Step aboard a ferry and step back in time! Fort Delaware State Park , a Civil War-era fortress turned living history museum, sits proudly on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River—reachable only by seasonal ferry service from late April through late September. Traveling between Delaware City, DE and Fort Mott, NJ, the ferry isn’t just your ticket to historic immersion—it’s also the only bike, pedestrian, and transit-friendly connection across the Delaware River and Bay between the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Best of all it connects directly with the longest paved trail on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Fort Mott State Park is a small but underrated State Park at the westernmost point in New Jersey in Pennsville Township, located about 7 miles from Exit 1 on the NJ Turnpike. During the week the park is very quiet and the ferry is lightly used on service days.
The Delaware City, Michael N. Castle and Ben Cardin Trails on the C&D Canal
These three trails form a continuous 14-mile paved path along C&D Canal between Delaware City, DE and Chesapeake City, MD. Along the C&D canal, you’ll see recreational boaters and container ships on the trip.
Shortly after passing through the Summit Marina, you’ll reach the connection to Lum’s Pond State Park which offers a 7.5 mile “Little Jersey Trail” gravel loop along with swimming and camping
And the end of the trail in Chesapeake City is Shaefer’s Canal House with outdoor dining on the deck. Several Inns are located in South Chesapeake City, but you’ll have to cross the canal on MD 213 Bridge.
Ferry Schedule:
Saturday & Sunday only: April 26 – June 8 and September 6 – September 28
Wednesday – Sunday: June 11 – September 1
Holidays: Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day and Labor Day
From Fort Mott to Delaware City (Tickets)
9:30 AM
1 PM
From Delaware City to Fort Mott (Tickets)
12:30 PM
3 PM*
*No return trip to Delaware City
Bicycling is prohibited on Pea Patch Island
One-way bike trip with SEPTA, DART and NJ TRANSIT from Philly
From Philly, Camden and Woodbury NJ TRANSIT’s Route 401 will take you into downtown Salem 7 days a week. From Salem, it’s an easy 25 to 30 minute bike ride to Ft. Mott. Along the way you’ll pass by Finns Point Lighthouse a non-functioning “rear range light” that looks odd in the middle of the woods.
In Delaware, Route 25 departs from the Wrangle Hill Park and Ride and stops near the Wilmington Train Station. The stop is approximately a mile and a half north of the of the St. Georges Trailhead on Route 13. Route 25 runs every 25 – 35 minutes on weekdays and hourly on Saturdays.
You can also bike from St. Georges to the Jack Markell Trail in New Castle on the wide shoulder along Route 9 in about an hour. The Jack Markell Trail is 6 miles long and ends across the street from the Wilmington Train Station.