Cape Henlopen State Park

Cape Henlopen State Park protects more than 5,000 acres at the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, immediately east of Lewes in southern Delaware. The park encompasses one of the longest stretches of publicly accessible undeveloped shoreline on the Delmarva Peninsula, with a broad Atlantic-facing swimming beach staffed by lifeguards from late June through Labor Day and a calmer bay-side beach suited to kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The Great Dune — a massive sand formation rising 80 feet above sea level — is the park's signature landmark, reached via a short boardwalk trail that delivers panoramic views over the ocean and bay simultaneously. More than 20 miles of multiuse trails wind through maritime forest, pine woodland, and open dune fields.

Fort Miles Historic Area, contained within the park, preserves a network of World War II coastal defense structures including concrete observation towers, gun batteries, and underground ammunition bunkers. Battery 519 is open for self-guided exploration, and a military vehicle museum displays tanks, artillery pieces, and WWII artifacts alongside interpretive exhibits on the Delaware coast's wartime role. The Nature Center near the main entrance presents coastal ecosystem exhibits and live reptile displays. Fishing from the surf and the concrete jetties at the Cape Henlopen fishing pier is popular year-round, with striped bass, bluefish, and flounder among the primary targets.

The park's campground offers cabins and RV and tent sites for overnight stays, and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal is immediately adjacent to the park entrance — making Cape Henlopen a natural first or last stop for travelers crossing the Delaware Bay. A vehicle entrance fee applies during the summer season. Parking lots at the main beach access fill by mid-morning on summer weekends; arriving before 9 AM or using the park's overflow parking with shuttle service is recommended.