There are no major National Parks in Delaware. There are several sites within the State of Delaware including one official national park unit, one other site (that encompasses many other sites) as well as two national trails.
National Park Units
National Park Units are an odd designation. Some of the parks are part of a larger unit while some have multiple units associated with the same park. Additionally, some National Park Service sites are not “official” units but are still administered by the National Park Service.
First State National Historical Park
Delaware is famous for being the first state to ratify the Constitution. It’s even immortalized on their license plate. The park protects are of colonial importance within Delaware (and some in Pennsylvania). The park is divided across 6 sites in these two states (with most within Delaware). [ DE PA ]
Other National Park Sites
These are not official National Park Units, but are still administered by the National Park Service (or sometimes in conjunction with other agencies). The following is the one that is located within Delaware.
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay protects several sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay Unit. Within the Chesapeake Bay you can visit incredible cities, colonial towns, Native American Sites, farms, villages, and more. The Chesapeake Bay is a National Treasure (literally by Executive Order 13508) and protection of it is critical to the life of so many people, plants, and animals. Several states share the watershed and its importance and prominence is shared amongst them. [ DC DE MD NY PA VA WV ]
National Trails
National Trails are trails that often span across states for various geological or historical nature. Two of these Trails pass through Delaware. They are national park service administered (with cancellation stamps) but are so diverse and connect across various parks and other sites there is not just one spot to visit.
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
The Captain John Smith is a series of waterways that cover over 3,000 miles across 6 states. The trail extends from the Chesapeake Bay along with tributaries in Virginia, DC, Delaware, and Maryland. It is only one of two water trails that are within the National Trail System. Parts of the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek extend the trail into Delaware. [ VA MD DE DC PA NY ]
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
In the Year 1781, French General Rochambeau joined Washington’s Army in Yorktown VA in an effort to fight the British Army. With Support of French Naval Vessels, the Army moved Troops hundreds of miles in what would be the largest troop movement of the American Revolutionary War. This trail protects parts of the original trail that Americans used to travel to Yorktown from as far away as New Hampshire. The historic trail has sites to visit from Massachusetts to Virginia.
Sites such as Thomas Cooch House, Delaware Continental Army Landing Sites, Christiana Tavern, and French Army Campsites are among the sites to stop in Delaware. [ MA RI CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC ]
Check out Nearby States National Park Sites
Pennsylvania | Maryland | New Jersey