Fenwick Island

Park Highlights

Catch Sunset on the Bay

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

Swim, Sunbathe, Beachcomb on the Coast

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

Enjoy Paddlesports and Sailing on the Little Assawoman Bay

The calm, picturesque shoreline of the Assawoman Recreation Area in the park is perfect for launching kayaks, paddleboards, sailboats and more. Explore the less populated side of Delaware’s resort area amid saltmarsh islands and tidal creeks. Concessionaire Coastal Kayak provides rentals right in the park to get you out on the water.

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.

Park History

Fenwick Island State Park was originally the southern portion of Delaware Seashore State Park, which opened in 1967. However, several stretches of privately-owned land and the community of Bethany Beach separated Fenwick Island from the rest of the park. In 1981, Fenwick Island became its own state park.
PaddleFest

Paddlefest has been a huge hit since it began in 2017. People have loved kayaking in the Rehoboth Bay, but not everyone is available on one particular day in August. We want everyone to explore the wonderful waters of Delaware Seashore State Park, so this year we’re introducing PaddleQuest!

Instead of one day, PaddleQuest will run the entire month of August. Those who participate in three (3) different kayak experiences can snag a bag full of awesome Delaware State Parks gear! Join Park staff for an Introduction to Kayaking, Kayak Eco-Tour, or Paddle the Assawoman Canal experience, or have a self-guided experience in Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, Assawoman Canal, or Little Assawoman Bay. Make sure to take a picture during your experience and enter it at https://indianriverlss.wufoo.com/forms/q12qfx5u0ri4vvm/ to get your bag!

RULES: Kayak experiences must be between 8/1/24 and 8/31/24. Each experience must be different. A photograph of the experience must be taken and attached using the proper field below. Experiences are defined as our staff-guided kayaking programs (Introduction to Kayaking, Kayak Eco-Tour, and Paddle the Assawoman Canal), or self-guided paddling in Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, Assawoman Canal, and/or Little Assawoman Bay. Entries will be accepted until 9/7/24.

Please send any questions to tyler.dreiblatt@delaware.gov. We look forward to seeing you out there!
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.
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.