Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Delaware State Parks & National Parks
Delaware has 1 National Park Service unit that report visitation. Below, each is ranked by annual visits, with the month our data recommends for the best balance of light crowds, comfortable weather and daylight. Crowds peak in summer almost everywhere — the recommended months show where the quieter shoulder seasons fall.
The 15 Delaware state parks are listed in their own section below the national park table. Crowd levels are shown for national park units only; for state parks the best month reflects weather and daylight.
Delaware parks on the map
Click a marker for the park page, or use Where to stay in the table.
| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest | Stays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First StateNational Historical Park | 200,173 | September | Oct | Jan | Where to stay → |
Delaware State Parks
15 state parks, with the month that usually brings the most comfortable weather and the longest days, where a nearby weather record exists.
- Alapocas Run State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Bellevue State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Brandywine Creek State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Cape Henlopen State ParkUsually best in MayOfficial park page
- Delaware Seashore State ParkUsually best in May · about 230 acresOfficial park page
- Fenwick Island State ParkUsually best in September · about 270 acresOfficial park page
- Fort Delaware State ParkUsually best in September · about 260 acresOfficial park page
- Fort DuPont State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Fox Point State ParkUsually best in September · about 110 acresOfficial park page
- Holts Landing State ParkUsually best in May · about 210 acresOfficial park page
- Killens Pond State ParkUsually best in September · about 1,400 acresOfficial park page
- Lums Pond State ParkUsually best in September · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Trap Pond State ParkUsually best in MayOfficial park page
- White Clay Creek State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Wilmington State ParksUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
State park listings come from the Delaware state park agency. Boundaries and acreage come from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Best-month estimates use NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals and computed daylight.
Delaware park crowd calendar (1 parks, all 12 months)
Download the full best-months table for all 1 of Delaware's national parks — each park's month-by-month crowd index (1.0 = its average month), busiest and quietest months, and Best-Time-to-Visit score. Built from NPS visitation data. Enter your email to download. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Where to stay near Delaware's national parks
Find hotels, cabins and vacation rentals across Delaware to base your national-park trip — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Delaware national parks
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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