Fort Delaware State Park
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MilitaryHistoryIslandGuided TourEducationalOutdoor
Overview
Fort Delaware State Park is a 248-acre (100 ha), 1-mile-long (1.6 km) Delaware state park on Pea Patch Island in the mid channel of the Delaware River near its entrance into Delaware Bay. It is a low, marshy island in New Castle County, Delaware, facing Delaware City on the Delaware shore and Finns Point on the New Jersey shore. Fort Delaware was built on Pea Patch Island by the United States Army in 1815, near the conclusion of the War of 1812, to protect the harbors of Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Practical Info
MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
FriClosed
Sat9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThe park is only accessible seasonally from May to mid-September on weekends and holidays, with special evening tours in October. A clear morning in May or September is best to enjoy cooler temperatures for the ferry ride and the outdoor walking tour of this Civil War-era pentagonal fortress.
Getting ThereThe island fortress cannot be reached by car. Visitors must drive to the ferry terminal at 45 Clinton Street in Delaware City, leave their vehicle in the free public lot, and board the official park passenger ferry (Delafort Ferry) to Pea Patch Island where the fort is situated.
Travel Tips
- Situated on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River, access is exclusively via the official passenger ferry departing from the Delaware City mainland dock (45 Clinton Street). Ferry operations are strictly tied to river tides and wind thresholds; gusts exceeding 20 knots or dense fog trigger immediate grounding, canceling island access.
- The Civil War-era masonry fortress interiors are damp, poorly lit, and consist of uneven 19th-century granite blocks and tight, unlit brick spiral steps. The island features zero modern accessibility modifications and extreme summer mosquito and tick pressures; robust hiking footwear and Picaridin repellent are absolute mandatory gear.
- The northern wetlands of the island host one of the largest wading bird heronies in the mid-Atlantic. To preserve nesting herons, all nature trails outside the stone fort perimeter are legally closed from March through August; bypassing 'Area Closed' signs or launching any drone triggers severe DNREC criminal prosecution.
Reviews
Positive
- The ferry ride to Pea Patch Island is wonderful, and the Civil War-era fortress on the island is massive and visually striking.
- Costumed re-enactors in 1864 uniforms offer living history through blacksmithing and cannon fire, providing great immersive fun.
- The island's natural ecology is pristine, featuring a dedicated observation deck for herons, a paradise for nature lovers.
- Park staff and guides place high emphasis on crowd management and safety, keeping the ferry boarding lines orderly.
Heads up
- In bad weather or high winds, the island ferry can be suspended immediately, causing trip cancellations or delays.
- The mosquitoes and biting flies on the island are vicious and plentiful; you'll get eaten alive without heavy-duty bug spray.
- The fort interior is mostly heavy stone without A/C, making summer tours extremely exhausting in hot and humid weather.
- The ferry-and-park combo ticket isn't cheap, and the island canteen has very few options and sells out early, lowering value.