Rehoboth Beach

State: Delaware. Type: Atlantic Ocean resort town and beach destination in Sussex County. Founded in 1873 as a Methodist camp-meeting association; incorporated in 1891 (originally as "Cape Henlopen City") and renamed Rehoboth Beach in 1893. 2020 census permanent population: 1,108, swelling to over 25,000 within city limits in summer. Nicknamed "The Nation's Summer Capital" for its popularity with Washington, D.C. visitors. Home to a 1-mile wooden boardwalk and the Funland amusement park (opened 1962). Delaware charges no state sales tax.

Rehoboth Beach is the best-known of Delaware's Atlantic coast resorts, a compact town that expands from just over a thousand year-round residents to tens of thousands of vacationers each summer. Its origins are religious rather than commercial: it was founded in 1873 as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association by a Methodist minister, and the first boardwalk went up that same year. The arrival of the Junction and Breakwater Railroad in 1878 turned the camp ground into a genuine seaside destination, and the town has been drawing crowds ever since. Today the heart of the experience is the mile-long wooden boardwalk lined with restaurants, shops, arcades and the family-run Funland amusement park, which has operated since 1962. Rehoboth calls itself "The Nation's Summer Capital" because of its long-standing popularity with residents of Washington, D.C., along with visitors from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Beyond the sand and saltwater taffy, the town is known for tax-free shopping (Delaware levies no sales tax), a lively dining scene that helped launch the original Dogfish Head brewpub, and nearby outlet shopping at Tanger Outlets. The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand has hosted free summer performances since the 1960s, reinforcing the town's mix of old-fashioned boardwalk charm and modern resort amenities.

Rehoboth Beach sits on the Atlantic Ocean in Sussex County, in southeastern Delaware, at roughly 38.72 N, 75.08 W. The town covers about 1.64 square miles and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the community of Henlopen Acres to the north, and unincorporated Sussex County to the west and south. Cape Henlopen State Park lies just to the north near Lewes, and Dewey Beach adjoins Rehoboth to the south. Delaware Route 1 runs along the southwestern edge of town and is the main highway approach.

Rehoboth Beach has a humid subtropical climate moderated by the Atlantic. Summers are warm and humid, with July the warmest month and daytime highs generally in the mid-to-upper 80s Fahrenheit, occasionally reaching around 90. Winters are relatively mild for the Mid-Atlantic, with lows dipping into the low 30s and only modest seasonal snowfall of roughly 6 to 12 inches. The town's record extremes are 102 F (June 21, 1997) and -11 F (January 17, 1982). Rainfall is spread through the year, totaling roughly 47 inches annually, with October among the wetter months. Ocean breezes keep the shoreline cooler than inland areas on hot days.

Summer (roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day) is the peak season, when the beach, boardwalk and Funland are in full swing but crowds and lodging prices are at their highest. Many travelers prefer the shoulder seasons of mid-April to June and September to mid-October, when temperatures are pleasant, the ocean is still swimmable in early fall, and crowds are thinner. After Labor Day some boardwalk attractions such as Funland scale back or close, so visitors seeking full amusements should come in summer, while those prioritizing quieter beaches and lower rates do better in the shoulder months.

Rehoboth Beach began in 1873 when Rev. Robert W. Todd and fellow Methodists organized the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association and established a religious retreat on the Atlantic shore; the town's name derives from a biblical place name meaning "room enough." The first boardwalk was built the same year. The extension of the Junction and Breakwater Railroad to the beach in 1878 opened the resort to day-trippers and vacationers, accelerating its growth as a tourist town. It was incorporated in 1891 under the name Cape Henlopen City and renamed Rehoboth Beach in 1893. Over the following decades the boardwalk and beachfront weathered repeated storms, most notably the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, which destroyed sections of the boardwalk and beachfront businesses; each time the town rebuilt. The Funland amusement park opened in 1962 and the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand began hosting free summer concerts in the 1960s. Through the later 20th and early 21st centuries Rehoboth developed into a diverse, year-round-leaning resort community with a strong dining and small-business scene, while retaining its classic boardwalk identity.

The central activity is enjoying the beach and the mile-long boardwalk, with swimming, sunbathing, strolling, and boardwalk staples like saltwater taffy, fudge and ice cream. Funland offers rides and midway games for families, and the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand hosts free summer concerts. Tax-free shopping is a major draw, both in town and at the nearby Tanger Outlets along Route 1, which has more than 130 stores. Food lovers can explore the town's noted restaurant scene, including the original Dogfish Head brewpub on Rehoboth Avenue. Cyclists can ride the roughly 6-mile Junction and Breakwater Trail toward Lewes, and outdoor enthusiasts can pair a visit with nearby Cape Henlopen State Park for hiking, fishing and dune landscapes.

Key sights include the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk itself, Funland amusement park (between Delaware and Brooklyn avenues), and the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand at the foot of Rehoboth Avenue. Tanger Outlets, just west of town on Delaware Route 1, is a destination for tax-free shopping. The original Dogfish Head brewpub is a notable stop for craft-beer fans. Just outside town, Cape Henlopen State Park to the north and the Junction and Breakwater Trail connecting to historic Lewes offer natural and historical excursions that complement the beach.

Rehoboth Beach is reached primarily by car via Delaware Route 1, which runs along the southwestern edge of town and connects to U.S. routes leading north toward Wilmington and Philadelphia and west toward Maryland. There is no airport or passenger rail in Rehoboth itself; the nearest major airports are in the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas, each roughly a two-to-three-hour drive away, after which most visitors rent a car. DART First State operates seasonal Beach Bus service to the resort area during peak summer months. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry, docking in nearby Lewes, connects southern Delaware to New Jersey for travelers coming from the north via that route.

The public beach and boardwalk are open year-round and are generally accessible at all hours, though lifeguards are on duty only during the summer season. Individual attractions keep their own hours: Funland and other boardwalk amusements operate seasonally, primarily from late spring through the summer, and shops and restaurants vary by season, with reduced hours after Labor Day. Confirm hours for specific businesses and attractions before visiting, since many scale back or close in the off-season.

There is no admission charge to access the Rehoboth Beach beach or boardwalk. Costs come from paid parking (metered and permit parking is enforced in season), individual Funland ride tickets, and dining and shopping. Delaware charges no state sales tax, which is part of the town's shopping appeal. Confirm current parking rates and seasonal parking-enforcement dates with the City of Rehoboth Beach before visiting.

A day trip is enough to walk the boardwalk, spend time on the beach and grab a meal, but most visitors stay a long weekend to a full week to enjoy the beach, boardwalk, shopping and nearby attractions such as Cape Henlopen State Park at a relaxed pace.

Rehoboth Beach offers a range of lodging, from beachfront and boardwalk-area hotels and motels to bed-and-breakfasts and vacation rental homes and condos. Additional options cluster along the Route 1 corridor west of town and in neighboring Dewey Beach to the south and Lewes to the north. Because Rehoboth is a major summer destination, rates and availability swing sharply by season, peaking in summer and around holiday weekends, so booking well ahead is advisable for peak-season stays.

Rehoboth has a well-regarded dining scene for a small resort town, ranging from boardwalk snack stands serving fries, taffy, fudge and ice cream to sit-down seafood restaurants and craft-beer spots. The town is the birthplace of the original Dogfish Head brewpub, and Grotto Pizza, founded in Rehoboth in 1960, is a longtime local favorite. Rehoboth Avenue and the surrounding downtown blocks concentrate the widest variety of restaurants, with additional options along Route 1 and in nearby Dewey Beach and Lewes.

Cape Henlopen State Park, just north near Lewes, offers beaches, dunes, a fishing pier and the WWII-era Fort Miles. Historic Lewes, Delaware's first town, sits a short drive north and is linked to Rehoboth by the Junction and Breakwater Trail. Dewey Beach adjoins Rehoboth to the south, and Delaware Seashore State Park lies farther south along Route 1. Ocean City, Maryland, is within driving distance for a larger boardwalk-resort experience.

There is no airport or train station in Rehoboth Beach; travelers typically arrive by car or seasonal bus. DART First State runs a summer Beach Bus to the resort area, and local shuttle/trolley-style transport operates in season. The nearest full-service commercial airports are in the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal in nearby Lewes provides a vehicle-and-passenger connection to New Jersey. A car is the most practical way to reach and get around the area.

Swim only where and when lifeguards are on duty during the summer season, and heed posted flags and instructions, since ocean rip currents can be hazardous; if caught in a current, swim parallel to shore rather than against it. Use sun protection and stay hydrated during hot, humid summer days. Watch for pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the busy boardwalk, and note that bikes are restricted to early-morning hours (roughly 5-10 a.m., May 15-September 15) and animals are prohibited on the boardwalk from May 1-September 30 (service animals excepted). For any emergency, dial 911.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water for beach days, along with a beach towel, swimwear and sandals or water shoes. A light layer or windbreaker is useful for cool ocean evenings, and cash or a card for boardwalk food, Funland ride tickets and metered parking is handy. A reusable water bottle and a bag for shopping in tax-free Rehoboth round out a typical packing list.

Book lodging early for summer weekends, when the town is busiest and rates peak. Take advantage of Delaware's lack of sales tax for shopping, both downtown and at Tanger Outlets. Parking is metered and enforced in season, so budget for it or arrive early for better spots. Visiting in the shoulder seasons (late spring or early fall) means smaller crowds and lower prices, though some boardwalk amusements may be closed. Pair a beach stay with a bike ride on the Junction and Breakwater Trail or a day at Cape Henlopen State Park for variety.

For any emergency, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States. For non-emergency questions about visiting, contact the City of Rehoboth Beach through its official website; a specific non-emergency visitor phone line was not confirmed from an official source during research.

City of Rehoboth Beach - https://www.rehobothbeachde.gov ; Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce / Visit Rehoboth - https://www.visitrehoboth.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.