2-Day Rehoboth Beach Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. A beach town has little parking in summer, so a room within a short walk of the boardwalk saves time.Details

Getting here: Most visitors drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington, or fly into one of them and rent a car. A car ferry also crosses Delaware Bay from New Jersey, so check ahead. Summer weekends bring heavy traffic, so check the road ahead.
Wear and pack: Bring a swimsuit and a towel in warm months, a sun hat and a light layer for the wind off the water. The beach is cool in spring and fall, so a sweater is useful. Flat shoes help on the boardwalk and the old streets of Lewes.
Beach rules: Beach tags, lifeguard cover and rules vary by beach and by season, and rip currents can form on any ocean beach. Check ahead on the day, ask a lifeguard where there is one, and keep out of the water when you are told to.
First evening: Settle in and take an easy walk on the sand or the boardwalk. Day 1 starts at Cape Henlopen State Park, a short drive north, so keep the evening light.

How much walking? On foot, about 0.2 miles a day, and 46.1 miles by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Day 1. Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island

3 stops · 35.2 mi by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
Afternoon
Rehoboth Beach boardwalk
The boardwalk of Rehoboth Beach, along the sand at the edge of town, with arcades, small shops and stands for fries and sweets. The first boardwalk here was built in 1873, and storms have changed it over the years. Walk it slowly, then step down to the sand.
Go when Afternoon, then again as the light softens (about 7:08 PM).
Local tip Walk it end to end, then take a bag of boardwalk fries with vinegar down to the sand. Salt water taffy is the sweet to look for. Watch for bikes and gulls, and check ahead on beach rules.
Photo by Zara Watkins on Unsplash
About 42 min by car18.4 mi
2
Afternoon
Fenwick Island Lighthouse
A brick lighthouse finished in 1858, on the line between Delaware and Maryland. It is the oldest lighthouse in the state, 87 feet tall. Look at it from the street and the small grounds, and check ahead on whether you can go into the base.
Go when Late afternoon (about 7:08 PM), as the light softens.
Local tip The lighthouse stands on the line between Delaware and Maryland, so a small marker on the ground shows you where the state changes. Check ahead on whether the base is open.
Photo: Lionsatthegate37, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Crab soup
A tomato and vegetable soup with blue crab meat in it, served hot with crackers. A local bowl that fits the shore.
Local tip It comes in a red broth, so ask if you want it mild.
About 39 min by car16.7 mi
3
Evening
Dewey Beach
A small beach town on a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay, a short drive south of Rehoboth Beach. Walk to the water on the ocean side, then cross to the bay side for the light at the end of the day. Beach rules and lifeguard cover vary, so check ahead.
Go when Late afternoon into evening (about 7:08 PM), on the bay side for the light.
Local tip The town is a narrow strip, so the ocean and the bay are a short walk apart. Beach rules and lifeguard cover vary by beach and season, so check ahead before you swim.
Photo by The Tampa Bay Estuary Pro… on Unsplash
Dinner
Crab cakes
Lump blue crab meat mixed with a little binder and seasoning, shaped into a patty and broiled or fried. A local plate on the bay side, with a side of corn or slaw.
Local tip A good one is mostly crab, so look for one with little filler.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Day 2. Lewes and Cape Henlopen State Park

3 stops · 0.2 mi on foot, 11.0 mi by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

Travel from Dewey BeachAbout 28 min by car or transit7.7 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Morning
Cape Henlopen State Park
A large state park on the cape where the bay meets the ocean, with a beach, a bathhouse, walking and bike paths and a fishing pier. William Penn set the beaches of the cape aside for the people of Lewes and Sussex County in 1682. Beach rules and lifeguard cover vary, so check ahead.
Go when Morning, when the beach is open and the air is cool.
Local tip Walk a path to the dunes first, then settle on the sand. Beach tags, lifeguard cover and rip currents vary by beach and season, so check ahead before you swim, and carry water and sun cover.
Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 15 min by car or transit3.3 mi
2
Morning
Lewes Historic District
A national historic district that covers most of the 17th century town. It holds more than 100 buildings, from small working houses to Victorian homes, with the shops of Market Street and a church among them. Walk the side streets and read the signs on the houses.
Go when Morning, before the day warms up.
Local tip Wander the side streets rather than only Market Street, and read the plaques on the older houses. It is a living town, so keep your voice low near homes.
Photo: Smallbones, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Steamed blue crabs
Blue crabs steamed with a spicy seasoning, served on paper with a mallet and a bucket. A messy, slow meal that suits a day with nowhere to be.
Local tip Crab season runs in the warm months, so check ahead. Wear something you do not mind getting messy.
About 4 min walk0.2 mi
3
MiddayIndoor
Zwaanendael Museum
A museum built in 1932 for the 300th anniversary of the first European settlement in Delaware, modeled on the town hall of Hoorn in the Netherlands, with a stepped gable and terra cotta roof tiles. Exhibits cover the history of the county, shipwrecks and lighthouses. Check ahead on opening.
Go when Midday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip Look at the stepped gable and the carved stone on the front before you go in. Exhibits include shipwrecks and lighthouses, and the opening can change, so check ahead.
Photo: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Fresh corn and a seafood plate
Sweet corn on the cob, in season, with a plate of broiled or fried fish from the bay and the ocean, and a slice of tomato from a farm stand.
Local tip Corn is a late summer crop, so ask what is in season.

If it rains. Zwaanendael Museum is covered, so keep it. Move Cape Henlopen State Park and Lewes Historic District to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. The roads home can fill on a summer Sunday, so leave room for it.Details

Leaving town: Pack the night before and ask your host to hold bags if your trip home is later in the day. On summer weekends the roads to the cities fill, so check the road ahead and allow extra time for fuel and for returning a rental car.
Small things to carry home: A box of salt water taffy, a jar of local peach preserves or a tin of crab seasoning travels well. Wrap anything made of glass, and check the rules for food on your trip home.
If you have a few hours: Walk the boardwalk once more at Rehoboth Beach, or sit on a bench by the water in Lewes and watch the boats go by.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Rehoboth Beach?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June to September are the best months for a beach trip to Rehoboth Beach. This plan is built for september to October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Rehoboth Beach, planned for september to October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

On foot, about 0.2 miles a day, and 46.1 miles by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.