered party without the Division’s express permission may result in cancellation of the reservation without a refund.

Reservations can be placed for campgrounds, cabins, yurts, the Cottages at Indian River Marina, and Fort Delaware tours, and Killen's Pond Waterpark..

Don't Bring Firewood

Help us protect our trees by preventing the spread of harmful insect pests to Delaware's parks and forests. Due to recent quarantines and threats of invasive insects that are detrimental to Delaware’s agriculture, outside firewood is no longer permitted in Delaware State Park campgrounds. Firewood is available for purchase at all State Park campgrounds.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect that is dangerous and destructive to the agriculture, horticulture and forests in the State of Delaware and surrounding states. Specific targets of this insect are grapevines, fruit trees, hops and trees. The SLF will lay eggs on any flat surface such as tree trunks, vehicles, boats, grills, bicycles, and coolers, so they can be easily transported. The Delaware Department of Agriculture has quarantined eleven zip code areas in Delaware to eradicate, control, and prevent the spread of SLF in Delaware and to surrounding states. Thirteen counties in southeastern Pennsylvania and Mercer, Warren and Hunterdon Counties in New Jersey also have quarantine requirements. If you live or will travel through these counties on your way to camp in Delaware State Parks please check with your state agriculture department for specific quarantine regulations.

Several other invasive insects may be spread by transporting firewood. Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle, Southern Bark Beetle and Sirex Wood Wasp all pose a serious threat to native trees and forest ecosystems. You can protect our valuable forest resources by not transporting firewood.

The most effective way that campers can help stop the spread of these invasive insects is to check your vehicles and gear for SLF egg masses and to refrain from transporting wood, including firewood. When you travel to a campground, use the firewood that is sold there to prevent the spread of these destructive insects.

For more information, visit the Delaware Department of Agriculture website: Agriculture.delaware.gov or de.gov/hitchhikerbug.

Reservation Information

• Reservations may be made up to one year in advance of arrival date. The reservation window is based on the same date one year from the date of arrival. The new date begins, for both the Call Center and Online reservations, at the opening time of the Call Center. Therefore, Internet users do not have an earlier "window" than callers.
• Reservations may be made up to the day prior to arrival. For Call Center users, cutoff is close-of-business the day before arrival. For Internet reservations, the cutoff is midnight the day before arrival.
• All family campsites, cabins, camping cabins and yurts can be reserved. All campgrounds are site-specific (you pick a particular site prior to arrival) with the exception of Overflow Camp at Delaware Seashore State Park, which is site general (find the best open site).
• There is a $10 cancellation fee for campsites and a $35 fee for cabins if cancellation occurs prior to 30 days before arrival date. Cancellation within 30 days of arrival results in a charge of one night's camping or cabin fee. Early departures forfeit any remaining balance.
• Please review maps of your destination campground to select possible sites prior to making a reservation.

General Camping Policies

Delaware State Parks are here for your enjoyment. Please be considerate of others and dispose of litter properly. Remember...take only pictures and leave only footprints.

• Each campsite may have up to 8 people. There is an additional $2.00 per day charge for each person over the first four.
• Campsites can only be registered to park visitors 18 years of age or older who will be staying on site for the duration of the reservation. Campsites cannot be re-sold or transferred to nonregistered persons or third parties. Any unauthorized re-sale or transfer to a non-registered party without the Division’s express permission may result in cancellation of the reservation without a refund.
• Camping is permitted for a maximum of 14 days within a 21-day period per park.
• Each campsite can accommodate 1 mobile camping unit and 1 tent (limited only by the size of the site) or 2 tents with a maximum of 300 square feet of floor space.
• Only one vehicle may be parked at each campsite. Additional vehicles may be parked in the visitor overflow parking lot.
• NOTE: We do not allow any motorized golf carts in the campground with the exception of approved ADA vehicles from park management.
• Check-in time for campsites is 1 p.m.
• Check-in time for cabins and yurts is 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the park office.
• Check-out time for campsites is 12:00 noon on the date the camping permit expires.
• Check-out time for cabins and yurts is 11 a.m. on the date the camping permit expires.
• Campers registering before 6:00 AM will be charged for the previous night.
• Pets are permitted in Delaware State Park campgrounds, but must be attended at all times. Pets are not allowed in cabins or yurts, except Cabins 9 and 10 at Killens Pond State Park, Cabins 9 and 10 at Trap Pond State Park, and Waterfront Cottages 11 and 12 at the Cottages of Indian River Marina at Delaware Seashore State Park. For specific policies about pets at each park, consult the campground registration booth or park office. Pets are not allowed at the Killen's Pond Waterpark.

Open Burning Notice

Campfires and open fires may be banned in selected campgrounds during extremely dry conditions. Please contact the campground immediately prior to your visit for fire status. Charcoal fires in grills are permitted during bans unless otherwise noted.

Campfires should be contained within the fire ring, and should not be left unattended.

Campfires are not permitted at Delaware Seashore State Park at any time.

Reservation Changes Policy

You may change a reservation once at no charge. For each subsequent change, a fee of $10 will be charged. Changes may be a date or site change at any state park that offers family camping, cottages, cabins, or yurts. The transaction amount must remain the same as the original reservation charge to qualify as a change.

Changes to your reservation may be made online, or through the call center unless it is same day at which point please call the park office.

Cancellations and Refunds

• A cancellation fee of $10 will apply if cancellation occurs 31 days or more before arrival date. Balance of payments will be refunded.
• A cancellation fee equivalent to a one-day campsite fee will be charged if cancellation is within 30 days of arrival date. Balance of payments will be refunded.
• A $35 fee will be applied for cancellation of a cabin, camping cabin or yurt reservation. Balance of payments will be refunded.
• A $300 fee will be applied for cancellation of a waterfront cottage 121 days or more in advance of arrival date. The customer will forfeit ½ of the published rental fee if the reservation is cancelled less than 121 days prior to arrival date.
• Early departures forfeit all balances.
• Refunds for cancellations may only be issued by the Division of Parks and Recreation or by the Call Center.
• The park reserves the right to hold a campsite, cabin or yurt for 24 hours after your expected arrival date before your reservation is cancelled and returned to inventory.
• Cancellations will result in the issuance of a refund of the balance of fees paid. The refund will be applied by the same instrument by which payment was made (i.e. credit card payments will receive a credit using the same credit card. Checks and money orders will receive a check refund.) Refunds by check require a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks for delivery. The Request for Refund procedures must be followed for refunds made by check.
• Customers may not cancel a reservation and rebook the stay for the same dates in order to receive a promotional discount.
• Designated officials in each park and specified Dover staff may authorize a complete refund in case of emergency or early departure.

Reservation Information

• Reservations can be made up to one year before your arrival date. For the convenience of our renters, six cottages are designated as Saturday to Saturday rentals, and six are Sunday to Sunday.
• Depending on availability, reservations for stays shorter than one week may be accepted during the summer months if made within two weeks of your date of arrival. There is a two-night minimum for stays of less than one week; one-night stays are not available. Reservations for less than a week's stay must be made through the Call Center (1-877-987-2757) and may not be made online.
• Advance reservations are required -- the Cottages at Indian River Marina are not available for walk-up reservations.
• A minimum deposit of one-half the rental fee is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due at least 60 days before your arrival date when reserving with a credit card and 70 days when reserving with a check. If the balance is not paid, the deposit will be forfeited and the reservation cancelled. Notifications will not be sent when final payment is due. Weekend rentals require payment in full at the time of reservation.
• Cottages are adjacent to the Indian River Marina.

Check-in/Checkout and Security Deposit

• Upon arrival, please check in at the Indian River Marina office. One person in the party must be 21 years of age or older and must stay with the party at the cottage during the rental period. Identification will be required upon check-in. A $220 security deposit, paid by credit card, is required at check-in. The deposit will be returned after a satisfactory final inspection of the property.
• Check-in time for the Indian River Cottages is 3 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m.

Reservation Changes Policy

You may change a reservation once at no charge. For each subsequent change, a fee of $10 will be charged. Changes may be a date or site change at any state park that offers family camping, cottages, cabins, or yurts. The transaction amount must remain the same as the original reservation charge to qualify as a change.

Changes to your reservation may be made online, or through the call center unless it is same day at which point please call the park office.

Cancellations and Refunds

• Any cancellation made to the reservation 31 days or more before the arrival date will result in a cancellation fee equal to the first nights rental fee.
• The deposit equal to one half of the total rental fee is forfeited for any cancellations made to the reservation 30 days or less before the arrival date.
• Failure to provide notice of cancellation will result in a no-show with loss of all fees.

Reservation Information

• The house has a two night stay minimum. No exceptions.
• A minimum deposit of 1/2 the rental fee is required at the time of reservation if booking more than 60 days in advance. All payments must be made within 60 days prior to arrival. Credit card payments can be made online at delawarestateparks.reserveamerica.com or by calling 1-877-987-2757. Cancellations due to non-payment of balance due will forfeit deposit. NOTIFICATION WILL NOT BE SENT WHEN FINAL PAYMENT IS DUE.
• No more than seven (7) persons, including children and infants are permitted to stay in the house. One person in the party must be 21 years or older and must remain in the cottage during the stay. Identification will be required upon check-in
• You will be required to bring all bed linens and towels. The house has one California King, one king bed, one queen bed and one double bed.
• No smoking is permitted inside the house or screened porch; evidence of smoking is cause for immediate eviction and charges to Damage and Cleaning Deposit.
• Quiet Hours are from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am. Undue noise or disturbance or failure to follow state parks rules and regulations shall be cause for immediate reservation cancellation without refund.

Check-in/Checkout

• Check-in: 3:00 PM
• Check-out: 10:00 AM
• You will be contacted prior to arrival with details and entry code.
• Prior to check-out be sure that you are leaving the property in a clean and orderly condition.

Reservation Changes Policy

• You may change a reservation once at no charge. For each subsequent change, a fee of $10 will be charged. Changes may be a date or site change at any state park that offers family camping, cottages, cabins, or yurts.
• Changes to your reservation may be made online, or through the call center unless it is same day at which point please call the park office.

Cancellations and Refunds

• Any cancellation made to the reservation 31 days or more before the arrival date will result in a cancellation fee equal to the first night's rental fee.
• The deposit equal to one half of the total rental fee is forfeited for any cancellations made to the reservation 30 days or less before the arrival date.
• No refunds or cancellations made after the date of arrival or after the point of check-in.
• Failure to provide notice of cancellation will result in a no-show with loss of all fees.

April 1 - 29

April 30 - Sept. 30

October 1 - March 31