Delaware Seashore State Park is located near

Dewey Beach Dewey Beach is an incorporated coastal town in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 341, an increase of 13.3% over the previous decade. It is part of the rapidly growing Cape ...

, in Delaware, United States. It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by

Rehoboth Bay Rehoboth Bay is a body of water in Sussex County, Delaware. It is connected to the Broadkill River by the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. It is part of Delaware's inland bay system, along with Little Assawoman Bay and Indian River Bay. Of Delaware's ...

and Indian River Bay. The park covers . It is a major attraction for millions of visitors who come to the Delaware Beaches for water-related activities. Delaware Seashore State Park was created in 1965.

History

The land in Delaware Seashore State Park saw frequent natural changes in the location of the inlet between the inland bays and the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it was difficult to travel across this stretch of land. In 1939, two jetties were built to stabilize the

Indian River Inlet The Indian River is a river and estuary, approximately long, in Sussex County, Delaware, Sussex County in southern Delaware in the United States. The river is named after a Native Americans in the United States, Native American reservation that wa ...

at its present location. Indian River State Park was created by the State Park Commission in 1965, with the name becoming Delaware Seashore State Park in 1967. In 1966, the strip of land between the

Little Assawoman Bay Little Assawoman Bay is a body of water in Sussex County, Delaware, Sussex County, Delaware. It is connected from Assawoman Bay to the south by a narrow canal known locally as "The Ditch," and is connected to Indian River Bay to the north by the As ...

to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east between South Bethany and Fenwick Island became a separate southern portion of the park. In 1981, the southern section of Delaware Seashore State Park became Fenwick Island State Park. The Indian River Life-Saving Station was built in 1876 by the United States Life-Saving Service in order to respond to shipwrecks along the Delaware coast. The station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public.

Recreation

Delaware Seashore State Park has of shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean,

, and Indian River Bay. The park offers swimming and sunbathing at two ocean swimming areas, which have bathhouses that offer showers and changing rooms, concession stands, and rental of umbrellas, chairs, and rafts. The beaches are patrolled by

lifeguard A lifeguard is a rescuer who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, beach, spa, river and lake. Lifeguards are trained in swimming and CPR/ AED first a ...

s from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Memorial Day weekend and

Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...

. Fishing and

boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...

are also popular at Delaware Seashore State Park. The park offers

surf fishing Surf fishing is land-based game fishing while standing on the shoreline or wading into the surf zone. A general term, surf fishing may or may not include casting a lure or bait, and refers to all types of shore fishing – from sandy and rocky be ...

along the ocean and angling at

. The park has several dune crossings that allow four-wheel vehicles to access the beach for surf fishing. The state park is also home to the Indian River Marina, located on the north side of the Indian River Inlet. Delaware Seashore State Park offers a beach for

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...

to the north of the Indian River Inlet. The inland bays offer windsurfing and sailing. A boat launch allows access to the bay for boaters. Some areas of the bays allow clamming and crabbing. The park has a

nature trail An educational trail (or sometimes educational path), nature trail or nature walk is a specially developed hiking trail or footpath that runs through the countryside, along which there are marked stations or stops next to points of natural, techno ...

on Burton's Island that offers view of salt marshes and bay islands. The park has two

picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...

pavilions.

Camping

Delaware Seashore State Park offers camping for both

tent A tent () is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over, attached to a frame of poles or a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using gu ...

s and

recreational vehicle A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans (also known as travel trailers and camper ...

s. The campsites are open with full service between April 1 and November 30 and limited service between December 1 and March 31. The park's campsites offer electric and sewer year-round, with water and showers available during the full service period. Laundry, ice, and vending machines are also available for campers.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within of Delaware Seashore State Park: *

Assateague State Park Assateague State Park is a public recreation area in Worcester County, Maryland, USA,, located at the north end of Assateague Island, a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Sinepuxent Bay on the west. The state park is bo ...

( Maryland) *

Cape Henlopen State Park Cape Henlopen State Park is a Delaware state park on on Cape Henlopen in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. William Penn made the beaches of Cape Henlopen one of the first public lands established in what has become the United State ...

(Sussex County) * Cape May Point State Park ( New Jersey) * Fenwick Island State Park (Sussex County) * Holts Landing State Park (Sussex County) *

Killens Pond State Park Killens Pond State Park is a List of Delaware state parks, Delaware state park located south of the town of Felton, Delaware, Felton in Kent County, Delaware, Kent County, Delaware in the United States. The park surrounds a pond known as Killens ...

( Kent County) * Trap Pond State Park (Sussex County)

References

External links

Delaware Seashore State Park
{{authority control Beaches of Delaware State parks of Delaware Protected areas established in 1965 Parks in Sussex County, Delaware Landforms of Sussex County, Delaware 1965 establishments in Delaware