King tides in Delaware, 2026–27
King tides are the highest tides of the year. The next statewide king tides are Oct 27–29, when 11 of 22 spots have their highest tides of the year. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 22 spots in Delaware, worked out for the next 12 months.
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Delaware king tide dates
| Dates | Peak day | Spots at their highest that day |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 27–29 | Wed Oct 28 | 11 of 22 spots |
| Nov 24–26 | Wed Nov 25 | 8 of 22 spots |
| May 18 | Tue May 18 | 11 of 22 spots |
| Jun 4–7 | Sun Jun 6 | 19 of 22 spots |
| Jul 3–7 | Mon Jul 5 | 18 of 22 spots |
| Jul 31–Aug 5 | Sat Jul 31 | 19 of 22 spots |
| Aug 29–Sep 2 | Mon Aug 30 | 19 of 22 spots |
| Sep 30–Oct 2 | Fri Oct 1 | 21 of 22 spots |
Big states can have more than one season: one stretch of coast may peak in fall while another peaks in winter. The table for your spot below is the one to trust.
Biggest king tides in Delaware
The spots where the year's highest tide stands furthest above an ordinary high tide:
- Murderkill River entrance: 7.0 ft on Aug 2 at 10:11 PM, 1.3 ft above a typical high
- Rehoboth Beach: 5.6 ft on Nov 25 at 7:44 AM, 1.2 ft above a typical high
- Mispillion River entrance: 6.3 ft on Aug 2 at 9:54 PM, 1.2 ft above a typical high
- Brandywine Shoal Light: 6.5 ft on Aug 2 at 9:43 PM, 1.1 ft above a typical high
- Mahon River entrance: 7.0 ft on Aug 2 at 10:28 PM, 1.1 ft above a typical high
King tide times for your spot
| Spot | Next king tides | Highest tide |
|---|---|---|
| Brandywine Shoal Light | Oct 27–29 then Nov 24–26, Jun 4–6 | 6.4 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:49 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Delaware City | Oct 27–28 then May 18, Jun 4–7 | 6.7 ft Wed Oct 28, 1:13 PM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Delaware City Branch Channel bridge | May 18 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–7 | 6.6 ft Tue May 18, 10:44 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Edgemoor, Del. | May 18 then Jun 5–7, Jul 4–7 | 6.6 ft Tue May 18, 11:36 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Indian River Inlet (Coast Guard Station) | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Jun 4–6 | 3.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:37 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Leipsic, Leipsic River | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Jun 5–7 | 4.7 ft Wed Oct 28, 2:13 PM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Lewes (Breakwater Harbor) | Oct 27–29 then Nov 24–27, Jun 4–6 | 5.5 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:38 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Little Assawoman Bay | Oct 10–14 then Oct 28–30, Sep 3–6 | 1.3 ft Sat Oct 10, 11:37 AM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Mahon River entrance | Oct 27–28 then Nov 25–26, May 7 | 6.8 ft Tue Oct 27, 10:45 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Millside, RR. bridge | May 18 then Jun 5–7, Jul 4–7 | 6.4 ft Tue May 18, 11:52 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Mispillion River entrance | Oct 27–29 then Nov 25–26, Jun 4–6 | 6.3 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:00 AM 1.1 ft above a typical high |
| Murderkill River entrance | Oct 27–29 then Nov 24–27, Jun 4–6 | 6.9 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:17 AM 1.2 ft above a typical high |
| New Castle, Delaware | May 18 then Jun 5–7, Jul 3–7 | 6.3 ft Tue May 18, 11:13 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Pea Patch Island, Bulkhead Shoal Channel, Del. | May 18 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–7 | 6.8 ft Tue May 18, 10:47 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Reedy Point | May 18 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–7 | 6.5 ft Tue May 18, 10:44 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Rehoboth Beach | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 5.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:51 AM 1.2 ft above a typical high |
| Rosedale Beach, Indian River | Oct 26–29 then Jun 4–6, Jul 3–5 | 3.8 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:37 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| St. Georges, Delaware | May 18 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–7 | 5.4 ft Tue May 18, 10:28 PM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Summit Bridge, Delaware | May 18 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–7 | 4.2 ft Tue May 18, 10:16 PM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Taylors Bridge, Blackbird Creek, Del. | May 19 then Jun 5–7, Jul 4–7 | 3.5 ft Wed May 19, 12:37 AM 0.4 ft above a typical high |
| Wilmington Marine Terminal | May 18 then Jun 5–7, Jul 4–7 | 6.4 ft Tue May 18, 11:34 PM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Woodland Beach, Del. | May 18 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–7 | 7.2 ft Tue May 18, 9:37 PM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
Photograph the king tides
- Arrive half an hour before the peak time for your spot and stay until it passes.
- Include something people know for scale: a stair, a sign, a piling, a sea wall or a road.
- Take a matching photo from the same spot at an ordinary high tide. The pair shows the difference better than words.
- Note the place, date and time, and share it with your state's project below. Planners use these photos to see where the water will reach as sea level rises.
Stay safe
- Stay off jetties, sea walls and rock shelves near the peak. Waves run higher than usual on a king tide.
- On the Pacific coast, keep off drift logs and watch for sneaker waves; a log can roll on you in a few inches of surf.
- Don't drive or walk through flooded streets. Salt water ruins cars, and the curb and drains are hidden.
- Check the marine forecast. Onshore wind, low air pressure or heavy rain can add a foot or more to the predicted tide.
How these dates are worked out
For every spot we take NOAA's high and low tide predictions for the next 12 months and find each day's highest tide. The days in that spot's top 5% (about 18 days a year) are its king tide days, and days next to each other make one window. A statewide window is a run of days when at least a quarter of the state's spots are in theirs. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero on tide charts. Predictions don't include weather. Not for navigation.