From playgrounds and nature centers to tubing, train rides, and even gem panning — Delaware State Parks offer something for every age and stage. Here’s your go-to guide for planning your next family adventure!
🛝 Best Parks for Playgrounds
Alapocas Run State Park
- Can-Do Playground (All Ages, fully inclusive)
- NinjaFit Playground (13+)
Bellevue State Park
- Kaboom! Playground (Ages 2–5)
- Oval Track Playground (Ages 5–12)
- Music Garden Playground (Ages 2–5)
Fox Point State Park
- Playground (Ages 2–12)
Lums Pond State Park
- Playground (Ages 2–12)
White Clay Creek State Park
- Playground (Ages 2–12)
Brandywine Zoo
- Nature Playground
🌊 Water Play & Paddle Fun
Brandywine Creek State Park
- Tubing
- Paddle Sports
- Water Play
- Nature Center (great rainy day backup!)
Lums Pond State Park
- Paddle Sports
- Fishing
- Nature Center
White Clay Creek State Park
- Creek Wading & Water Play
- Panning for Creek Gems (unique kid favorite!)
- Nature Center
Auburn Valley State Park
- Water Access & Wading
- Fishing
Fort Delaware State Park
- Ferry Ride Adventure to Pea Patch Island
🦅 Birding & Nature Exploration
Great for young naturalists and homeschool days!
- Alapocas Run
- Auburn Valley
- Bellevue
- Brandywine Creek
- Fort Delaware
- Fox Point
- Lums Pond
- White Clay Creek
- Wilmington State Parks
🧗 Adventure & Big Kid Fun
Alapocas Run
- Outdoor Rock Climbing
- NinjaFit Playground
- Northern Greenway (paved & accessible trails)
Lums Pond
- Go Ape Adventure Park
- Camping (tents, yurts & cabins)
White Clay Creek
- Gem Panning in the Creek
- Trackchair Access (amazing accessibility feature!)
🚂 Unique Experiences You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Auburn Valley State Park
- Ride a Vintage Steam Car or Miniature Railroad
- Marshall Steam Museum
- Historic Marshall Mansion
Fort Delaware State Park
- Ferry Ride
- Living History
- Paranormal Tours (older teens/adults)
Wilmington State Parks
- Rockford Tower
- Josephine Fountain
- Summer Concerts
🏕 Camping & Overnight Adventures
Lums Pond State Park
- Camping (tents, cabins & yurts)
- Nature Center
- Playground
- Paddle Sports
🌧 Rainy Day Backup Plans
Nature Centers are perfect for unpredictable weather:
- Blue Ball Barn (Alapocas)
- Brandywine Creek Nature Center
- Lums Pond Nature Center
- White Clay Creek Nature Center
- Killens Pond (worth the drive!)
🎶 Concerts, Art & History
Bellevue
- Concerts
- Historic grounds
- Horse Barn
Wilmington State Parks
- Summer Concerts at Rockford
- Historic landmarks
Fort Delaware
- Living History
Auburn Valley
- Marshall Mansion Tours
🥪 Best Parks for Picnics & Pavilions
- Alapocas Run
- Bellevue
- Brandywine Creek
- Fort Delaware
- Fox Point
- Lums Pond
- White Clay Creek
- Wilmington State Parks
Perfect for:
- Birthday parties
- Scout outings
- Family reunions
- End-of-season sports parties
♿ Accessibility Highlights
- Paved Accessible Trails (Alapocas, Fox Point, Lums Pond, Brandywine Zoo)
- Trackchair Access at White Clay Creek
- Accessible playground options
- Filterable trail system (64 statewide trails by surface, difficulty & accessibility)
🌟 Summer Camps
Offered at:
- Alapocas
- Auburn Valley
- Bellevue
- Brandywine Creek
- Brandywine Zoo
- Lums Pond
- White Clay Creek
Themes include:
- Rock climbing
- Ziplines
- Waterslides
- Nature exploration
- History programs
Why Families Love Delaware State Parks
✔ Easy day trips
✔ Affordable outdoor fun
✔ Educational opportunities
✔ Active adventures for all ages
✔ Programs year-round
✔ Something for toddlers to teens
And with the Passport & Trading Card Program, kids can collect memories (and cards!) at every park they visit.
