Today, the Delaware River is best known as a destination for its outdoor recreation, including canoes, kayaks, whitewater rafting, power boating, fishing, photography, tubing, nature and wildlife viewing, sightseeing and more. There are more than twenty commercial liveries and dozens of fishing guide services. River recreation is an important part of the local economy. In the Upper Delaware most of the commercial liveries operate due to their proximity to the popular whitewater sections of the river.

Further south, the Delaware and Lehigh National and State Heritage Corridor, Delaware Canal State Park, and Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park are visited by more than two million people annually.