Delaware River to Philadelphia, PA

Above Pea Patch Island the Delaware River begins to turn industrial. Chemical plants, shipyards and refineries line the shores while tugboats, tows, freighters and tankers are in the channel. Recreational boat amenities are few in this area and those located on the Delaware River are not always well protected. At the lower end of the Sunoco Refinery on the western shore is the Delaware–Pennsylvania State line. The entire opposite side of the Delaware River and Delaware Bay is New Jersey territory. Commercial traffic can be monitored on VHF Channel 13.
The City of Philadelphia is located about 35 miles above the Delaware River entrance of the C&D Canal. This is an exciting and easy port for cruising boats to reach and offers something for everyone (particularly history buffs).
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Boating Destinations near the Delaware River to Philadelphia, PA
Dutch mapmaker Augustine Herrman first suggested building a canal across the top of the Delmarva Peninsula in the 17th century. By the 1760s, surveyors were scouting routes. Construction of the current canal began in 1824, and it opened in 1829. The route cuts 300 miles off the maritime route from Baltimore to Philadelphia.
A stop in historic Chesapeake City means you've made it halfway through the 14-mile-long C&D Canal, which bisects the town. Ship watching on the third busiest canal in the world is the favored pastime; waterfront bars and restaurants along the promenade encourage this practice. Huge ships clear the 140-foot high Chesapeake City Bridge with awe-inspiring ease. The constant parade of ships and boats–from international cargo ships, working tugboats and barges, and fabulous mega-yachts to sailboats and classic tall ships–provides incredible photo-ops.
If you have bikes on board, another way to see the canal is via the 30-mile C&D Canal Bike Trail, which runs along the north side of the canal from Chesapeake City to Delaware City. The south side of the canal is home to the South Chesapeake City Historic District along George Street, a tiny jewel box of early 19th century Victorian homes built during canal construction.

The Waterway Guide Team has gained extensive boating knowledge over the years, and now we are sharing all of the tips, skills and tools we’ve picked up along the way!