Experience the Joy of Glamping at Jellystone Park Delaware Beaches

Glamping at Deleware's Jellystone Park is one of the few times camping has been easy, breezy, and, overall, a very enjoyable experience for our family with three kids. We weren’t stressed about setting up our campsite or exhausted from a night of not sleeping and everyone had fun, even us adults. It made for a great and easy long weekend vacation from our home in New Jersey. 

Read on to find out why our weekend at Jellystone Park Delaware Beaches was a delight. For other suggestions for glamping destinations, see our review of the best glamping sites in the U.S. 

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The water slides were one of our favorite parts of the park.

Exploring Jellystone Park Delaware Beaches

Jellystone Park Delaware Beaches is about a 3-hour drive from northern New Jersey, and we divided our three-day stay into two parts: A couple of days exploring the beach and nearby beach towns, and a whole separate day enjoying the amenities at the campsite. 

The amenities at the campsite include a pool, a splash pad with water slides, a giant jumping pillow, a playground, an arcade, and laser tag. It was hot when we were there so we spent about 15 minutes with our kids bouncing in the scorching sun on the jumping pillow, and then we retreated to the pool and the splash pad.

The pool was extremely crowded and looked kind of dirty, so we didn’t spend too long in there. For our family, the splash pad and water slides were the best part. Our 1.5-year-old and 5-year-old loved the splash pad that had mini water slides, giant spraying hoops to run through, and a wet spraying playground. 

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The safari tents have a porch, a small kitchenette, bathroom, seating area and two sleepings areas.

Our older kids and my husband and I enjoyed the two water slides. They were just big enough to be thrilling but not so big to be scary. Our kids spent hours on the water slides.

We stayed in one of the safari tents and it was perfect: Rustic enough to scratch our 7-year-old’s camping itch, but still comfortable. Two sleeping sections were separated by the bathroom (yes, a full bathroom with a shower!) with fairly comfortable beds. One side had a double bed and the other side had bunk beds. There was a living room area with a futon and a mini kitchen with a microwave, a small stove, and a sink.

As long as we kept the door to the tent closed the tent was mosquito-free. And, best of all, there was air conditioning! The safari tent had a small, covered front porch with a picnic table and some chairs. There was a small driveway that could probably fit two cars and a fire ring in the front yard.

Things To Do in Delaware Beaches with Kids

This was our first trip to the Delaware Beaches as a family, and we loved it! Jellystone is located in Lincoln, Delaware, which is close to the town of Milton. Milton has a very cute and very small downtown, and I would suggest just going downtown to get an ice cream cone at King’s Homemade Ice Cream one evening.

If you enjoy craft beers, stop by the Dogfish Head Brewery, also located in Milton. There is a large indoor and large outdoor area, lots of kids playing in the outdoor area, and they serve food via a window in the outdoor seating area. There is a crazy-looking metal tree house in the yard, which the kids congregate around. And if you are interested in a tour, the brewery offers several types.

If you are looking for a happening beach with a boardwalk, check out Rehoboth. The mile-long boardwalk is lined with attractions, stores, and good eats. At the end of Rehoboth Avenue is the iconic bandstand that hosts the city’s summer concert series on weekend evenings. And if shopping is more your thing, check out the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth.

RELATED: 16 Best Family Campgrounds in New Jersey

Cape Henelopen State Park has large, uncrowded beaches to enjoy. 

Lewes is another adorable beach town on the bay. If you are looking for a quieter beach experience, I suggest you head here. Lewes is a short drive from the beach and is worth walking around and perhaps having a meal at one of the many cafes and restaurants.

We are a family of nature lovers and Cape Henlopen State Park was our favorite site at the Delaware Beaches. This is another very popular camping spot you could check out as well. The highlights for us were the beach, the seaside nature center, and the borrow-a-bike program. We loved the uncrowded, large beach here.

Insider Tips for Visiting Jellystone Park

We came to Jellystone on a weekend and for us it was unbearably (pun intended) crowded! So we hit up the local beaches on the weekend and come Sunday afternoon, Jellystone cleared out. Monday we mostly had the pool and splash pad all to ourselves. I would suggest visiting during the week if you can or plan your trip so that you are visiting the local destinations on the weekend and taking advantage of the amenities at Jellystone on a weekday. However, be aware the themed activities are mostly offered on weekends.

I would suggest bringing your kids' scooters and bikes (and of course helmets). There is a road going all throughout the campsite and kids are just biking, skating, and scooting all around in droves. We did not bring anything like that and our kids were upset they couldn’t really join in the bike gang.

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The jump pad offers a unique way for kids to get their energy out.

Jellystone does not provide sheets or towels. They have electricity, AC, and Wi-Fi. They also had a few plates, bowls, cups, and utensils, but if you wanted to cook you would have to provide pots and pans. The bugs were not so bad when we were there, but I would bring bug spray just in case. And don’t forget to bring supplies to build a fire! But even if you don't they sell them in the camp store.

I found our tent to be kind of dirty. I know you are camping, but still, other people’s crumbs all over the futon and sticky stuff on the counter bothered me. I was talking to someone who rented a cabin and they were complaining about the same thing. This makes me think they don’t clean between visitors. If this is the kind of thing that would bother you, I would suggest bringing a broom and some antibacterial wipes.

Quiet hours are from 11pm-8am at the campsite, and if you have younger children like we do, this was kind of late. Saturday night it was loud until at least that late. I am sure this depends on your neighbors at the campsite, but a white-noise machine might be good to bring. There was also very limited shade at Jellystone, so bring hats and plenty of sunscreen. Be aware that the splash pad and pool are open Memorial Day weekend through to end of August.

Jellystone Park has themed weekends throughout the year such as Pirates and Mermaids Week, Wizards and Magic Week, Luau Week, Christmas in July Week, and many many more! See here for the full list of themed activities.

Getting to Jellystone Park and Parking

Jellystone has a parking lot and there is also a driveway you can use for parking at your campsite. There isn’t anything walkable in the vicinity of the park, so you do need a car. However, if you are coming from New Jersey and would like arrive by boat for something different, you can take the Cape May - Lewes Ferry, which you can bring your car on.

Visiting Jellystone Park: Food, Costs, and More Things to Know

• There was no snack bar or restaurant on the premises. However, there were some basic snacks and drinks available for purchase at the camp store.
• Strollers: The paved road or path takes you anywhere you want to go on the premises, so bringing a stroller or wagon would be a good way to get around with small children.
• The whole park is walkable; however, golf cart rentals are offered if your family is interested.
• There are private bathrooms in your tent or cabin, and if you camp there are shared bathrooms and showers. There are also bathrooms and a changing area by the pool.
• Jellystone Park offers a variety of different ways to stay, ranging from a variety of different types of cabins to the safari tent, which cost $99 per night and up. There is a discount for 5- and 7-night stays. And if you have an RV there are RV sites as well as traditional camping sites.

Photos by the author