Cape Henlopen State Park
Park Delaware coastal park with dunes and beaches
On Delaware’s Atlantic coast, Cape Henlopen State Park offers beaches, dunes, bike trails and the Fort Miles museum; people visit for beach recreation, fishing and WWII-era fortifications.
Cape Henlopen State Park is a Delaware state park located at the mouth of the Delaware Bay near the town of Lewes. The park combines beach and dune landscapes with historic military sites and recreational facilities.
Visitors use the park for swimming, surf-fishing, bicycling and hiking across dunes and maritime forest, and the park includes preserved coastal defense structures interpreted as Fort Miles. Picnic areas, campgrounds and educational programming are available seasonally.
The park protects both beachfront and inland coastal habitats and provides public access to the bay and ocean shoreline. It lies adjacent to Lewes and is one of Delaware’s principal coastal state parks.
- Location and uses: The park lies near the towns of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach and forms the eastern point of the Delaware Bay entrance, making it popular for beach recreation and birding.
- Historic interpretation: Historic military structures and interpretive exhibits document the site's role in 20th-century coastal defense; some areas are accessible for self-guided visits.
What to See #
- Fort Miles: A coastal defense complex with preserved concrete batteries and interpretive material about the site's World War II role in harbor defense.
- Beaches and dune trails: Extensive sandy beaches and dune systems used for swimming, surf fishing and coastal walking, with marked trails through maritime forest and dunes.
How to Get to Cape Henlopen State Park #
From Lewes, DE, follow Cape Henlopen Drive south toward the park; there is paid parking and multiple access points. The park is a short drive from downtown Lewes and within an easy drive from Rehoboth Beach.
Tips for Visiting Cape Henlopen State Park #
- Bike or hike the Gordon's Pond and Beach Plum Island trails early to secure parking and quiet shorelines.
- Visit the Seaside Nature Center for beach ecology exhibits and to learn about piping plovers and horseshoe crabs.
- If driving in summer, arrive before 10am to avoid the biggest crowds at the main beach access.
Best Time to Visit Cape Henlopen State Park #
Best in late spring through early fall for beach access and programming; spring and fall are best for fewer crowds and bird migration viewing.
Weather & Climate near Cape Henlopen State Park #
Cape Henlopen State Park's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1082 mm/year), wettest in August, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of -3°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 19°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (106 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).
