Lums Pond State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Lums Pond is a 200-acre body of water inside the park that bears its name. It's the largest body of freshwater in Delaware. Lums Pond State Park has been a park since 1963. The most exciting attraction at Lums Pond State Park is the "Go Ape" ziplining system, which includes two places to swing on a vine like Tarzan. Traveling the entire system takes up to three hours and is open to anyone 10 or older. This year, the park received a $5.6 million upgrade that outfitted all 68 campsites with full hookups. However, no swimming is allowed in Lums Pond because the state doesn't have lifeguards at the pond.
Nearby cities:
Glasgow, DE
Dover, DE
Newark, DE
Wilmington, DE
Spring 52-73 F
Summer 80-86 F
Fall 57-77 F
Winter 28-43 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Lums Pond State Park
Campground Accommodations
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Water hookups: Yes
Electrical hookups: Yes
Sewer hookups: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 50 feet
Other amenities: off-leash dog park, picnic pavilion, fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, nature center, all-purpose athletic fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, disc golf course, boat launch, equestrian center, communal potable water, information center, dump station, convenience store, two fishing piers, and boat rentals
Woodlands Camping Resort
Just 30 minutes from Lums Pond State Park in Elkton, MD, Woodlands Camping Resort is nearby many area attractions. The campground offers a variety of sites as well as plenty of activities planned by the entertainment committee, plus hiking and biking trails, a pool, fishing pond, playground and much more, so the whole family is sure to have fun! Rates start at $55 a night.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: no
Pet-friendly: yes (there are some breed restrictions)
Other amenities: pool, sunbathing deck, fishing pond, 24-hour bathhouse, large, wooded sites, picnic tables and fire rings, hiking/biking trails, basketball court, wiffle ball field, volleyball/badminton court, playground, covered pavilion, bingo on Saturday nights, small camp store.
Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA
Located in Clarksboro, NJ, nearby Lums Pond State Park and just a short drive from downtown Philadelphia, the Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA has a wide variety of campsites as well as plenty of family fun. Many of the activities and amenities at the campground have been newly added, including a playground, cornhole, a new pavilion and much more.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: pool, fishing, cornhole, horseshoes, ladderpall, jumping pillow, playground, off leash dog park, pavilion, camp store, meeting room, bicycle rental, laundry, newly remodeled bathrooms.
What to Do at
Lums Pond State Park
Ride your horses along the designated equestrian trails. You'll love the boating, and the fishing is outstanding. A cool shower will take the edge of the summer heat, and you can head back to your campsite for a cookout.
Exploring the hiking trails is a fun, family-friendly activity. Learning at the nature center, too, is excellent for family bonding time.
Inside Lums Pond State Park
Water activities are one of the most exciting things to do within Lums Pond State Park, thanks to being home to the largest freshwater pond in the state, but there’s something for everyone to do. Adventure lovers, hikers, fishers and much more will enjoy their time at the park. Some of the unique experiences and activities to enjoy include:
Go Ape Ziplining Course – Adventure lovers will really love this new part of the State Park. Take in the entire park from the treetops way up above! The Go Ape Ziplining course has rope ladders, treetop crossings, Tarzan swings and four zip lines that take you over the pond. The main course is for ages 10 and up and is a 2 to 3 hour adventure, but younger climbers can experience the climbing fun, too, with a Treetop Junior course.
Fishing, Boating and Water Activities – You can’t visit the largest freshwater pond in Delaware and not enjoy some water activities! Lums Pond is one of the best fishing spots in the state, and anglers can commonly land largemouth bass, pickerel, perch, bluegill, crappie, striped bass (stocked periodically) and more. Fishing permits are required.
Additionally, a boat launching ramp and two piers make it easy to rent a boat or bring your own. Rowboats, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats are also available, offering plenty of ways to experience the pond! Keep in mind that swimming in the pond is not permitted.
Hiking and Nature Activities – There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking and horseback riding inside Lums Pond State Park, including the 6.4 mile long Swamp Forest Trail (for hiking) and the Little Jersey Trail, which is a 8.1 mile, shared-use trail designed for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Lums Pond Woods Nature Preserve – The 181-acre Nature Preserve captures all mature woodlands within the park, and is a beautiful example of a Northern Coastal Plain/Piedmont Basic Mesic hardwood forest. There is also the Loop Trail that offers pedestrian hiking, bike riding and horseback riding both in and outside of the Nature Preserve.
Hiking
The trails in Lums Pond State Park are all flat and easy. Whale Wallow Loop is short at only a couple hundred yards and excellent for laps, especially on a bicycle. The Michael N. Castle trail is nearly 20 miles round trip and takes about six hours to complete. If you birdwatch, check out the Little Jersey Trail, which loops 7.7 miles around Lums Pond. This trail is also available for horseback riding because of its wider trails.
Flora and Fauna
Turtles and frogs will bask in the sun on rocks at the water's edge. Occasionally, you can spot different snakes doing the same thing. Great blue herons, ibises, and other wading birds stride through the shallows. Osprey, hawks, and other raptors fly overhead, and songbirds inhabit the trees. You can also find many wildflowers, such as spring beauty, trout lily, and Virginia bluebells.
Geocaching
There are two caches in Lums Pond State Park. One of them is easy to find, and inside it, you will find some puzzles to decipher to figure out the location of the second cache, which is much smaller.
Fishing
The State of Delaware will occasionally stock Lums Pond with striped bass, which can live in fresh and saltwater. Bluegill, crappie, and your usual freshwater bass species are also there to catch. Slightly less common are yellow perch and chain pickerel. Be sure to have the proper licenses.
Boating
You can bring your boat, but you can also rent rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and even paddle boats at Lums Pond. You are allowed to take out motorboats but observe the speed limits at the marina or approaching the boat launch. Rentals are available May through September only.
How to Get to
Lums Pond State Park
From Wilmington and all points north, drive west on Route 95 to the junction with Route 896. Take Route 896 south. Take the exit for Route 71, and then follow Route 71 south around Lums Pond until you reach the campground.
From Middletown and all points south, take Route 71 north. Route 71 becomes Route 896 at Mount Pleasant. Follow Route 896 north to the exit to Route 71, which continues around Lums Pond. That will take you right to the park entrance.
From Elkton in Maryland and all points west, drive east on Route 40 to Glasgow, where you will turn south on Route 896. Follow that to the exit for Route 71. Take that around Lums Pond, and look for the signs for Lums Pond State Park.
Entering Lums Pond State Park
There is day-use parking, and it's $4 per vehicle for Delaware residents and $8 per vehicle for out-of-state visitors.
Lums Pond State Park Residents : $4.0
Effective March 1 to November 30
Lums Pond State Park Non-residents : $8.0
Effective March 1 to November 30
You’re sure to have a great time at the State Park and the local Delaware community nearby during your time at Lums Pond State Park. Whether you’re ready for some water fun, pumped for the Go Ape ziplining course or just want to experience a nice hike through nature, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the park. Don’t forget to tag us in your social media posts or shoot us a photo and some details at [email protected]. We may just feature your story on our blog or social media channels. Happy camping!
Frequently Asked Questions About Lums Pond State Park
The best times to visit Lums Pond State Park are late spring and early autumn. You avoid the hot, sticky summer heat with no swimming option, and the flowers or changing tree colors, as applicable, create quite a pleasing vista for photographs.
You'll primarily see small creatures such as reptiles, squirrels, chipmunks, and many species of birds.
There are 68 RV-specific, fully upgraded campsites in Lums Pond State Park.
Yes, you need reservations, and it's wise to make them as far in advance as possible. More than four in every 10 campers are Delaware residents, and the park is bustling during its peak operating season from Memorial Day to National Indigenous People's Day. It costs up to $58 for an RV campsite. Check with the staff for the final price since the price could change.
Yes, pets are welcome. Aside from the off-leash areas, you have to keep them on a leash no longer than 6 feet and clean up their messes.