Slaughter Beach is called “Jewel of the Delaware Bay” for its beautiful, natural setting with fine, white sand and sparkling water. The shoreline is also a welcoming sanctuary for spawning horseshoe crabs every May and June. 

You’ll see this prehistoric creature prominently displayed on Slaughter Beach signs as a symbol of the town’s connection to the Bayshore’s signature species.  Every year since 1998, the community, along with 10 others along the Delaware Bayshore Byway participates in a Horseshoe Crab Survey, where volunteers count the numbers landing on the beach.  They welcome visitors to sign up, helping to assess horseshoe crab population changes.  Two roads provide access to Slaughter Beach: Slaughter Beach Road to the west and Cedar Beach Road to the north, directly east of Milford.

Cedar Beach Road will also lead you to the DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve, located just off of the byway on Lighthouse Road.  The center is a science-based educational and interpretive facility with interactive exhibits designed to connect you with the Bayshore’s natural history and ecology.  In the estuary surrounding the Dupont Nature Center, more than 130 species of birds, fish, shellfish, and other animals can be found.

At the Center you’ll be able to view nesting ospreys on the live cam and use the live, interactive nature cam to view horseshoe crabs and shorebirds along the shoreline. Aquariums inside feature live horseshoe crabs, fish, shellfish and terrapins.  The Center is open April through September, varying days of the week from 10am – 4pm.

Another popular attraction is the Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve located right along the Bayshore Byway.  Immerse yourself in the Preserve by following the boardwalk that leads to information kiosks and benches, and a wildlife viewing platform, the Marvel Scenic Overlook. Use the viewing scopes (one ADA) to see ospreys nesting in the beautiful open space of the marsh, and experience an up-close look at the marsh’s ecosystem. 

With acres of environmental learning to offer, the Delaware Nature Society provides education programs in the Tract, bringing over 2,000 schoolchildren to Slaughter Beach each year.

Getting Here:
Slaughter Beach is located in Kent County Delaware.
Get Directions from Google