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Delaware

Rehoboth Beach & Lewes

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.

Don't miss

Things to do in Rehoboth Beach & Lewes

Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.

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.

1-3 hours$Visit site →
Free

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.

Half day or full dayDetails →

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.

1-3 hours$$Visit site →

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.

Half day to full day$Visit site →

Cape May-Lewes Ferry

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.

About 1.5 hours each way$$Visit site →
Free

Junction and Breakwater Trail

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.

1-3 hoursDetails →
Free

Lewes Beach

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.

Half dayDetails →
Free

Zwaanendael Museum

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.

45 minutes to 1 hourDetails →

Lewes Dolphin Watching Cruise

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.

1-2 hours$$Visit site →

Where to stay

Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.

$$$$

Boardwalk Plaza Hotel

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 →
$$$$

Henlopen Hotel

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 →
$$$

Atlantic Sands Hotel and Conference Center

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.

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$$$

Brighton Suites Hotel

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.

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$$$

Hotel Rehoboth

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 →
$$

The Inn at Lewes

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 →
$$$

Atlantic Oceanside Dewey Hotel

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 →
$$$

Hyatt Place Dewey Beach

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 →

Tour + stay

Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.

Rehoboth Beach & Lewes guides

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