Fenwick Island State Park – Sussex County, Delaware
Location: Coastal Highway (DE-1), between South Bethany and the Delaware–Maryland border
Price: Delaware State Park entrance fees apply (seasonal rates)
Size: About 375 acres
Established: 1966 (separated from Delaware Seashore State Park in 1981)
Managed By: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Delaware’s Southernmost Ocean Beach
Fenwick Island State Park protects a scenic stretch of coastline along Delaware’s southern border. Located between South Bethany, Delaware, and Ocean City, Maryland, the park offers wide Atlantic beaches on one side and access to Little Assawoman Bay on the other.
With roughly three miles of ocean shoreline, the park provides one of the most peaceful beach environments in the region. Compared to the surrounding resort towns, the state-protected land remains largely undeveloped, preserving coastal dunes and natural habitats along the narrow peninsula.
Ocean and Bay Recreation
Fenwick Island State Park is known for its mix of ocean and bay activities. Visitors can enjoy traditional beach recreation along the Atlantic while also exploring calmer inland waters behind the barrier peninsula.
Popular activities include:
- Swimming and sunbathing on guarded ocean beaches
- Surf fishing along the Atlantic shoreline
- Kayaking, windsurfing, and sailing on Little Assawoman Bay
- Crabbing and clamming in designated bay areas
- Wildlife viewing and coastal photography
The combination of ocean surf and sheltered bay waters makes the park a versatile destination for both beachgoers and boaters.
Natural Landscape and Coastal Habitat
Fenwick Island sits on a narrow coastal peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and inland bays, shaped by shifting dunes and tidal waters. These fragile ecosystems support shorebirds, coastal vegetation, and marine wildlife that thrive in Delaware’s barrier-island environment.
Because the land strip is narrow and constantly influenced by wind and waves, development historically remained limited, helping preserve the park’s natural shoreline.
History of the Fenwick Coast
The region takes its name from Thomas Fenwick, an English landowner who received rights to the area in the late 1600s. Colonial boundary disputes between Maryland and Pennsylvania eventually led to the establishment of the Delaware–Maryland line at Fenwick Island.
During the mid-20th century, the land that now forms Fenwick Island State Park became part of Delaware’s coastal defense system during World War II. Later, in 1966, the property was transferred to the state park system and officially designated as its own park in 1981.
A Quiet Delaware Beach Escape
Fenwick Island State Park remains one of the most tranquil coastal destinations in Delaware. Its combination of protected ocean beaches, calm bay waters, and natural dune landscapes offers visitors a quieter alternative to the nearby resort towns while still providing classic Delaware beach experiences.