What to Do Near Dover AFB While Waiting for a Space-A Flight

Whether you’re flying Space-A through Dover AFB or just exploring the region, you’ll find plenty to do nearby. Dover’s history runs deep, with landmarks and museums around every corner. If you prefer the outdoors, you have everything from quiet bay beaches to sprawling state parks within a short drive.

From quick stops near base to easy day trips, these destinations can help you make the most of your time near Dover AFB.

Note: Drive times listed below are approximate and based on Google Maps from Dover AFB.

Things to Do Near Dover AFB (Within 15 Minutes)

Air Mobility Command Museum
(5-10 Minutes)

A favorite among military veterans, this museum is an impressive tribute to military airlift history and the people who made it happen. It highlights the role of Air Mobility Command and how airlift and aerial refueling support operations worldwide.

Outside, you’ll find a huge collection of historic aircraft that you can walk right up to, including cargo planes, tankers, and other workhorses of the Air Force. Inside, exhibits cover the evolution of air mobility, with a focus on missions, crews, and the logistics that often go unnoticed.

One of the highlights: you can step inside some of the aircraft to see the cockpits and cargo areas, which really brings home what crews experienced.

Note: you cannot enter the museum from Dover AFB. Use the museum’s main entrance. Visit the Air Mobility Command Museum website for details.

First State National Historical Park
(10-15 Minutes)

This national park tells the story of Delaware as the First State through multiple sites, several located in Dover. Think of it as a walk through early America, spread across the city. You can explore:

• The Dover Green: The heart of old Dover. In this classic historic square, the monuments, historic buildings, and original colonial town layout make you feel like you’re standing in early America.
• Old State House (1791): Delaware’s first permanent capitol. Exhibits explain the early days of state government, and you can stand where lawmakers worked more than two centuries ago.
• John Bell House: A preserved 18th-century home that now serves as the interpretive center, with background on Dover’s history and guided walking tours.
• John Dickinson Plantation: Located just outside town, this was the home of Founding Father John Dickinson. The house, gardens, and farm buildings give a deeper look at plantation life in the 1700s. Hands-on programs featuring colonial farming and domestic skills run on select weekends, giving visitors a more immersive experience than standard exhibits.

First State Heritage Park
(10-15 Minutes)

First State Heritage Park is a walkable urban history park woven into downtown Dover. It links First State National Historical Park with numerous other historic spots, so as you move through town, you’re walking the story of Dover.

The routes and interpretive signs guide you past Colonial- and Victorian-era homes, churches, and civic buildings, all along an easy loop. Instead of isolated exhibits, you experience how Dover evolved over more than 300 years.

Start at the visitor center to view exhibits, grab a map, and sign up for a guided tour if you want the deeper stories. It also offers plenty of parking and restrooms, so it’s a very convenient home base for a full day of exploring historic Dover.

Right across from the visitor center, you can shift from colonial history to modern government in seconds . . .

Delaware State Capitol Building (Legislative Hall)
(10-15 Minutes)

Legislative Hall is where Delaware’s state government operates today. It houses the General Assembly, including both the Senate and House of Representatives.

You can take a guided tour to check out the architecture and get a behind-the-scenes look at how state laws are made. If the legislature is in session, you can sit in the public galleries and watch debates or committee meetings in real time. It’s a cool way to connect all that early-state history with how Delaware runs today.

Local Delaware Bay Beaches
(10-15 Minutes)

If a day at the beach is more your style, there are a few quiet, local beaches on the Delaware Bay for nature walks, fishing, and birding. Known for the horseshoe crabs that spawn every season, they attract a wide range of shorebirds.

Surf fishing is very popular, and Dover AFB Outdoor Recreation is your one-stop shop for licenses and gear.

• Pickering Beach: A quiet, scenic spot north of Dover popular for birdwatching and, at low tide, walks. It’s located in a residential area, and parking is limited.
• Kitts Hummock Beach: Another residential beach area, this one is near the John Dickinson Plantation, so you could easily visit both sites in one day.
• Bowers Beach: This charming, historic fishing village features a larger beach, free public parking, restaurants, a maritime museum, and a park with a picnic area.

For Atlantic Coast beaches with ocean waves, boardwalks, and popular tourist spots, see below.

Dover Motor Speedway
(10-15 Minutes)

If you’re a NASCAR fan, visit Victory Plaza to see the 46-foot Monster Monument.

The Monster Mile racing events take place each May. During that time, you can access the interactive fan area with simulators, driver meet-and-greets, and live entertainment, even without a race ticket.

Outdoor Activities and State Parks Near Dover AFB

Killens Pond State Park
(20 – 25 minutes)

The 66-acre pond is the star of this park. You can rent canoes, kayaks, or small boats, or fish for bass, crappie, and sunfish.

On land, more than seven miles of hiking trails wind through the woods and along the water, offering an easy, relaxed setting for hiking and wildlife spotting. The park even offers Action Trackchairs®, motorized all-terrain wheelchairs that improve accessibility for visitors with mobility challenges.

Finally, there’s a seasonal waterpark, which adds a fun, unexpected twist if you have children who want a playful activity mixed in with the nature time.

Visit the Killens Pond State Park website for current fees and details.

Cape Henlopen State Park
(50 minutes)

This 5,000-acre park offers beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. You can choose between waves and expansive ocean views or calmer bay waters. Amenities include a fishing pier, concessions, and wide sandy beaches lined with gorgeous dune landscapes.

The trail system is fantastic, with walking and biking trails that travel through coastal pine forest, marsh, and along side the dunes. Most are flat and beginner-friendly, and the Nature Center even loans bikes and helmets for free.

Standouts include:

• 3-mile paved Bike Loop – accessible and relaxed.
• Gordons Pond Trail (3+ miles) – boardwalk sections with great water and wildlife views.
• Walking Dunes Trail (about 2.5 miles) – takes you through those unique, shifting dune areas.

Also, don’t miss the Fort Miles Historic Area. Walk among WWII coastal defense batteries and bunkers, with signs explaining how the fort protected the coastline during the war.

Find more information about fees and the park’s amenities on the Cape Henlopen State Park website.

Beach Towns and Day Trips from Dover AFB

Rehoboth Beach
(60 minutes)

If you’re looking for that nostalgic “summer at the shore” vibe, Rehoboth is the classic beach town experience. It’s lively, friendly, and built around its iconic oceanfront boardwalk — perfect for strolling with ice cream in hand while popping into shops or trying your luck at arcade games.

It’s very family-friendly but still fun for adults, with numerous restaurants and small boutiques packed into a walkable area. Beyond the beach, you’ll find mini golf, bike rentals, and boat tours ranging from sunset cruises to wildlife-focused outings where you might spot birds, seals, or even dolphins.

New Castle
(90 minutes)

New Castle feels like stepping into the 1700s, with a compact, walkable historic district along the river.

Start at the New Castle Court House Museum, one of the region’s most important early political sites (also one of the stops on the Underground Railroad Heritage Tour below). Nearby, the Old Arsenal highlights Delaware’s military history.

Stroll by the beautiful 18th-century Immanuel Episcopal Church, and then tour the elegant Read House & Gardens. It was the home of George Read, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and has lovely grounds overlooking the river.

Finish with a stroll through Battery Park along the Delaware River to enjoy wide-open views of ships passing and benches that practically demand you sit for a minute and take it all in.

Download the historic New Castle audio walking tour before your visit.

Self-Guided Underground Railroad Heritage Tour

Delaware is part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a signed route connecting key historic sites from Dover through New Castle and Wilmington. Visiting these sites takes approximately 2.5 hours round-trip of driving time.

• Star Hill AME Church & Museum (Dover, DE): Dating to the 1860s, this historic African Methodist Episcopal church is still an active faith community and a cornerstone of local Black history. The museum’s exhibits ground you in the realities of slavery in Kent County and the local networks that supported freedom seekers. It’s a strong, personal starting point before you hit the road.
  
• Camden Friends Meeting House (Camden, DE): Tied to the area’s Quaker community, it’s recognized as an important Underground Railroad station. It represents the quieter, behind-the-scenes courage of families who risked fines, arrest, and violence to shelter people escaping bondage.
  
• New Castle Court House Museum (New Castle, DE): The museum’s exhibit, “The Path to Freedom: A History of the Underground Railroad in Delaware,” connects individual stories to the bigger picture, including routes through the state, the legal dangers, and key figures like Thomas Garrett and Emeline Hawkins.
  
• Tubman‑Garrett Riverfront Park (Wilmington, DE): This site honors Harriet Tubman and Thomas Garrett, who worked together to help hundreds of people reach freedom. The bronze sculpture “Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom” and interpretive panels bring their partnership to life, and it’s a moving place to reflect at the end of the journey.

See more sites along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway and download a free Driving Tour Guide from the Delaware Department of Transportation.

Tips for Exploring Near Dover AFB

Getting Around

The Dover AMC Gram lists taxi and transportation services with base access. Unless the driver is an ID cardholder, most taxis and rideshare drivers will need to meet you at the Visitor Center.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, taxis and rideshare services work for visiting downtown Dover and nearby attractions. You will likely need a rental car for most of the destinations farther from base

Dover AFB does not have an on-base rental car facility. Search here for nearby rental locations.

Don’t want to explore on your own? Check out the Dover AFB Outdoor Recreation quarterly calendar. They might have a fun activity or trip you can join.

Tracking Flights

If you’re waiting for a Space-A flight, continue checking schedules and Roll Call times while exploring the area. Especially when tracking a flight within the next day or so, it’s best to call the terminal (302-677-4088/2854) for updates rather than relying soley on the schedules posted online.

This guide to flying Space-A from Dover AFB has other important intel, including lodging, transportation, frequent routes, and terminal details.

Make the Most of Your Time Near Dover AFB

Whether you stay close to base or take a longer day trip, Dover gives Space-A travelers plenty of worthwhile ways to spend their time while waiting for their next flight. From historic sites and museums to beaches and outdoor recreation, the area offers far more variety than many travelers expect.