Is Visiting New Castle, Delaware Worth it?

Hi there! On a road trip from Washington DC to New York City I decided to stop in the small town of New Castle, Delaware for the afternoon.

New Castle is a lovely colonial town located about 6 miles from Wilmington. I’ve driven through Delaware many times, but was never intrigued enough to stop – until this trip!

This post will give an overview of things to do in New Castle, Delaware and answer the question is visiting New Castle worth it?

New Castle, Delaware History

New Castle is a colonial city with cobblestone streets and pretty brick buildings.

When you visit New Castle, it feels like you’re stepping back in time, and I found this to be very cool.

At one point, in the 1800s, New Castle was even the state capital of Delaware! Today, the small town has around 5,000 residents and continues to hold much of its historic charm.

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Things to do in New Castle, Delaware

New Castle is a good place to check out museums! There are an impressive amount of them in the historic center of the town.

Some of these museums are seasonal, so be sure to double check that they are open before planning your trip.

Museums in New Castle, Delaware

1. Court House Museum – see where Delaware declared itself an independent state in 1776. It’s also a National Historic Landmark!
2. Old Library Museum – the architecture of this building is very cool! This museum is said to be used to showcase a variety of exhibits, but unfortunately it was closed during my visit to New Castle.
3. Dutch House Museum and Gardens – visit one of the oldest homes in the state of Delaware, dating back to the 1600s!
4. Amstel House Museum and Gardens – considered to be the first mansion in Delaware, and an important piece of the State’s history. George Washington even visited the home!
5. Read House and Gardens – another beautiful, large historic home turned museum.

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In addition to the museums in New Castle, visitors can also enjoy the park on the Delaware River. This park is a nice place for a picnic!

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Is Visiting New Castle worth it?

Honestly, although New Castle was a cool place for a rest stop, I don’t think I would recommend it as a destination. Unless, that is, you are really into history! Then it is a great place for you! Additionally, it’s definitely a seasonal location, as there is way more to do in the warmer months than in the winter.

Although the town was a nice place to stop for a walk, there really wasn’t a ton to do.

There are some nice museums, but that’s about it. I was also disappointed that there wasn’t a coffee shop or bakery in town, as I feel like that would be a nice addition.

Overall, if New Castle, Delaware is directly on your route, it’s a nice place to stop for a few minutes and walk around – but I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way for it.

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Thanks for reading my recommendations for things to do in New Castle, Delaware during your trip!

Although I didn’t love the town of New Castle, Delaware as a state has so much to offer! I know on my next trip to Delaware I will definitely be checking out one of the lovely beach towns.

Be sure to share this post with someone you know who is visiting Delaware or taking a Northeastern road trip!

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Lastly, New Castle, Delaware was part of my 50 state challenge, click here to read more about it!

♡Kate