Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and Downtown
About a mile of classic wooden boardwalk with fries, taffy, pizza and arcades on one side and the Atlantic on the other, linked by Rehoboth Avenue to a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants.
Delaware
Rehoboth Beach is the Nation's Summer Capital, a compact Delaware resort with a free public beach, a mile of classic boardwalk, Rehoboth Avenue's restaurants and shops, and a laid-back, welcoming spirit.
Just up the coast, Lewes is the First Town in the First State, a quiet historic village with museums, canal-side lunches, calm beaches and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, while Cape Henlopen State Park wraps dunes, trails and WWII history around the point where the bay meets the Atlantic. Dewey Beach adds live music and bay-side sunsets, and the back roads lead to a wildlife refuge, a Piet Oudolf garden, a winery and the brewery that put Delaware on the craft beer map. This guide covers the beaches, boat trips, history, food and hotels so you can plan a trip that fits the season.
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and Downtown
About a mile of classic wooden boardwalk with fries, taffy, pizza and arcades on one side and the Atlantic on the other, linked by Rehoboth Avenue to a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants.
Rehoboth Beach
A wide, free Atlantic beach with lifeguards in season, soft sand, gentle surf and no beach tags, tucked against the boardwalk so snacks and restrooms are steps away.
Funland Rehoboth Beach
A family-owned amusement park on the boardwalk since the 1960s, with kiddie rides, a haunted house, arcade games and ticket-based rides priced for children and grandparents alike.
Cape Henlopen State Park
Over 5,000 acres of dunes, pine, beaches and WWII history at the point where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, with a fishing pier, trails, a nature center and the Great Dune.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
About a mile of classic wooden boardwalk with fries, taffy, pizza and arcades on one side and the Atlantic on the other, linked by Rehoboth Avenue to a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants.
A wide, free Atlantic beach with lifeguards in season, soft sand, gentle surf and no beach tags, tucked against the boardwalk so snacks and restrooms are steps away.
A family-owned amusement park on the boardwalk since the 1960s, with kiddie rides, a haunted house, arcade games and ticket-based rides priced for children and grandparents alike.
Over 5,000 acres of dunes, pine, beaches and WWII history at the point where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, with a fishing pier, trails, a nature center and the Great Dune.
A World War II coastal defense site inside Cape Henlopen State Park, with a museum in Battery 519, an artillery park, tower views and guided tours run by the historical association.
A scenic crossing of Delaware Bay between Lewes and New Jersey, popular as a day trip, a car-free adventure or a shortcut for road-trippers, with dolphins and seabirds often visible.
A flat, paved rail-trail of about six miles between Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, passing woods, marsh, farm fields and creek crossings, ideal for cycling, jogging and unhurried walks.
A walkable village that calls itself the First Town in the First State, with a historic complex of 18th and 19th century buildings, the Cannonball House and a maritime heritage of pilots and shipwrecks.
A quiet, family-friendly bay-side and ocean-facing beach in Lewes with calmer water, lifeguards in season and sweeping views of the breakwater, the shipping channel and passing boats.
A small state museum in a Dutch-inspired building in the middle of Lewes, telling the story of the 1631 whaling colony, shipwrecks and the maritime history of Delaware Bay.
A barrier-island state park between the Atlantic and Rehoboth Bay with miles of public beach, surf fishing, the Indian River Inlet and its bridge, and water on both sides of the road.
A seasonal boat trip from Lewes onto Delaware Bay and out toward the breakwater, looking for bottlenose dolphins, seabirds and lighthouses, run by local charter and tour operators.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach
A Victorian-style hotel facing the Atlantic on the Rehoboth boardwalk, with ocean-view rooms, a rooftop pool and an easy walk to the sand, fries and shops.
Check rates →Oceanfront, Rehoboth Beach
A long-running oceanfront hotel near the northern end of the Rehoboth boardwalk, with balconies, a pool and spacious rooms for families and longer beach stays.
Check rates →Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach
A mid-sized oceanfront hotel on the Rehoboth boardwalk with pools, ocean-view rooms and meeting space, good for families, groups and year-round stays.
Check rates →Near the Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach
An all-suite hotel a short walk from the boardwalk, with separate sitting areas, pools and kitchenette-style rooms popular with families and longer stays.
Check rates →Downtown Rehoboth Beach
A downtown Rehoboth Beach hotel placed for walking to restaurants, shops, galleries and the sand, a good base for couples and food-focused stays.
Check rates →Lewes
A comfortable base in Lewes for the historic district, Cape Henlopen State Park and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, with the calmer pace of the town instead of the busy boardwalk.
Check rates →Dewey Beach
A Dewey Beach hotel close to the ocean and the town's restaurants and music venues, suited to groups of friends and couples who want to be where the evening scene is.
Check rates →Dewey Beach
A modern chain hotel in Dewey Beach with a pool, breakfast and roomy rooms, a reliable choice for families and groups who want brand consistency near the beach.
Check rates →Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and DowntownStay
Hotel RehobothDowntown Rehoboth Beach
Do
Rehoboth BeachStay
Boardwalk Plaza HotelBoardwalk, Rehoboth Beach
Do
Funland Rehoboth BeachStay
Henlopen HotelOceanfront, Rehoboth Beach
The essentials for a first visit to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes: how the towns fit together, parking, beach rules, food, and what to do on a rainy day.
How to choose between oceanfront Rehoboth, downtown, lively Dewey Beach and quiet Lewes, with tips on rates, parking and the best time to book.
A three-day plan covering the Rehoboth boardwalk, Cape Henlopen State Park, historic Lewes, a dolphin cruise, Dewey Beach and a rainy-day backup.
A guide to boardwalk classics, seafood, pizza, craft beer and wine, and how to find a good table in the Delaware beach towns.
When to go to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, from peak summer to quiet winter, with notes on water temperature, crowds, events and prices.
How to plan a family trip to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes: beaches, rides, wildlife, rainy-day options, and where to stay with children.