Picture of Fenwick Island State Park

Fenwick Island State Park


Reduced Lifeguarding as Students Return to School

Fenwick Island State Park will be unguarded August 29 through September 2, and will be guarded Labor day weekend September 3 through September 5. We encourage you to use guarded beaches.

For more information, please read the press release.

Find Your Adventure at Fenwick Island

Swimming beach at Fenwick Island State Park

Swim, Sunbathe and Beachcomb on the Atlantic Ocean

Swim, stroll, bask, or play on the picturesque beaches of Fenwick Island. Lifeguard service is provided Memorial Day through Labor Day, and a bathhouse offers showers and changing rooms, a snack bar, and a beach chair and umbrella concession. A beach boardwalk, beach access mats, and beach wheelchairs ensure everyone can enjoy a day at the beach.

Kayaks on the shore at Fenwick Island State Park

Kayak or Stand-Up Paddleboard the Little Assawoman Bay

Coastal Kayak rentals, right on the shores of the Little Assawoman Bay, is a must for visitors looking for an exciting paddling experience on the Inland Bays. This state park concession provides everything you need for a water adventure to suit your paddling needs. Sunsets on the Assawoman Bay are spectacular anytime of the year.

 

 

Sunset on Little Assawoman Bay in Fenwick Island State Park

Watch a Sunset on the Assawoman Bay

Take in the setting sun at the Assawoman Recreation Area as it dips below the undeveloped shoreline of the Little Assawoman Bay.

Ghost crab at Fenwick Island State Park

Superintendent's Pick: Wild Crab Chase!

Bring your flashlight for this for a wild night of fun as a park naturalist takes you for an adventure on the beach at night to look for elusive ghost crabs! Check the park’s program list for details.

About the Park

Delaware’s southernmost beach, Fenwick Island State Park offers three miles of ocean beaches along with access to the Little Assawoman Bay. The park once was home to the late 1800s Fenwick Island Life-Saving Station, lost in the storm of 1962, which provided aid to maritime travelers in distress off Delaware’s Atlantic coast. Fenwick Island State Park is home to a World War II-era fire control tower that helped protect the coastline. Ghost crabs are a popular site along the water, and programs are offered to learn about these and other natural resources at the park. Kayaking is a favorite pastime at this tranquil downstate park.

Swimming, Surfing, Sailing and Sunbathing

Today, Fenwick Island State Park invites visitors to its peaceful ocean and bay shorelines. Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities on the ocean side of the park. The white sand beaches gradually slope into the Atlantic, creating a broad swimming area patrolled by lifeguards during the summer. The park features a modern bathhouse, which offers convenient showers and changing rooms, a satellite park office, and a snack food concession. During the summer months, beach umbrellas and chairs may be rented on the beach. Mobi-Mat equipment, consisting of three 30-foot mats allowing those in wheelchairs and power chairs to access the beach from the boardwalk, is available here.

Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and sailboats are available for rent if you didn't bring your own.

Fishing

The ocean beaches are a favorite spot for surf fishing. Three dune crossings provide access to multi-use beaches where vehicles with a surf fishing license plate bearing a current surf-fishing decal can drive onto the beach to fish. Surf fishing vehicle decals and plates may be purchased at the nearby Delaware Seashore Regional Office located at the Indian River Marina, at the Indian River Life-Saving Station, or online. A fishing license from DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife is required when fishing in tidal waters.

Upcoming Events


There are currently no programs scheduled at this location


Map and Directions