Delaware Beach Access: A Guide that Breaks it All Down

We've finally taken the time to write up a Delaware Beach Access Guide! With so many different towns and state park beaches to choose from, it can be difficult to understand all the options. Some beaches have lifeguards, others permit dogs, some are on the bay, while others are on the ocean. Some have restrooms, some have showers, and some have food for purchase nearby. Depending on what your beach needs are, not every beach will be a good fit, so we've rounded up a list to make it easier on you as you venture out to explore.

Let's start in Fenwick and work our way up the coast.

Fenwick Island

The beaches within the town of Fenwick Island are publicly accessible, but if you're not staying in town, finding parking nearby could be a challenge during the peak season. There is a small strip of parking that is operated by state parks and it provides access to an unincorporated beach right on the MD/DE state line. Fenwick Island is one of the quieter beach towns in Delaware so there's not bustling boardwalk, but there are several good restaurants and places to grab a snack within walking distance from the beach. Please note that there is no bathhouse or public restrooms nearby.

Fenwick Island State Park Beach Bathhouse

Fenwick Island State Park encompasses all of the undeveloped land between the towns of Fenwick Island and South Bethany. The main beach area is located on the north end of the town of Fenwick, just north of the visitor center. This beach offers a large parking area, lifeguards during peak season, a bathhouse with showers, and a snack bar. Due to its popularity, this beach can fill to capacity frequently during the summer, so plan on arriving early, or visiting in the late afternoon. Dogs are not permitted, except on the northernmost dune crossing and head north on the beach from there. Beach wheel chairs, a wooden boardwalk ramp, and a "mobi-mat" make this beach ADA-accessible. You will pay a park entry fee for this area, but purchasing a Delaware State Parks annual pass is your best deal.

Fenwick Island State Park: Assawoman Recreation Area

Fenwick Island State Park also has a small bayside beach, just south of the town of South Bethany known as the Assawoman Recreation Area. This is a great spot to launch kayaks and paddleboards, but the lot can fill up very quickly in the peak season. There are port-o-jons available here during the summer, but no other facilities except a picnic table or two. Park entry fees apply here as well.

Bethany Beach

If you're looking for a beach within a resort town that's got a boardwalk but is still a little on the quieter side, Bethany Beach might be a good option. The trickiest part of visit Bethany's beach is parking. Metered parking is available on most streets, but it can fill up quickly. Once you're there though, there are lifeguards present in the summer, as well as public restrooms and several options for food along the boardwalk. Dogs are not permitted here in the peak season.

Delaware Seashore State Park: 3Rs Beach

Nobody is totally sure where the name "3Rs" comes from! Park staff have said there was a schoolhouse nearby (reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic?) but they also have said that's never been confirmed. They also say there's a chance that nearby land was once owned by three people with the names starting with R, like Roger, Ronald, and Roland.

Nevertheless, 3Rs beach is a popular, multi-use beach. The Delaware State Parks "multi-use" beaches allow surf fishing, driving on the beach (with a permit), leashed dogs, and some even allow horseback riding! None of the multi-use beaches have lifeguards, but the small, dirt/gravel parking areas do have port-o-jons. Each multi-use beach also has an air pump to allow surf fishermen to re-inflate their tires after driving on the beach.

Delaware Seashore State Park: South Inlet Day Area

Another popular beach is located on the south side of the Indian River Inlet. The South Inlet Day Area features a very large parking area, lifeguards during peak season, a beach bathhouse with showers, and a restaurant. There are beach wheelchairs, a wooden boardwalk ramp leading to the beach, and a mobi-mat, making this spot ADA-accessible. Sometimes the beach wheelchairs are locked underneath the bathhouse, so contact a lifeguard or call the park office (302-227-2800) for access. Even though this lot is so big, it does fill to capacity during peak season, so arrive early, or come later in the afternoon.

The South Inlet Day Area is also a great spot to access the walkway over the Indian River Inlet bridge. Look towards the south end of the bridge for the pedestrian ramp leading up to the bridge for stunning views of the inlet and the coast.

Delaware Seashore State Park: Conquest & Key Box Roads

Heading north from the inlet, you'll find two more multi-use beaches which are almost identical: Conquest Road and Key Box Road. While park staff say the name "Conquest" is still a mystery, the name "Key Box" has a cool history that involves the surfmen of the U.S. Life-Saving Service (precursor to the Coast Guard). These men would essentially patrol the beaches every night and would use a key found in a posted box on the beach to "punch" their patrol clock, an early form of a punch clock, showing they completed their designated patrol. To learn more, be sure to visit the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum.

Both Conquest and Key Box are similar to 3Rs. Surf fishing and leashed dogs are permitted but be aware the surf fishermen could be driving up and down the beach. There are no lifeguards at either of these beaches, but there are port-o-jons in the small, dirt parking lots. Park entry fees apply.

Delaware Seashore State Park: Tower Road Oceanside

State Park staff report that, of all the guarded swimming beaches, Tower Road Oceanside is usually the last lot to fill during peak summer visitation times. Tower Road is a great alternative to the South Inlet Day Area if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the restaurant atmosphere by the inlet. This beach has lifeguards in the summer, beach umbrella rentals, a bathhouse with showers, and best of all - a tower to climb with great views! The WWII fire control tower in the parking lot has been rehabbed to allow visitors to climb to the top. This area also has several informational panels about the natural and cultural history of the park. In addition, the beach is ADA-accessible with a wooden boardwalk ramp to the beach, a mobi-mat, and beach wheelchairs (again, if you need a wheelchair, contact a lifeguard or call the park office at 302-227-2800).

Delaware Seashore State Park: Tower Road Bayside

Directly across the highway from Tower Road Oceanside is a quieter, bayfront beach. This spot is great for families with small children that want to escape the big waves of the ocean, but please note that there are no lifeguards, and the only restrooms are port-o-jons. Tower Road is also a great place to launch kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable rafts, and even kiteboards. Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on the bayside of the park. Park entry fees apply here.

Delaware Seashore State Park: New Road

New Road is also a great, quiet spot similar to Tower Road Bayside, but the parking area is not paved and is much smaller. It does have port-o-jons, and this is another great spot to launch paddlecraft. Park entry fees apply.

Rehoboth Beach

The town of Rehoboth Beach is a vibrant beach town and offers all kinds of shops and restaurants just steps from the beach. If you're not staying in town, you will need to find street parking which is metered in the summer. There are lifeguards and public restrooms available, but dogs are not permitted.

Cape Henlopen State Park: Gordons Pond

If you drive to the north of Rehoboth Beach through the neighborhood of North Shores, you'll dead end at the south entrance to Cape Henlopen State Park. The Gordons Pond parking area is quite large but can fill to capacity on peak summer weekends. Gordons Pond is a multi-use beach, so there could be vehicles on the beach for surf fishing. There are no lifeguards, port-o-jons are available, and leashed dogs are permitted. Park entry fees apply.

The Gordons Pond beach is also a great spot to park and explore the Gordons Pond Trail. This trail extends about 3 miles up to Herring Point, another beautiful beach access within Cape Henlopen State Park. Cape Henlopen State Park: Herring Point

Herring Point has an elevated lookout that offers beautiful views of the coast and glimpses of the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse in the distance. A pedestrian access trail leads down to the beach, but it is not ADA-accessible. The beach is multi-use, so be aware of vehicles driving by. Leashes dogs are permitted and port-o-jons are available in the large parking area. Park entry fees apply.

Cape Henlopen State Park: Main Beach Bathhouse

If you're looking for a beach with lifeguards, a snack bar, and a bathhouse with showers within Cape Henlopen, you'll want to head to the main beach bathhouse. This beach is very comparable to Tower Rd Oceanside in Delaware Seashore State Park. The lot can fill in the summer, so arrive early, or plan to ride your bike into the park, as this beach sits right on the park's bike loop.

Cape Henlopen State Park: The Point

The Point is arguably the most unique feature and best views of the entire state park. This sandy stretch of landscape is constantly shifting, changing shape, and even growing with the forces of storms, tides, and ocean currents. This area is not accessible from March 1 - early fall due to shorebird nesting season, but it's a beautiful area to explore outside of nesting season.

Cape Henlopen State Park: Fishing Pier Area

Cape Henlopen also offers a bayside beach that is a bit more protected from waves and currents than the rest of the park's beaches. There are no vehicles permitted here so it's a safe spot for families with small children, just be aware that there are no lifeguards here. This spot is also known for its large fishing pier, tackle shop, kayak rentals, picnic pavilion, restrooms, and views of the lighthouses. Please note that dogs are not permitted here. And as for all state park beaches, park entry fees apply (but we highly recommend getting the annual pass!).

Lewes Beach

Another great beach along the Delaware Bay is right in the town of Lewes at the end of Savannah Road. In the peak season, this beach has lifeguards, bathrooms, and showers. Parking is metered in the summer and can fill quickly, so arrive early, or visit late in the afternoon. Or better yet, ride your bike there from town! For more information on visiting Lewes for outdoor adventure, check out this article.