- Kent Acres
Best Hipcamps in Delaware
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
Best in Delaware: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
La Mar is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
All to yourself
100% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
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Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
98%
(33)Boat access only
Campfires allowed
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Reviews
99% Recommend35 ratings · 31 reviews
Island Getaway is such a fun and unique experience and LaMar was an incredibly conscientious host. We had to cut our trip a bit short unfortunately due to weather and could only stay for one night but we are already trying to make plans to return with friends. We saw the most amazing wildlife like otters, herons, and bald eagles. If it wasn’t for the unfortunate weather it would have been a perfect camping trip. It is true that you can hear sounds from the road and from the air base at night. But honestly, I didn’t mind it at all.
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Renee S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
We loved the island and La Mar was an amazing host. 5 of us spent a weekend on the island. If you have no experience canoeing, be prepared. Being from NYC, we are inexperienced and it took us an hour to row the mile to the island against the tide. if you can get your own power boat to take you there, it will make life a whole lot easier. definitely a challenge, but it was amazing once we made it. The island is relaxing for a weekend. You also get to do some fishing, though we didn't have much luck in October. also - low tide is really low tide. don't plan on going out until the tide comes in a bit. I would recommend taking lots of firewood and a portable toilet.
I can't say enough about how communicative and accommodating La Mar is. We're already talking about our next trip.
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Javid K.
2 years on Hipcamp
As a quick getaway we booked La Mar’s island. It’s pretty well kept and has a large campfire area overlooking the water. Easy fishing from the island as long as it’s not low tide. Lots of space to camp with multiple tents if desired. You’re able to watch bald eagles and other wildlife, we even saw an otter. The only downfall is you can hear the highway all night long. I would definitely book again for a quick getaway!
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Lauren T.
3 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Great for camping with dogs
Tent · With pets ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
La Mar was the best host. Great island getaway for a few days
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Luke G.
9 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
It was a wonderful experience. We went there to spend the weekend and we absolutely loved it. The island was very well maintained and had enough privacy. Even though we could hear the highway noise it didnt bother us much. And being a bird watcher myself, i was overjoyed by seeing the wildlife around this area including ospreys and bald eagles.We spent entire day fishing in kayak and photographing birds. And LaMar was awesome host and was very responsive. He went above and beyond to help us with the trip. Would love to come back !
Naveen K.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
The island is a little oasis and perfect for a camping getaway. We couldn’t ask for a better host than La mar, very communicative, and so helpful. Hope to come back soon.
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Isaac M.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
An absolutely wonderful stay. It was private and relaxing. If you’re a bird watcher, this is the place for you. We saw eagles, osprey, blue and white herons, and several other types of birds. Our three dogs loved running free and being able to swim around. The shower was a luxury we didn’t know we needed. LaMar shared some history behind the island with us and was a pleasure to talk to. We’ll be back.
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Sarah R.
2 reviews
After our epic canoe rides, we got to the island and enjoyed absolutely bliss. From conversing to fishing, to sitting in complete silence and embracing the nature around us, we had a blast.
The fish were bountiful, the land was clean, the view was beautiful and all around ambiance was unforgettable.
Be prepared for about a mile long canoe ride. Pack enough food and water to kick it for your whole stay on the island because you won’t want to leave.
Gunn Island is one of the top camping experiences available right now. Can’t wait to go back.
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Othneil C.
6 reviews
Most epic camping trip I have ever done. I was pretty much raised camping as a young infant ,camping in a tent for recreation enjoyment etc with no water or electricity ,I was up for the challenge at Gunn island :) I’m home now but if I was able too I would have spent another day ,I’d be totally okay with spending an entire week! Was worried about canoeing our gear there LA mar our (host with the most)helped us with a large tote at arrival to the island! Being nervous about the canoe ride to the island we didn’t want to over load! My girlfriend and I made it to the island easily some trepidation not knowing exactly where we needed to go, but La Mar gave good directions. That was kind of the fun in it , the mystery ,just making it there .stepping out of comfort level and figuring it out! Real magic was the wildlife/ wilderness/ solitude for me . Saw a bald eagle upon arrival to the landing! And once making it to the island instantly witnessed a bald eagle swoop down a few feet from our campsite and scoop up a striped bass was unreal! There was a beautiful sounding owl that enchanted my girlfriend and I both nights ! Had the delight of seeing a river otter! every cast from the island was a guaranteed 16 inch if not more catfish , was awesome but just wanted a striper on my catch list , I hooked a big boy but snapped my line :( I will definitely be returning and did our souls so good it’s truly a slice of heaven! I’ll be back thanks Lamar andalso to your father will return !
Russell L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent · With pets ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
It is a lovely space....my only issue was the road noise:/ Otherwise it was perfect for the family vacation with dogs. It was really great that the dogs did not have to be on leash the entire vacation, definitely worth it
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Sharlene H.
8 reviews
This campsite checks all of the boxes. It’s easy to get to if you have a watercraft and it’s very well kept + several above and beyond amenities. Fishing and dawn/dusk floats make for an ideal experience. Will be returning.
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Jeff T.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2024
Tent ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
Our family weekend was great! We saw a lot of wildlife (fish and birds, even a bald eagle!) and spent a relaxing weekend hanging out on the beautiful island. Paddling in the water around the island was fun and something different from our typical camping trip. Definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking for a unique camping experience.
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Owen W.
3 years on Hipcamp
Had a great time on LaMar's Island. Despite being close enough to the air force base to hear Taps at 10, we were lulled asleep and woken again by geese, herons, and many other critters. We amused ourselves paddling on the river, crabbing, fishing, and chasing little blue lizards (5-lined skinks?) around the island. Lamar was quick responding to messages, offered to help transport gear, and offered water if needed. It was an easy paddle (just over a mile) upstream from Lebanon Landing. The water gets very skinny at low tide but is passable.... we were on paddle boards and still managed to get to the steps at dead low tide. It's a great place for a group and a private island for a couple. Definitely recommend.
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Ross R.
5 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
Tent · With pets ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
La Mar is so kind and helpful, making sure we all got safely to the island. His property is so well maintained. Beautiful campsite. The dogs had such a great time roaming around too.
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Maureen B.
7 years on Hipcamp
Great little spot to get away and do some boating/relaxing; our dog loved exploring & swimming (and getting covered in river mud). La Mar is a kind host who provided a canoe, and made sure we got to the island smoothly. Keep in mind the location is near an air force base and urban roads, so if you are trying to go somewhere silent this may not be the place for you. However, we weren't bothered by it and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
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Erica E.
2 reviews
If you are a nature lover there are two eagles and we witnessed an eagles nest and the screaming babies. You won’t believe the picturesque sunsets and sunrises. No words could possibly describe this getaway. Except quiet and breathtaking. LaMar is a very considerate, open and honest host. LaMar goes out of his way to make sure your getaway is just that a getaway from everyday and everything. Even though it is secluded you can get cell service if you can’t be without your phone. This is our second time to the island . And it gets better every time.
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Sandra T.
2 reviews
Truly beautiful site that was fun to get to! Would be spectacular if the highway noise was not so prominent. Overall, a great and unique getaway with comfortable accommodations. Being true outdoor enthusiasts, we would have preferred being further away from the lights and noise but for anyone not bothered by it, or even preferring to stay close to it, we would recommend. If you are looking for a true getaway surrounded only by the sounds of nature, this is not your spot. The island is incredibly unique, rich in biodiversity and in history so I’m glad we stayed and experienced all it did offer. La Mar is a fantastic host and we greatly appreciated his generosity with his time.
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Giancarla C.
4 reviews
The site was absolutely beautiful. A nice quiet peaceful weekend, even with firefly going on. Le Mar was a wonderful gracious host, made sure I had everything I could need. Definitely a place to return to.
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Andy K.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2022
Tent ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
Great place for some time away. Campsite is really nicely setup, you can tell La Mar is passionate about making sure people have a great time! He greeted us when we arrived, gave us the lay of the land and let us know we could contact him if there was anything we needed.
La Mar made sure to give us plenty of privacy during our stay also. We enjoyed the location, the fact that you can travel to dover for a day trip and to get any supplies you need was great. Even better was being able to enjoy paddling and fishing on our way out to the bay.
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Kyle M.
2 reviews
La Mar was such a kind and helpful host! He set up a really wonderful and comfortable campsite, full of amenities like an outdoor shower and citronella tiki torches, and brought us water and showed us how everything worked when we arrived after our paddle there.
The site is beautiful and fun! We napped in hammocks, watched red winged blackbirds, bald eagles, and fiddler crabs, painted with water colors, and went out for an evening paddle the second night we were there. There isn’t much hiking to do on the island — and while it is private, it’s not super remote (we could hear some nearby traffic). That said, I would happily return! It was the restful bonding weekend we needed.
Hannah B.
4 reviews
Doesn’t get much better than a private island! We had the best time camping here. The canoe paddle to the island was beautiful, and the amenities like the shower and water were so helpful. Highly recommend taking a trip up the river to Dover for lunch/sightseeing. La Mar was a wonderful host, couldn’t be more kind and helpful. Some of our wildlife sightings included bald eagles, otters, herons, turtles, and osprey.
Julianne P.
3 reviews
It was an absolute dream come true to camp on a private island! A lot of work has been done to make this place a lovely get away (more even than needed for us minimal hipcampers): an outdoor half open shower, benches around a fire pit, drinking and showering water, a swing bench, tiki torches, walking trails around the island, a hammock, a canoe to get to the island and around in general..there’s even a generator (which we didn’t use).
Highly recommend this place.
It took about 40min for 2p to canoe from the public boat launch to the island (and back). We also canoed to downtown Dover for DE pride and it was amazing to arrive downtown by canoe.
I hope you pick this place to enjoy with your loved ones as it’s an incredible experience.
Thanks La Mar!
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Ilona D.
11 reviews
Recommends
· May 2022
Tent ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
Short and easy canoe ride, La Mar can even help with your camping gear if you dont want to travel light. Great views, and no one else on the island. Truly secluded camp, Cold shower was greatly appreciated on a warm day. Enjoy relaxing and enjoying the views, we had a wonderful time! 100% recommended, we´ll come back!
Charlotte W.
14 reviews
Recommends
· May 2022
Tent · With pets ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
La Mar was a great host. He reached out to clarify a few things and made sure we had everything we needed. The island was exactly what we needed. It was a quick paddle from the launch spot. I do recommend you check the tides before heading out. Trying to paddle out in low tide might be a little difficult.
We did see some great wildlife too. Eagles, a river otter, some big fish jumping, and even some fox pups.
Overall I’d recommend the island to anyone and La Mar was an amazing host.
Sean T.
3 reviews
Recommends
· October 2021
Group trip ·
Island Getaway (Gunn Island)
We had an amazing time camping on La Mar's island. The island offers privacy and serenity while being just a short paddle or boat ride away from land. As soon as you arrive on the island you can see so many wonderful touches La Mar did to make the stay amazing. There is a shower, tiki torches along with fluid for them, hand saw to trim branches off fallen tree limbs, hammock, string lights and generator, and picnic table just to mention a few of the thoughtful amenities. I enjoyed some fishing the river while watching a bald eagle fly overhead. Lar Mar was always just a text or call away if we needed anything and he even reached out to me to ensure we were ok when a pretty wicket rain storm dumped on us. We had an amazing time and we can't wait to come back in the Spring.
Ryan M.
9 reviews
Recommends
· September 2021
This is a really cool spot! It's a short scenic paddle in to the island but you can easily paddle out further and catch glimpses at all sorts of fish/ wildlife. La Mar has the campsite pretty well stocked with just about everything you need and the ground is soft with basically no rocks so finding a good spot to pitch yoir tent is easy. If its windy, keep an eye out for the acorns because they'll conk you if they catch you. You're basically in the Dover suburbs so theres plenty of places to head to if you don't feel like cooking at the campsite, just knkw this does come with some road noise during the day (only really noticeable when a truck downshifts). La Mar himself is a great host and was suoer helpful leading upto and during the trip to make sure we had all we needed for a relaxing weekend. Definitely worth a book!
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Rob K.
4 years on Hipcamp
Despite the rain that came in, I enjoyed Mr. Gunn island immensely! The property had a nice clearing area that looks out over the river. I hiked around the island which was like it’s own little adventure, because you are not really walking on a path. The lights were a very nice touch around what looked to be a gathering area with bench seating. Another real exciting thing was actually paddling to the island. I saw a number of majestic water fowl including: an eagle/osprey and several blue herons, and what I think was a belted kingfisher. The island had a shower still facility that was nice for showering, but the rain prevented me from trying it out. All in all I think this camping trip was one of the coolest I’ve been on, and can’t wait to book it again.
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William G.
3 reviews
The host LaMar was positively the best. LaMar was more than accommodating.LaMar used his personal boat to be helpful so that we were not stressed trying to paddle by canoe all of your belongings that you need for a 3 night stay. There were items for you to use that were not on the website in the description . Example TIKI TORCHES a cooking grate to cook on. LaMar is improving the island all the time so that our future stay will even be more enjoyable . The views and the sunsets on the island positively breathtaking . There was a bald eagle just like it said in the description. It’s amazing. There are not enough words to give this island justice . I have never been more appreciative of a kind caring man as we were with LaMar. In today’s world you don’t see those kind of attributes anymore . LaMar has reinvented kind, caring and helpful back into trusting human beings again . LaMar the host is such a man that would make people proud to know him. We are glad we went to the island. We have already told so many people about our great experience . LaMar keep up the great work we can’t wait to possibly come back with the family . Again thank you so much for being the host. Also please thank your wife and family for giving up your valuable time to do all of this for others . See you again soon Sandy and Matt from Pennsylvania.
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Sandra T.
2 reviews
I camped at Island Getaway with my son and dog. La Mar was as good as a hip camp host can get. He took his time to explain everything I needed to know and was available in case of emergencies. Camp site was clean and spacious. A perfect place to relax and get away from it all. My son especially loved the canoeing experience and my dog loved being able to have more freedom off lead .
Pamia C.
2 reviews
We had a great adventure on La Mar's island! Every step of the trip went well:
- The canoes had plenty of room for our camping gear
- We had a nice paddle out to the island and saw a bald eagle on the way. It took us about an hour against the tide to get to camp
- The amenities on the island were great. Fire pit, benches, picnic table, and even some extras like a generator for string lights and a water pump for showering. La Mar also provided plenty of potable water for washing our hands and dishes.
- We paddled into downtown Dover on our second day. It took us about an hour each way going with the tide. It was a great way to see the river and get a good work out in
One final aspect of the trip I'd like to touch on was the excellent service we received from La Mar. He was willing to spend lots of his time to make sure our trip was smooth. He worked with us to coordinate drop off and pickup of the boats, gave us plenty of suggestions, brought over the water pump, and even helped us get the boats locked up when we were downtown. He told us he is even working on future improvements to the campsite.
I can't wait to visit again next year!
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William C.
6 reviews
Location
Kent Acres, Kent, Delaware, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by La Mar G.
Joined in March 2021Response rate: 100%
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