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10 Best Delaware Beaches – Ultimate Guide!

March 17, 2021 by Kelly Pedersen Leave a Comment

Best Delaware Beach #1 : Broadkill Beach

Broadkill Beach is a highly popular beach destination even though it is a quiet, less crowded beach. It is situated directly north of Lewes Beach and Beach Plum Island State Park. It is on the Delaware Bay so the waves are more gentle and a perfect place to vacation for families with small children. Vacation homes are available for weekly, monthly, and long-term rentals during the tourist season of spring, summer, and fall. The beach area became more famous during a replenishment project in 2016 which saw an addition of a large dune. There are homes right on the bay where beachside activities can be enjoyed such as swimming, surf fishing, and stand-up paddle-boarding. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge borders west of the beach and offers wildlife lovers the chance to explore the many birds, fox, deer, etc. If you rent a home on the canal you have access to the Broadkill River where you can kayak and canoe.

Best Delaware Beach #2 : Beach Plum Island State Park

Beach Plum Island  State Park is a natural preserve north of the Roosevelt Inlet in Lewes that’s one of the best-kept secrets in the area. This quiet beach in Delaware is a hidden gem along the bay where you’ll find a serene summer spot. There are natural dunes and sea grass surrounding a trail that leads you to the undisturbed beach. You can walk along the sandy bayside beach and enjoy the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs. Many times during the year you and the wildlife may be the only ones around. This is a popular place for avid fisherman that drive their trucks and fishing equipment right onto the beach for great surf fishing. There’s even an enormous shipwreck that’s washed up along the shore!

Best Delaware Beach #3 : Lewes Beach

Lewes is quickly establishing itself as Delaware’s main Cape Region. The town is known as ‘The First Town in the First State’. Highly popular, Lewes is a prominent vacation spot in the state and is regarded as a beach resort. The historic town is filled with quaint restaurants, shops, historical sites, and public parks. This is great for sea viewing and watching hundreds of boats dock here during the summer season time. Swimming and paddling around the area are great and so is the opportunity to spot one of the many recognizable lighthouses – Delaware Breakwater East End Light and Harbor of Refuge Light. The Lewes Historical Society offers many activities to learn about the history of the town, and you can always stop by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce to learn about current events going on!

Best Delaware Beach #4: Cape Henlopen State Park

Located on Cape Henlopen, the State Park Beach first opened in the 1960’s and has become a delightful place to visit. The natural beauty of the beaches remains untouched and appeals to many that seek the peaceful allure of days gone by. The State Park has a fishing pier and campground which is open throughout the year, as well as, the beach at Cape Henlopen. Lifeguards work at the beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A bathhouse with shower facility, changing room, and snack bar is available by the beach. There are other activities and facilities around such as a playground, basketball court and golf course. There are four trails where you can bike or hike and explore all the park has to offer. The Seaside Nature Centre has several marine aquariums and exhibits that showcase the natural history of the park.

Best Delaware Beach #5 : Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach is known as “The Nation’s Summer Capital” because thousands of tourists travel from all over the United States to visit. The boardwalk stretches a mile and offers some of the best restaurants, shopping and outdoor events and fun activities throughout the year. During the summer months, the bandstand near the boardwalk hosts continuous open-air music and entertainment events which are free to the public. The Funland amusement park is a great place for young families and is located along the boardwalk between Delaware and Brooklyn avenues. Rehoboth Beach is also known as one of the mid-Atlantic coast’s popular LGBT friendly getaways because of the large number of LGBT-owned and operated businesses.  Rehoboth Beach hosts popular festivals which include the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, the Sea Witch Festival, and the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival. If you are looking for a beach that offers many activities and things to do, Rehoboth Beach is the place to visit!

Best Delaware Beach #6 : Dewey Beach

Dewey Beach is directly south of Rehoboth Beach and has a reputation for the party goers, especially in the summer months. Dewey is also popular for families particularly because of its wide, sandy beaches, and many beach home rentals and hotels. Anyone interested in a fun, relaxing family getaway this is the place to go. It is a great place to enjoy the adventurous water sports like: jet skiing, parasailing, wake boarding, water skiing, and windsurfing! Many events are hosted here such as the Dewey Beach Music Conference which is held the last weekend in September. Other memorable events that take place in the area are the Greyhounds Reach, where many rescued greyhounds and their owners meet at the beach and also the annual East Coast Skim-Boarding Championships.

Best Delaware Beach #7 : Delaware Seashore State Park

Delaware Seashore State Park is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay on the west and is one of the state’s most popular places to visit! The State Park was established in 1965 and has a six-mile-long coastline. It has stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Rehoboth and Indian River Bays on the other side. The Park has campgrounds on the north and south side of the Inlet. It also has a full service marina offering charter boat experiences and excellent fishing opportunities. There are concessions stands, as well as, changing rooms, showers, restrooms and places to rent chairs, rafts, and umbrellas. There are two picnic pavilions in the park and a nature trail where you can experience amazing views of the bay islands and salt marshes. The Indian River Life-Saving Station, which was built in 1876 to help ship wrecked mariners, now serves as the parks visitor center and offers tours and year round programs.

Best Delaware Beach #8: Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach holds a special place in people’s heart because it is known as the “Quiet Resort” which is perfect for families spending time together! Families from all over the country enjoy a beach home rental spending quality time together at the peaceful and beautiful beaches.  The public beaches are free to the public and are all guarded seasonally by professional lifeguards known as the Bethany Beach Patrol. Despite its size, the beach features a lot of public amenities such as great restaurants, shops, motels, and a short boardwalk. After a day at the beach you can take the family to play miniature golf, visit the Bethany Beach Nature Center, go for a bike ride, or stop at a surf shop!

Best Delaware Beach #9: South Bethany Beach

One of the best-kept secrets of Delaware is South Bethany Beach. It is a quaint, coastal beach where memories are made over long summer vacations. As soon as you settle into your beach home rental with your family and friends, you can feel your cares melt away. It is quiet and peaceful where you can spend time walking on the beach hearing the waves crashing onto the shore, and tasting the salty air. This atmosphere contrasts the busier towns of Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. If you like the slower pace where you can spend time relaxing at the beach or fishing on the bay, this is the place for you!

Best Delaware Beach #10 : Fenwick Island Beach

Fenwick is a popular coastal town located on the Fenwick Island. Along with Bethany Beach and South Bethany Beach, they are termed as “The Quiet Resorts”. Fenwick Island State Park borders the Atlantic Ocean and Little Assawoman Bay and is known for its beautiful natural landscape. The beach at the ocean is open to swimming, surfing, and surf fishing. It is monitored by lifeguards from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. A modern bathhouse is equipped with showers, changing rooms, a gift shop and food concession. The Fenwick Island Lighthouse, which was built in 1858, stands tall among the surrounding beach homes. You can access the base where you will discover a small museum, but it is not open for climbing. There are quite a few restaurants and shops for you to appreciate in this tranquil beach town.

Filed Under: Outdoors

About Kelly Pedersen

Thanks for visiting me at Sussex County Beach Living– where we enjoy this beautiful beach resort area all year round! This is an amazing place to live not only for the beautiful beaches but we have some of the best restaurants, shopping, outdoor activities, fun events, and history to explore! I love helping people feel connected at the Delaware Beaches so I send out a Weekly Newsletter of all the fun events and activities going on each week. I also promote a small business or outreach every week. If you need help selling your home or buying your dream home at the beach, I can help you with that, too. I am part of Keller Williams Realty and the Griffin Higgins Team and would love to help you!

There is a reason Sussex County Beach Living is one of the top places in Delaware that people want to live. There are so many hidden gems and I can't wait to share them with you!

Working in partnership with my clients is one of the things I enjoy most. I love helping people find their dream home near the beach! I hope you enjoy getting to know the community on my website, and then let’s talk about your next step here in Sussex County. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Kelly Pedersen
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