Delaware State Parks 2026 Passes and Permits Available December 9
STATE OF DE - Delaware State Parks will officially begin selling 2026 park passes and surf fishing permits on December 9. Visitors can purchase these items online through the Delaware State Parks website or in person at park offices. Daily entrance fees for the 2026 season are scheduled to begin on March 1.
The fee structure for the upcoming year includes specific rates for different park types. For inland parks, the daily entrance fee is $5 for vehicles registered in Delaware and $10 for out-of-state vehicles. Visitors to beach parks will pay $10 for Delaware-registered vehicles and $20 for out-of-state vehicles. Federal funding restrictions require that charges for out-of-state residents do not exceed double the rate charged to in-state residents.
Annual passes are priced at $50 for vehicles registered in Delaware and $100 for out-of-state vehicles. Seniors and military members are eligible for a 50 percent discount on annual passes. Additionally, a Lifetime Pass is available exclusively to Delaware residents aged 65 and older for a fee of $150.
Regarding surf fishing, there are no changes to the permit program or fees for the 2026 season. However, the off-peak surf fishing permit will be discontinued in 2027. This decision follows the removal of weekend and holiday reservations from most surf fishing beaches in July 2025.
These new fees represent the first increase adopted in 10 years. The adjustments were finalized after extensive public outreach, including open houses and endorsements from Park Friends groups and the state Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. A survey of more than 1,200 people showed that 68 percent of respondents agreed that a fee increase was justified to maintain current services.
"Delaware State Parks are now hosting 7.4 million visitors annually, nearly 2 million more people than in 2015, and we are grateful our residents and visitors appreciate the quality of the parks and the programs they provide," said DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson. "And they appreciate the value; for Delaware residents, a family can spend a day in a state park for less than a single movie ticket, and a pass to get them in any park unlimited times for a whole year is less than a family dinner out."
The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation will continue to offer accessible options for residents. Through a partnership with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, individuals receiving assistance from a State Service Center are eligible to purchase an annual pass for $10.
Furthermore, park passes can be reserved online at no cost using a library card.
For additional information on fees, visitors may consult the passes, permits, and fees webpage on the Delaware State Parks website.
