01
Ocean and Bay Beaches
Enjoy lively Atlantic beaches, calm Delaware Bay shorelines, beautiful sunrises, and unforgettable sunsets.
Sussex County Delaware Beaches: The Ultimate Guide for 2026
Discover Delaware’s beaches, historic towns, peaceful bays,
scenic parks, restaurants, arts, shopping, recreation, and
welcoming coastal communities.
Welcome to Sussex County, Delaware, home to beautiful
beaches, charming coastal towns, peaceful bays, scenic
parks, and welcoming communities.
Whether you are planning a vacation, thinking about moving
to coastal Delaware, retiring near the ocean, or already
fortunate enough to call Sussex County home, this guide
will help you discover what makes the area so special.
Sussex County Beach Living brings together the region’s
beaches, towns, state parks, outdoor activities,
restaurants, art galleries, entertainment, shopping,
healthcare, schools, and year-round events.
From quiet Delaware Bay sunsets to exciting Atlantic Ocean
beach days, every part of the coast offers its own
memorable experience.
People arrive for the beaches, but they often stay for the
welcoming communities, natural beauty, outdoor recreation,
arts, dining, and relaxed pace of life.
Discover a slower rhythm filled with beach walks,
waterfront dining, outdoor concerts, and friendly
neighborhoods.
Explore boating, fishing, kayaking, biking, hiking,
birdwatching, surfing, camping, and nature programs.
Visit galleries, theatres, artist studios, historic
sites, music venues, festivals, and cultural events.
Shop local boutiques, art galleries, beach stores,
specialty shops, farmers markets, and outlet centers.
Enjoy fresh seafood, waterfront restaurants, breweries,
bakeries, cafés, farm-to-table dining, and boardwalk
traditions.
Walk through Milton and Lewes, explore museums and
historic architecture, and learn about Delaware’s
coastal heritage.
Experience farmers markets, summer concerts, seasonal
festivals, classes, performances, and holiday events.
Sussex County offers endless opportunities to enjoy the
outdoors. Spend a morning biking beside the dunes, kayak
through peaceful waterways, fish from the shoreline, or
watch shorebirds in protected coastal habitats.
Residents and visitors enjoy swimming, surfing,
paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, crabbing, fishing,
hiking, camping, photography, dolphin cruises, and
educational nature programs.
Spring and fall bring comfortable temperatures and fewer
crowds, while summer is filled with beach days and water
activities. Even winter offers peaceful walks, birdwatching,
and beautiful coastal scenery.
The Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay, Rehoboth Bay, Indian
River Bay, Broadkill River, and inland waterways create
countless opportunities for recreation.
Calm bay waters are ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding,
while the ocean beaches attract swimmers and surfers.
Boaters can explore marinas, inlets, canals, bays, and
scenic coastal routes.
From quiet natural shorelines to lively boardwalk
destinations, Sussex County offers a beach experience for
every personality.
A peaceful Delaware Bay community with gentle
water, quiet streets, natural scenery, fishing,
kayaking, and beautiful sunsets.
An undeveloped nature preserve known for dunes,
shorebirds, surf fishing, seasonal wildlife, and
quiet coastal scenery.
Calm Delaware Bay water, family-friendly swimming,
waterfront views, and convenient access to historic
downtown Lewes.
Ocean and bay beaches, biking trails, camping,
fishing, Fort Miles, observation towers, and nature
programs.
A classic boardwalk destination with a beautiful
ocean beach, Funland, restaurants, shops, concerts,
galleries, and festivals.
Located between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth
Bay, with watersports, live music, nightlife, and
waterfront sunsets.
Six miles of ocean and bay shoreline with surfing,
fishing, camping, boating, marina access, and the
Indian River Inlet.
A peaceful family destination with a charming
boardwalk, community events, summer concerts, local
shops, and beautiful sunrises.
A quiet residential beach community with peaceful
streets, canals, boating, kayaking, fishing, and
relaxed beach days.
A quieter southern beach town with a lighthouse,
state park, family attractions, waterfront dining,
bay recreation, and coastal shops.
Sussex County attracts retirees, families, artists,
entrepreneurs, remote workers, vacation homeowners, and
people seeking a better quality of life near the water.
Each community offers a different combination of beach
access, neighborhood atmosphere, recreation, history,
entertainment, shopping, and year-round services.
Beebe Healthcare, Bayhealth, TidalHealth,
ChristianaCare, urgent care centers, and specialty
medical services.
Public school districts, private schools, early
childhood programs, technical education, and
Delaware Technical Community College.
Route 1, Routes 9, 24, 26, 113 and 13, the Cape
May–Lewes Ferry, seasonal transit, and recreational
trails.
County offices, libraries, parks, emergency
services, public programs, local organizations, and
community resources.
Life in Sussex County is filled with creative experiences,
memorable meals, local traditions, and places to explore.
The Delaware Beaches are part of the Culinary Coast,
with choices ranging from casual seafood restaurants
to elegant dining.
Delaware’s tax-free shopping includes major outlet
centers, independent boutiques, galleries, antique
shops, and local markets.
Artists and performers draw inspiration from the
beaches, bays, wildlife, historic towns, and remarkable
coastal light.
Sussex County offers professional theatre, community
productions, concerts, comedy, dance, and special
performances.
Summer evenings bring free music and entertainment to
parks, bandstands, ferry grounds, and community spaces.
Community traditions include farmers markets,
festivals, holiday celebrations, art fairs, food
events, and family activities.
From quiet Broadkill Beach sunsets to the lively Rehoboth
Beach Boardwalk, the historic streets of Lewes and Milton,
the energy of Dewey Beach, and the family traditions of
Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island, every community adds
something special to coastal Delaware.
Whether you are planning a move, retirement, vacation,
weekend getaway, or simply looking for a new adventure,
Sussex County Beach Living welcomes you to explore the
coast.
The 2026 Coastal Edition
The Ultimate Guide to Sussex County Beach Living
Welcome to Coastal Delaware
Life Is Different by the Water
“A place where natural beauty, small-town charm, creative
energy, and coastal traditions come together.”
Why People Fall in Love
The Sussex County Lifestyle
02
Relaxed Coastal Living
03
Outdoor Adventure
04
Arts and Culture
05
Tax-Free Shopping
06
Coastal Dining
07
Historic Towns
08
Year-Round Community
Sussex County at a Glance
Coast, Countryside and Community
Popular Communities
Major Waterways
Coastal Advantages
Beaches, Bays and Trails
Outdoor Adventures Throughout the Year
Cape Henlopen State Park
Delaware Seashore State Park
Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge
Fenwick Island State Park
Gordon’s Pond Trail
Junction and Breakwater Trail
Beach Plum Island
Trap Pond State Park
On the Water
A Coast Made for Exploration
Swimming
Surfing
Kayaking
Paddleboarding
Parasailing
Jet Skiing
Dolphin Cruises
Charter Fishing
Boating
Crabbing
The Coastal Collection
Ten Beautiful Sussex County Beaches
Beach 01
Broadkill Beach
Best for nature and peaceful beach days
Beach 02
Beach Plum Island
Best for fishing and wildlife viewing
Beach 03
Lewes Beach
Best for families with younger children
Beach 04
Cape Henlopen
Best for outdoor adventure
Beach 05
Rehoboth Beach
Best for boardwalk traditions
Beach 06
Dewey Beach
Best for watersports and entertainment
Beach 07
Delaware Seashore State Park
Best for surfing, fishing and camping
Beach 08
Bethany Beach
Best for quiet family traditions
Beach 09
South Bethany
Best for quiet waterfront living
Beach 10
Fenwick Island
Best for relaxed family vacations
Planning a Move or Retirement
Living at the Delaware Beaches
Healthcare
Education
Transportation
Community Services
The Coastal Lifestyle Guide
Dining, Shopping, Arts and Entertainment
Restaurants and Dining
Shopping
Arts and Culture
Theatre and Performances
Free Outdoor Music
Markets and Festivals
Discover Sussex County Beach Living
More Than a Destination
“It is a lifestyle filled with coastal beauty, welcoming
communities, outdoor adventures, history, creativity, and
unforgettable memories.”
Bethany Beach, Delaware: A Peaceful Family Beach Town Known as the Quiet Resort
