13 Top Places To Visit In Delaware This Fall

Although people typically associate New England with fall, the mid-Atlantic state of Delaware has so much to offer visitors.

This U.S. state is absolutely beautiful come the autumn months. You can expect brightly colored leaves and crisp temperatures at every turn. Plus, Delaware is full of scenic state parks and gardens, which makes it an ideal place to visit if you want to get out of nature during this time of year. You also won’t want to miss the region’s many fall and Halloween-themed festivals that take place between September and November.

The best time of year to enjoy the gorgeous fall colors in Delaware is between mid-October and early November. That said, peak leaf-peeping season can change yearly depending on weather patterns and temperature fluctuations.

Killens Pond State Park

Killens Pond State Park, located in Felton, Delaware, is a magical destination to visit in the fall. The park boasts plenty of walking trails, as well as a 66-acre pond after which the park is named. A 2.6 mile loop trail called the Pondside Trail is a popular option in the fall as it will allow you to marvel at the beautiful autumn colors, as well as maybe see a native bird like the woodpecker, prothonotary warbler, or barred owl.

Plus, Killens State Park has tons of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. There is a water park on-site, as well as a Nature Center that offers guided hikes and kayak tours. Speaking of kayaks, getting out on the pond is a common pastime in Killens Pond State Park. People love to canoe, kayak, and fish on the pond. In the fall, don’t miss out on seasonal events like hayrides, scarecrow making, and pumpkin carving.

Lums Pond State Park

Lums Pond State Park is yet another Delaware park worth visiting in the autumn. The wetlands that make up the park are ideal to explore in the fall. The low elevation of this park means that hiking here is suited to all mobility levels. A few easy yet scenic hikes include the Whale Wallow Loop, the Swamp Forest Trail, and the Little Jersey Trail. All of these hikes will take you around parts of the freshwater Lums Pond and will allow you to marvel at the stunning autumn scenery. Fishing along the shores, biking the trails, and paddling around the pond on a kayak or canoe are also popular activities here. In addition, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Great Blue Herons and osprey.

Fort Delaware State Park

Fort Delaware State Park will satisfy nature lovers and history buffs alike. This Delaware destination is fun to visit in the fall because not only can you walk around the park’s beautiful grounds, which include the Pea Patch Island Nature Preserve, but you can learn more about its eerie history.

Dating back to the mid-1800s and used to house prisoners during the American Civil War, the site has a reputation for “ghostly” activity. Fort Delaware State Park leans into these theories during the fall when they host ghost tours. Called Paranormal Adventure, the Diamond State Ghost Investigators and park staff invite guests to partake in a three-hour paranormal investigation.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Nestled on the central Delaware coast lies the next destination you have to visit in the autumn - Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge, which dates back to 1963, protects over 10,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the marshes along Delaware Bay. Whether you love wildlife viewing, nature photography, scenic walks, or bird watching (there are over 245 species of birds here), you can do it at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. There are a total of 7.5 miles of hiking trails through the park, and fall is the time to go for a walk as the trees that surround these fresh and saltwater wetlands come alive in October. Please note that there may be closures for deer hunting season in October and November.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

A second wildlife refuge in Delaware that you won’t want to miss this fall is none other than Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Situated on the coast of Delaware Bay, this preserved outdoor space was created to protect one of the biggest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the region.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge was first established in the 1930s. Today, it is full of thriving wildlife, including migratory birds. In particular, it is a breeding ground for these migratory birds. In total, the refuge covers over 16,000 acres and within that, there is a wide range of amenities for visitors. For example, there is a 12-mile wildlife drive, five hiking trails, two of which are handicapped accessible, three observation towers, and several nature and educational programs.

Brandywine County Scenic Byway

If you’re looking for a picturesque drive to take in Delaware this fall, look no further than the Brandywine County Scenic Byway. You will find vibrant colors adorning the trees all throughout the fall months.

This scenic byway spans roughly 12 miles and takes approximately one hour to complete. It begins at Rodney Square in Wilmington and extends to the Delaware-Pennsylvania state line.

As you make your way along this route, you will pass everything from historic nineteenth-century churches like the Church of the Holy City, the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church to pastoral country estates on the outskirts of Wilmington, like the du Pont family estates and gardens.

Nemours Estate

Nemours Estate in Wilmington is worth visiting in Delaware in the fall. Why? Not only is the mansion itself a site to behold, but the gardens are as well.

Nemours Estate is a 200-acre country estate with formal french-style gardens and a French neoclassical mansion. It was built by Alfred I. du Pont in the early twentieth century as a gift for his second wife, Alicia. It was intended to resemble a traditional French château. It is four floors, has 105 rooms, and the mansion alone is nearly 47,000 square feet.

Further, the gardens are absolutely stunning year-round. Visitors can purchase passes to the gardens alone or to the entire estate. You will also find a number of events in the fall, like the Forest Bathing Workshop in November and Halloween at Nemours Estate, which features live music, a food truck, and trick-or-treating.

Trap Pond State Park

Trap Pond State Park is another state park worth visiting if you’re in Delaware this autumn season. There are over 12 miles of trails that run throughout the state park’s scenic woodlands. The 4.6-mile Bob Trail is a popular one as it takes hikers around Trap Pond, passing by the Baldcypress Nature Center. In addition, there are nine miles of canoeing and kayaking trails, as well as pontoon boat tours, giving visitors a chance to marvel at fall foliage (and do some bird watching) from the water.

In the fall months, you will love watching the cypress trees change colors. You can also sign up for different programs offered by the park, like Silent Hunters of the Night, which teaches attendees about owls and their nighttime hunting patterns.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

In Winterthur, Delaware, lies the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, which is a lovely destination to visit in the fall months. Vibrant autumn leaves come alive in October and November, which means that you’ll love going for a stroll on the estate, and especially in the gardens. You also might catch one of the museum’s festive fall events, like Truck & Tractor Day or Halloween in the Library.

When you’re done exploring outdoors, head inside as the Winterthur Museum is home to one of the most impressive collections of Americana artifacts in the country. For those who don’t know, the museum and estate were formerly the home of Henry Francis du Pont, a known antique collector and horticulturist.

Newark

Newark, Delaware, is the next destination to visit in Delaware this fall. It has beautiful fall foliage at the nearby White Clay Creek State Park, which is home to 37 miles of walking trails, including the Chestnut Hill Trail and the Whitely Farms Trail. The park also has several historical monuments, like the Chambers House Nature Center, which dates back over 200 years.

More than stunning foliage, you won’t want to miss the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the region, Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest, which takes place annually in Newark. At this one-of-a-kind festival, visitors can listen to traditional German music, go on amusement park roads, and, of course, drink and eat tons of German-inspired cuisine.

Frightland

In Middletown, Delaware lies one of the top Halloween attractions in the state. Called Frightland, this unique site is made up of 8 terrifying attractions, which makes it a must-visit this fall.

Frightland features everything from carnival rides to a haunted barn and a truly eerie hayride. Each attraction is fear-themed, like Zombie Prison, Ravenwood Cemetery, Idalia Manor, and The Attic.

Frightland also has carnival rides, games, and concessions. It usually opens in early October and remains open until the weekend after Halloween.

Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach is a place that many people like visiting in the fall, and the primary reason for that is its annual Sea Witch Festival. This unique event features live entertainment, multiple costume parades (including one with costumed dogs), and delicious food. Fun for the whole family, the theme changes each year, but you can expect various events, like live music, a lumberjack throw challenge, trick or treating, the annual Sea Witch Hunt, broom tossing, live music, magic shows, and face painting, no matter what year you attend. The Sea Witch Festival typically takes place during the last weekend of October.

When you’re done with the festival, you can take advantage of the smaller crowds at the town’s famous beaches. Deauville Beach, Poodle Beach, and Rehoboth Beach are all great places for a scenic stroll.

Brandywine Zoo

If you’re traveling to Delaware with kids, then be sure to stop by the Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington this fall. This zoo is one of the largest in the state and has tons of exciting events in October. For example, Boo at the Zoo takes place annually and invites kids to partake in fall activities and snack on festive treats while visiting with the resident zoo animals. Costumes are encouraged! There is also an adults-only Spirits at the Zoo event, in which attendees can sip on locally made brews, listen to live music, and, of course, marvel at zoo animals.

Get ready to explore Delaware this fall! This mid-Atlantic state has so much to offer visitors. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly fall festival, a frightful Halloween event, or you simply want to go leaf peeping, you can do it in Delaware. All across the state, you will find gorgeous state parks with crimson leaves, like Fort Delaware State Park and Killens Pond State Park, beautiful trees and gardens at historic estates like Winterthur or Nemours, and festive events at places like the Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington or Frightland in Middletown.