Kayak-Camping Destinations Across the Delmarva Peninsula

Saxis Wildlife Management Area

Delmarva doesn’t exactly have any lengthy trails to do any serious, overnight backpacking trips. But if you’re looking for something with the same level of adventure, there are several kayak-camping opportunities across the peninsula. 

But first, let’s get specific about what kayak-camping is. It’s not where you load your kayaks, drive to a campground, set up camp, and go paddling sometime during your stay. As far as this article goes, kayak-camping is when you load your kayak with all of your camping gear, food, and water, and paddle to a campsite for the night.

So let’s get down to it. Where CAN you go kayak-camping on Delmarva?  

Saxis Wildlife Management Area | Saxis, VA

State-owned wildlife management areas are known as places to go hunting, but outside of deer and waterfowl seasons, they can be great places for primitive camping. The Saxis Wildlife Management Area has two small beaches that are suitable for setting up a tent for the night. You’ll need to get both a $4 access permit, as well as a free camping permit. This is a great option for beginners, as the closest launch is Hammocks Landing, about a mile from the beach. 

Learn more about camping at Saxis WMA here.

Assateague Island National Seashore | Berlin, MD

Tingles Island backcountry campground

Assateague Island has three paddle-in backcountry campgrounds: Tingles Island, Pine Tree, and Pope’s Island campgrounds. A backcountry camping permit must be obtained in-person at the ranger station on the day you plan to depart. Fire rings and pit toilets are available, but there is no freshwater available. Learn more about backcountry camping on Assateague here.

Island Getaway Hipcamp | Dover, DE

Reserve an entire island! Located in the St. Jones River near Dover, this hipcamp site offers a secluded getaway and is rated as one of the best Hipcamp sites in Delaware. The host even says it has historic ties to the Underground Railroad.

Tuckahoe State Park | Queen Anne, MD

Tuckahoe State Park is certainly a great place to drive to and camp for the weekend, but you can also kayak to the Tuckahoe campground. The Heron Loop of the campground has a kayak launch which is just steps away from some of the sites. Book sites 47, 48, or 49 which are closest to the launch. Kayak-camping at Tuckahoe is also a great choice for beginners because Tuckahoe’s boat ramp is less than two miles from the launch within the campground. And the campground also has flushing toilets and freshwater available. 

Trap Pond State Park | Laurel, DE

Similar to Tuckahoe State Park, Trap Pond State Park also has a campground with water access. The “island site” is probably the most popular campsite in the state, but if you can snag a date, it’s worth it! But don’t let the name fool you. It’s not technically an island, so you can still walk to it, but it is surrounded by water on three sides. And it’s probably not worth packing up your kayak with all of your gear since you can park not far from the site. The boat ramp you would launch from is only a quarter mile away - hardly a long-distance kayak-camping adventure!

Parson’s Landing | Madison, MD

Photo credit: Elliott W., Hipcamp host

This secluded getaway is perfect for paddlers paddlers. The closest place to launch is about 3 miles away at Taylor's Island boat ramp. Another launch is located in Madison, about 5 miles away. This Hipcamp site comes with a fire ring and a port-o-jon, and the host reports stunning sunsets. 

Jane’s Island State Park | Crisfield, MD

One of the most iconic places to paddle and camp in all of Maryland has to be Jane’s Island State Park. The park has about 30 miles of marked water trails of winding marsh creeks and along the island’s sandy beaches. While the park has a wonderful campground on the mainland, the island itself has three paddle-in campsites. These sites are situated on raised, wooden platforms and campfires are not permitted so as not to disturb the surrounding environment. To reserve a paddle-in campsite, you’ll need to call the park office in advance. You can launch right from the park’s boat ramp, or if you’re an experienced paddler and up for a challenge, consider launching from Colbourn Creek, about 4 miles from Jane’s Island.

Mockhorn Island Wildlife Management Area | Oyster, VA

The only island on the seaside of Virginia’s Eastern Shore that allows primitive camping is Mockhorn Island. This island is one of Virginia’s wildlife management areas, and just like Saxis, a daily access permit and primitive camping permit must be obtained in advance. Kayaking to Mockhorn Island should only be attempted by experienced paddlers as some of the tidal currents surrounding the barrier islands can be tricky to understand. However, if you’re up for a challenge, camping on Mockhorn Island is an experience you won’t forget. Sunrises and sunsets are both spectacular, and you’ll feel like the only person around for miles. 

For details on visiting Mockhorn and other Virginia barrier islands, visit Explore Our Seaside.

Now that you’ve got some inspiration on places to go kayak-camping, you may have questions about how to prepare and pack for your trip. Many of the locations listed above can get quite buggy at dawn and dusk, so be sure to pack a bug net! For a comprehensive list of kayak-camping 101 tips, check out this article.