Holts Landing State Park

Small Delaware State Park On The South Shore Of Indian River Bay, Inland From Bethany Beach, Known For Its Crabbing Pier, Bay Access And Quiet Picnic Grounds · Dagsboro, Delaware

Holts Landing State Park is a small, quiet park on the south shore of Indian River Bay, a few miles inland from Bethany Beach and a world away from the crowded ocean parks. There is no surf and no swimming beach here. People come instead for the popular crabbing pier that reaches out over the shallow bay, where families drop chicken necks on hand lines and collapsible traps and wait for blue crabs, and for the small boat ramp and launch that put kayaks, paddleboards and small motorboats straight onto the bay. Behind the shore are open fields, shaded picnic pavilions and a short nature trail through woods and marsh edge, where ospreys, herons and egrets are common in summer. The bay is shallow, with sandy flats and marsh islands, and the views across it at sunset are some of the calmest on the coast. The park charges a per-vehicle entry fee in season, is buzzing with mosquitoes and biting greenhead flies on still summer days, and is best treated as a half-day of crabbing, paddling or picnicking rather than a destination. It is a quieter alternative when the beaches are packed.

Holts Landing Road, Dagsboro, Delaware, 19939, United States

The park is generally open every day of the year from about 8 AM until sunset, and cars are meant to be out of the lots by dusk; confirm current hours, which can shift with the season. A per-vehicle entry fee is normally charged during the fee season, roughly March through November, and it is higher for cars with out-of-state plates; outside that season entry has usually been free, and a Delaware state parks annual pass covers it - confirm dates and amounts. There is no swimming beach and no lifeguard at any time, and swimming from the pier or shore is not a supported use; confirm current rules. The boat ramp suits small, shallow-draft boats and can be hard to use at low tide. Pavilions can be reserved for groups and may be taken on summer weekends. Restrooms near the main lot may be limited or closed in the off-season. Crabbing and fishing follow Delaware state seasons, size limits and gear rules. Confirm before a long drive.

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