Bellevue State Park, Delaware
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Bellevue State Park is a 328-acre state park in the suburbs of Wilmington, Delaware that offers family fun in a historic setting. The site of the old Du Pont family mansion was transformed into a comfortable and welcoming estate complete with ponds, sports fields and courts, hiking trails, and beautifully maintained gardens. Today, visitors benefit from the hard work and investment of the Du Pont family in this playground beloved by Wilmington locals. As you plan your next family vacation, Bellevue State Park is the perfect starting point for a rented RV getaway in the tri-state area, with attractions in the park as well as in nearby Pennsylvania and New Jersey that are sure to delight travelers of all ages. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your getaway to Bellevue State Park in your next RV rental.
The crown jewel of Bellevue State Park is Bellevue Hall, which overlooks the grounds like a guardian from the past. The house itself was redesigned by William du Pont, Jr. to replicate Montpelier, the famous home of President James Madison. In addition to the remodels to the house, Mr. Du Pont also made several additions to the estate that make it the great destination park it is today.
The tennis courts, originally build by Mr. du Pont, have since become Bellevue Tennis Center, which features eight clay courts and offers visitors a wide variety of tennis programs including a racquet-stringing workshop. Wellspring Farm is a working equestrian center complete with stables and both indoor and outdoor arenas offering group riding lessons. Between periodic tours of the house itself, these modern facilities, and the arboretum and gardens surrounding the house, Bellevue Hall offers plenty to do and see.
The centerpiece pond at Bellevue State Park is another great attraction that offers two different kinds of fun, depending on the season. In the warmer months, the pond is a great place to fish. It’s stocked with bass, catfish, and sunfish, and visitors can while away an entire day with relaxing catch-and-release fishing.
In the wintertime, the pond freezes over and becomes an excellent place for ice skating amidst the snowy white landscape. Learn more about fun in, around, and on the pond here.
A portion of Bellevue State Park is now the Bellevue Woods Nature Preserve, an immaculate, 28-acre patch of wooded beauty perfect for a family hike. Because the woods are in the heart of the city of Wilmington, they offer one of the best escapes in an otherwise urban setting to stroll under mature hardwood trees. A creek runs through the preserve, which acts as a buffer and protection for the nearby Stony Creek.
The forest itself is surrounded by sprawling meadows, which are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Take a jaunt through the flowers and keep your eyes open for white tail deer and other woodland critters that call Bellevue Woods Nature Preserve home. Get more info on the preserve and what to expect on a visit on the park’s webpage.
The original horse track built on the estate by William du Pont, Jr. has since been converted into a pedestrian track referred to as “The Oval” by Wilmington locals. The track, which is 1 and 1/8 miles long, circles the park’s pond and is a great place for a leisurely hike or a more intensive jog.
To get a little bit of both worlds in a single experience, plan some time to stop at The Oval’s fitness stations. Twenty unique fitness stations like cross bars, pullup bars, and other interactive but simple workout stations add to the Oval’s overall appeal and can be a great way for a family to get out some energy on their trip to Bellevue.
Whenever you visit Bellevue State Park, be sure to check the park’s webpage and scroll down to the calendar section to see what events might be coming up during your trip. A family favorite during the fall is a wagon hayride through the grounds, which are available by reservation only and run $125 per wagon—a great autumn activity for the whole family to enjoy together! During the warmer months, the Summer Concert Series brings a variety of musical performances to the park on Thursday and Sunday nights, with special lunch performances on Wednesdays.
Wintertime in Bellevue State Park offers the great ice skating on the pond mentioned above, but also transforms the entire park into a snowy playground. Visitors love sledding on the park’s many hills, and cross country skiing is a popular way to see the park with some speed.
A bit of a drive from Wilmington, Flory’s Cottages & Camping is a perfect RV campground for turning your trip to Bellevue into a vacation in Amish country. The park is located in Lancaster, home of the Pennsylvania Dutch, and offers full hookup RV sites and close access to all of the theaters, shops, and restaurants Lancaster has to offer.
Four Seasons Family Campground in Pilesgrove, New Jersey is the perfect spot for an old-fashioned family vacation close to Bellevue State Park. Enjoy spacious RV sites, a large swimming pool, and excellent themed weekends promising special meals, family-friendly activities, and shows everyone will enjoy.
The KOA in West Chester, Pennsylvania bills itself as the original Philly KOA, and offers a convenient location to serve as a home base for trips out to Bellevue State Park as well as everything Philadelphia has to offer. Enjoy spacious RV campsites in a wooded setting and don’t miss out on the yellow canoe rentals on site!
Just across the state line in Clarksboro, New Jersey, Philadelphia’s second KOA campground is another family-friendly camping option. The park offers both pull-through and back-in RV sites with full hookups, a dog park, plus standard RV park amenities like cornhole, horseshoes, a playground, and a great jumping pillow.
The Adventure Bound Camping Resort Tall Pines in Elmer, New Jersey is the destination on this list for family fun. They offer well-shaded RV sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups and they don’t skimp on the amenities. Kids will love the massive waterpark playground, and everyone will have fun on the inflatable waterslides and in the great pool.
One of the most popular spots in Wilmington is Stitch House Brewery with its pub fare and craft brew options. Big Fish Grill on the Wilmington Riverfront is an excellent place for seafood in a fun atmosphere. Farmer & The Cow is a popular restaurant offering a wide range of burgers, and Santa Fe Mexican Grill is the top area pick for excellent Tex-Mex cuisine.
Learn more about these and other great restaurants in Wilmington on the city’s tourism website.