Discount not applicable to Non-Active Non-Resident Veterans.

Your annual pass decal allows your vehicle and its occupants unlimited year-round entry to all state parks charging an entry fee. The annual pass does not allow vehicle access to drive on the beach for surf fishing. A surf fishing permit must be purchased.

Online Sales and Inquiries

Non-discounted annual passes and senior annual passes are available for purchase online:

Buy Passes Online

Online orders may require two to three weeks for delivery.

Annual passes are also available for purchase at these park offices:

Alapocas Run State Park
Auburn Valley State Park
Bellevue State Park
Brandywine Creek State Park
Cape Henlopen State Park
Fort Delaware State Park
Indian River Life-Saving Station
Killens Pond State Park
Lums Pond State Park
Trap Pond State Park
White Clay Creek State Park
Wilmington State Parks

Annual passes are also available for purchase at these retail sales agents:

Carlisle Marine
49 Artisan Dr.
Smyrna, DE 19977

Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce
36913 Coastal Hwy
Fenwick Island, DE 19944

Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce – Dagsboro
33370 Main St.
Dagsboro, DE 19939

Cabela’s
1100 Christiana Mall
Newark, DE 19702

Dover Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation Office
475 Chevron Avenue
Dover AFB, DE 19902

Annual Pass Information

• Your annual pass is only valid during the year printed on the pass.
• Your pass is not valid until you remove its protective cover and apply it by affixing the entire adhesive surface to the outside lower corner on the driver’s side of the windshield, ensuring the pass is entirely affixed to the surface. If your pass isn’t properly glued to the windshield with its own adhesive, it can be confiscated and will not be replaced.
• Your annual pass may be used on only one vehicle and cannot be transferred from one vehicle to another.
• Your annual pass does not allow vehicle access to drive on the beach for surf fishing. A surf fishing permit must be purchased.
• Delaware State Parks charge a daily entrance fee during 9 months of the year, from March 1 to November 30, but once your annual pass is properly affixed to your vehicle, you can visit as many times as you want all year long without paying the entrance fee!
• Your annual pass is valid for free entry to all Delaware State Park properties that charge a vehicle entry fee. Exceptions are the Brandywine Zoo at Wilmington State Parks and the ferry to Fort Delaware State Park.
• When our parking areas are filled to capacity, entrance is not guaranteed. We especially recommend that, on summer weekends, you arrive early in the day or late in the afternoon to be assured of entry to our beach parks.
• If your vehicle is sold or in an accident and you need a replacement pass, peel off all or a portion of your annual pass and bring it, along with proof of purchase or permit document, to a park office for your new pass. There is a $5 administrative fee for this service.
• Vehicle registration is not necessary to purchase most passes.
• Note: Vehicles designed to carry 16 passengers or more will be charged the bus fee.

Deauville Beach Annual Pass Information

• Deauville Beach annual pass is valid for free entry to Deauville Beach only.
• Your annual pass is only valid during the year printed on the pass.
• Your pass is not valid until you remove its protective cover and apply it by affixing the entire adhesive surface to the outside lower corner on the driver’s side of the windshield, ensuring the pass is entirely affixed to the surface. If your pass isn’t properly glued to the windshield with its own adhesive, it can be confiscated and will not be replaced.
• Alternative location for passes – when the front windshield is not available (e.g. out-of-state inspection stickers already placed in this area) the pass can be placed on the outside, upper front corner of the left side passenger.
• Your annual pass may be used on only one vehicle and cannot be transferred from one vehicle to another.
• Your annual pass does not allow vehicle access to drive on the beach for surf fishing. A surf fishing permit must be purchased.
• Delaware State Parks charge a daily entrance fee during 9 months of the year, from March 1 to November 30, but once your annual pass is properly affixed to your vehicle, you can visit as many times as you want all year long without paying the entrance fee.
• When the Deauville Beach parking area is filled to capacity, entrance is not guaranteed. We especially recommend that, on summer weekends, you arrive early in the day or late in the afternoon to be assured of entry to Deauville Beach.
• If your vehicle is sold or in an accident and you need a replacement pass, peel off all or a portion of your annual pass and bring it to a park office for your new pass. There is a $5 administrative fee for this service.

Online orders may require two to three weeks for delivery. A digital permit will be sent to your email that can be printed and displayed on your vehicle’s dash for up to 30 days from order date until the pass arrives.

Buy Deauville Annual Passes Online

Deauville Beach Annual passes are also available for purchase at these park locations:

Cape Henlopen State Park
Indian River Life-Saving Station

For Delaware residents who are 65 years of age and over. The senior adult must be present in the vehicle when entering the park.

• One-time cost: $150
• Replacement fee is $10 — restrictions apply.

You must show proof of eligibility to qualify. Lifetime passes may be purchased at any state park office.

Delaware Firefighter/EMT – Contact the president of your fire company or the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association for information and an application form.

Individuals who work in the state of Delaware and pay Delaware income tax but live out of state are eligible to purchase an annual pass or one-year surf-fishing permit at the resident rate. Two-year surf-fishing permits are not eligible for this program.

How to Apply for the Non-Resident Taxpayer Program:

• Complete the Non-Resident Taxpayer Program form or at any park office.

Download Non-Resident Tax Payer Form

• Gather the required documentation:
  • W-2 form for the current year, or other documentation which indicates the applicant is paying Delaware income tax, such as a current paycheck stub that shows deductions.
  • Copy of the applicant’s vehicle registration if buying a surf permit. The name on the vehicle registration must match the applicant name on the Non-Resident Taxpayer Program form.
    Applicants 62 years of age or older must provide proof of age to receive the senior rate.

• Submit your application form and documentation at any State Park Office for processing to purchase an annual pass or one-year surf permit.

Exclusions

• Individuals retired from working for a company located in Delaware are not eligible for this program.
• Individuals who own property in Delaware are not eligible for this program unless they also pay Delaware income tax.

America the Beautiful Access passes are issued by the Department of the Interior. Passes are available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have been medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled and, as a result, are eligible to receive benefits under federal law. Delaware residents who hold an America the Beautiful Access Pass are exempted from paying seasonal or daily entrance fees to Delaware State Parks.

The policy for family camping for all campgrounds is as follows: Delaware residents with an America the Beautiful Access Pass receive a 20% discount from normal camping rates. Pass holders who are not Delaware residents receive a 10% discount. Discounts can only be applied by calling the Reserve America Call Center at 1-877-987-2757.

The America the Beautiful Access Pass can be purchased online:

store.usgs.gov/access-pass

Or at Alapocas Run, Bellevue, Killens Pond, and Cape Henlopen State Parks, as well as at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuges.

The Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Health and Social Services have partnered to help more Delaware families enjoy state parks.

From March 1 through November 30, park entrance fees apply. If you are a Delaware resident and currently receive assistance through a State Service Center, you may be eligible to purchase one Annual State Park Pass for $10.

The pass is affixed on your vehicle’s windshield and allows unlimited entry for one vehicle and up to six occupants during the fee season.*

Eligible Assistance Programs:

• Public Assistance
• General Assistance
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Social Security Income
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
• WIC
• Child Care Assistance Program

What to Bring:

When visiting your local park office, please bring:

• Proof of benefits (such as a benefits letter or program ID card)
• Proof of Delaware residency

*This program does not include entry fees for Brandywine Zoo, Fort Delaware State Park, or State Line Beach.

Call (302) 739-9220 for more information or with any questions about this special program.

Unlock free access to Delaware State Parks with your library card! Simply have your card handy and reserve your pass online. Limit one pass per library card, with a maximum of 4 passes every 60 days. Passes are available to reserve for Delaware Library cardholders who are 18 years or older.

For more information and to reserve:

Visit the Delaware Libraries

Visit the Corporate and Group Passes page

We offer three different types of annual pass discounts: the Delaware Military Pass, the Out-of-State Military Vehicle Pass, and the Veterans of Southwest Asia Military Pass.

Delaware Military Passes are sold only at park offices. The Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom pass is issued only at our 89 King’s Highway location, by our Office of Business Services. Discounted military passes are not available for online purchase or at retail locations.

Delaware Military Pass

The Delaware legislature’s House Bill 235, amended by Senate Amendment No. 1, created the Delaware Military Pass. It was signed into law July 5, 2012 and is found in Title 7 §4701(a)(5)(E). This legislation authorizes the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation to reduce the cost of an annual pass by 50% for military members who are permanent residents of the State of Delaware.

You may purchase a Delaware Military Pass if you are:

• A permanent resident of the state of Delaware
• and one of the following:
  • An active-duty military member serving honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States or in the Delaware National Guard
  • A veteran who was honorably discharged
  • A military retiree who served honorably for 20 or more years

When you come in to purchase your pass, you will need to present documents that confirm your military status, your Delaware residency, and your ownership of the vehicle on which you will affix your pass.

To confirm your military status, provide:

• Your Military ID if you are an active duty military member or a military retiree
• Your DD214 discharge paper if you are a veteran

To confirm your Delaware residency, provide:

• Your Delaware driver’s license

To confirm ownership of the vehicle on which you will place your pass, provide:

• The official vehicle registration document for the vehicle on which you intend to place your pass. This vehicle must be registered in Delaware in your name.

Family members are not eligible to purchase the pass. The law stipulates that only military personnel, retirees and veterans may purchase the Delaware Military Pass.

You may purchase one Delaware Military Pass for each vehicle you own, provided the vehicle is registered in the state of Delaware in your name, and the address on the Delaware vehicle registration is the same as on your driver’s license.

Out-of-State Military Vehicle Pass

If you are on active duty in Delaware but your vehicle registration or driver’s license is from another state, you are eligible for an Out-of-State Military Vehicle Pass. At half the cost of the civilian out-of-state vehicle pass, it represents substantial savings for military personnel stationed here.

Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Pass

In 2007, the Delaware Legislature authorized the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation to offer a free pass to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. To qualify, you must be a resident of the state of Delaware and have served honorably for 90 or more consecutive days on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, including service as member of the Delaware National Guard, in military actions in Southwest Asia associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. This pass is available for the first 12 months following the date the resident was honorably discharged or removed from active status. This pass is issued only at our 89 King’s Highway location in Dover, by our Office of Business Services.

Download the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom application