Fast Facts
- Population
- ~1,370 year-round; 25,000+ in summer
- Typical visiting season
- Late May–early Sept
- One Unusual Stat
- Delaware has no sales tax, statewide
- Founded
- 1873, as a Methodist camp meeting
What to Know Before You Arrive
Rehoboth Beach began in 1873 as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association, founded by the Rev. Robert W. Todd of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington. It's grown into what its own marketing calls the Nation's Summer Capital, a nickname earned from its popularity with visitors from Washington D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia — all close enough for a weekend trip. The year-round population is 1,370; in summer the city swells past 25,000 within its limits, with thousands more in the surrounding area.
The boardwalk is the physical center of a Rehoboth visit: a mile-long wooden walk along the beach, lined with dining, shopping and entertainment. Delaware's lack of a sales tax is a real, statewide fact that Rehoboth leans into hard — it's a genuine draw for shoppers alongside the beach itself, and it's one of the few American beach towns where the tax-free pitch isn't an exaggeration.
Dogfish Head Brewery's original brewpub still operates on Rehoboth Avenue, and it's become a genuine pilgrimage stop for American craft beer drinkers — not a satellite location, the original. The town has also become a notably LGBT-friendly destination over the decades; Susan Stewart was elected the first openly gay mayor of Rehoboth Beach in 2026. Between the boardwalk, the brewery and the identity the town has built for itself, Rehoboth reads as a small town that decided early what kind of place it wanted to be and never really wavered.
The Road Trip Stop
The Boardwalk is the anchor — a mile-long wooden walk along the beach lined with dining, shopping and entertainment, the same basic format Rehoboth has run since its camp-meeting-town days evolved into a beach resort. It's the kind of landmark that works at any hour: crowded and bright at midday, quieter and better for a walk after dinner.
Budget the time
- An hour covers a full boardwalk walk end to end at an easy pace; longer if you're stopping to shop or eat along the way.
- Dogfish Head's original brewpub, Brewings & Eats, has been at 320 Rehoboth Avenue since 1995. It opens at 11:30 a.m. daily, running to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- Remember the no-sales-tax angle if shopping is part of the plan; it applies statewide, not just in Rehoboth, but the town markets it hard.
- Paid parking runs May 15 through September 15; the city lists meters at $4* per hour citywide, with payment required 10 am to 10 pm in metered areas, and says parking is free in Rehoboth Beach most of the rest of the year.
*Fees subject to change, please check rehobothbeachde.gov for updated information.
Neighborhoods
The Boardwalk & downtown
The commercial heart of Rehoboth — the mile-long boardwalk and the blocks of Rehoboth Avenue running inland from it, dense with restaurants and shops.
North Shores
A residential oceanfront community along the Atlantic, north of Henlopen Acres and Rehoboth Beach. Its own site says the beach is for the exclusive use of residents and their guests.
Pines / South Rehoboth
We were unable to confirm the location or character of the Pines / South Rehoboth area.
Silver Lake area
Silver Lake, a 45-acre natural freshwater lake in Rehoboth Beach that the state designated a bird refuge in 1933. We were unable to confirm walking paths around the lake.
The Food Stop
Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats on Rehoboth Avenue is the destination stop — the original location of a brewery that's become a national craft-beer name, still serving food alongside the beer.
Beyond Dogfish Head, the city's visitor page says the walkable downtown has over 100 places to eat, with a culinary scene that ranges from fine dining to classic boardwalk fare.
5 brewpubs within 10 miles of Rehoboth Beach, all with a kitchen.
See all 5
- 38°-75° Brewing2000 Coastal Highway STE 105, Rehoboth Beach
- Dewey Beer Co.2100 Coastal Hwy, Dewey Beach
- Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach
- Fins Big Oyster Brewery19269 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach
- Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant - Rehoboth Beach19815 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach
*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.
Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)
Day Trips
| Destination | Time | Distance | How we got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewesguide | 16 min | 8 mi | routed |
| About 10 minutes north: Delaware's earliest settlement, the Zwaanendael Museum, and the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. | |||
| Cape Henlopen State Park | 22 min | 10 mi | routed |
| Ocean and bay beaches, dunes and bike paths where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, with the World War II–era Fort Miles and its fire control tower. | |||
| Doverguide | 1 hr 5 min | 44 mi | routed |
| About 45 minutes northwest: The Green historic district, Dover Motor Speedway's Monster Mile, and the Air Mobility Command Museum. | |||
| Assateague Island (Maryland) | 1 hr 10 min | 37 mi | routed |
| Wild horses on Assateague Island, a barrier island that straddles the Maryland–Virginia line; the National Park Service manages the Maryland herd as part of Assateague Island National Seashore. | |||
2 of these are places the Hub has its own guide to — marked guide and linked from the name.
Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer.
Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Worth a Weekend
20 more Highway Heads places lie within about 180 miles of Rehoboth Beach in a straight line — far enough that most are a night away rather than an afternoon.
- Ocean CityMarylandabout 25 mi
- Cape MayNew Jerseyabout 30 mi
- Atlantic CityNew Jerseyabout 55 mi
- WilmingtonDelawareabout 75 mi
- AnnapolisMarylandabout 80 mi
- Independence HallPennsylvaniaabout 85 mi
- PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaabout 85 mi
- BaltimoreMarylandabout 90 mi
- TrentonNew Jerseyabout 100 mi
- Washington, D.C. — U.S. CapitolDistrict of Columbiaabout 100 mi
- National Air and Space MuseumDistrict of Columbiaabout 110 mi
- Washington, D.C.District of Columbiaabout 110 mi
- FrederickMarylandabout 130 mi
- HarrisburgPennsylvaniaabout 140 mi
- Harpers FerryWest Virginiaabout 150 mi
- Museum of Modern Art — MoMANew Yorkabout 150 mi
- New York CityNew Yorkabout 150 mi
- NewarkNew Jerseyabout 150 mi
- RichmondVirginiaabout 150 mi
- Statue of Liberty National MonumentNew Yorkabout 150 mi
Amusement Parks Nearby
Within 60 miles of Rehoboth Beach, nearest first.
Funland (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)Seasonalamusement parkRehoboth Beach
Boardwalk amusement park, summer season; 2026 dates not shown on site.
This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.
Practical Road Trip Info
A full day covers the boardwalk, downtown and Dogfish Head; most visitors stay longer to actually use the beach rather than just see it.
Peak season runs through the summer: the city's paid-parking season is May 15 through September 15, and its beach patrol serves from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through three weeks following Labor Day.
Delaware has no state sales tax, so shopping in Rehoboth is tax-free. Street and lot parking is metered at $4* an hour, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., from May 15 to September 15, and free the rest of the year.
Summer weekend parking: we were unable to confirm how quickly spaces fill. The city lists the DART Beach Bus from the Rehoboth Park and Ride, with drop-off at the bandstand, and the Jolly Trolley between Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day as alternatives to driving.
*Fees subject to change, please check rehobothbeachde.gov for updated information.
The Local Debate
Family-Friendly
The Boardwalk
Easy, flat, and built for exactly this — arcades, ice cream and people-watching along a mile of wood by the beach.
The beach itself
An Atlantic beach with lifeguard stands along its length in season; the city's beach patrol serves from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through three weeks following Labor Day. The city's beach rules, visitor and parking pages describe no beach-tag requirement.
Funland (boardwalk amusements)
A family-run amusement park at 6 Delaware Avenue with roughly 18 to 20 rides (the park's pages give both counts), from boats aimed at toddlers to rides for teens and adults. Five of its original rides have been there since the current family took over in 1962.
Cape Henlopen State Park
Ocean and bay beaches, dunes and extensive bike paths just outside town; the park lists a guarded swimming area with a bathhouse in summer.
Plan Your Visit
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
- Address
- Boardwalk at Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
- Hours
- Open air, year-round
- Price
- Free to walk; there is no beach tag (a resident proposal to introduce one is posted on the city's own Reach Out Rehoboth portal). From May 15 to September 15 the city charges $4 an hour at parking meters, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and requires permits in non-metered areas from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.*
*Fees subject to change, please check rehobothbeachde.gov for updated information.
We checked seasonal opening, fees, opening hours and operating status on 2026-09-22. These change without notice — confirm with en.wikipedia.org, destateparks.com, rehobothbeachde.gov, rehobothartleague.org, reachout.rehobothbeachde.gov and dogfish.com the week you travel.
Sources — 27 claims, 25 checked against the source on 2026-09-22
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rehoboth Beach year-round population 1,370 (2024); summer population expands to over 25,000 within city limits with thousands more nearby; markets itself as ‘The Nation's Summer Capital’, popular with visitors from Washington D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia; the boardwalk stretches one mile along the beach with dining, shopping and entertainment; Delaware's lack of sales tax attracts shoppers; town founded 1873 as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association by Rev. Robert W. Todd of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilmington; Dogfish Head Brewery operates its original brewpub on Rehoboth Avenue; Susan Stewart elected first openly gay mayor of Rehoboth Beach in 2026 | Rehoboth Beach, Delaware — Wikipedia | Checked monitored · 2026-09-22 |
| Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats at 320 Rehoboth Avenue is the original Dogfish Head brewpub and the beginning of the Dogfish Head story | Dogfish Head — Brewings & Eats (official site) | Checked |
| Cape Henlopen State Park sits at the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean; the park lists ocean and bay beaches, extensive bike paths, World War II-era observation towers, a Fort Miles historical area and a guarded swimming area in summer | Delaware State Parks — Cape Henlopen | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Assateague Island is a barrier island along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia; the National Park Service manages most of the Maryland district as Assateague Island National Seashore, and the Virginia district is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge | Assateague Island National Seashore — Basic Information (NPS) | Checked |
| Funland, 6 Delaware Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, is run by the Fasnacht family, with third-, fourth- and fifth-generation members directly involved in the business | Funland — official site | Checked |
| Rehoboth Art League is a community arts organization on a historic 3.5-acre campus in Henlopen Acres, one mile from downtown Rehoboth Avenue; its galleries and campus are free and open to the public | Rehoboth Art League — Visit (official site) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| City of Rehoboth Beach parking meters are $4 per hour citywide, payment required 10 am to 10 pm daily from May 15 to September 15; parking is free most of the rest of the year | City of Rehoboth Beach — Parking Meters (official site) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Delaware does not impose a state or local sales tax but does impose a gross receipts tax on the seller | Delaware Division of Revenue — Gross Receipts Taxes | Checked |
| Silver Lake, Rehoboth Beach (20303 Silver Lake Drive), is a natural freshwater lake remnant of receding glaciers, established with Lake Comegys as a State Bird Refuge in 1933 | Delaware Public Archives — History of Lake Comegys and Silver Lake | Checked |
| Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats posted hours (Sun-Thu 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri and Sat 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.) and live music on Friday and Saturday nights | Dogfish Head — Brewings & Eats (official site) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Pines / South Rehoboth neighborhood location and character not confirmed; checked City of Rehoboth Beach visitor, parks and facilities pages (no neighborhood description) and the city's comprehensive plan PDF (old link now redirects to the city home page) | No source accepted yet | Not confirmed |
| Sussex County, Delaware seat and general government context for Rehoboth Beach | Sussex County, Delaware — Wikipedia | Not confirmed |
| North Shores is a residential oceanfront community whose beach is for the exclusive use of residents and their guests | North Shores Board of Governors — official site | Checked |
| North Shores lies along the Atlantic Ocean north of Henlopen Acres and Rehoboth Beach | North Shores, Delaware — Wikipedia | Checked |
| Silver Lake covers about 45 acres; the lake alliance maintains Silver Lake, Lake Comegys and Lake Gerar | Save Our Lakes Alliance 3 — About the Lakes | Checked |
| The city's visitor page says downtown has over 100 places to eat, from fine dining to classic boardwalk fare | City of Rehoboth Beach — Visitors | Checked |
| The two Assateague wild horse herds are split by a fence at the Maryland/Virginia line; the National Park Service manages the Maryland herd | Assateague Island National Seashore — Wild Horses (NPS) | Checked |
| Rehoboth Beach Patrol serves from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through three weeks following Labor Day | City of Rehoboth Beach — Rehoboth Beach Patrol | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| City lists the DART Beach Bus (201 Red Line, Rehoboth Park and Ride, drop-off at the bandstand) and the seasonal Jolly Trolley as alternatives to driving | City of Rehoboth Beach — Driving & Parking Alternatives | Checked monitored · 2026-10-13 |
| Funland has about 18 to 20 rides, from boats for the youngest riders to rides for older riders and adults; five original rides date to 1962 | Funland — Park Information | Checked |
| The visit page names the Rehoboth location "Brewings & Eats... since 1995" at 320 Rehoboth Ave and lists hours of Sun–Thu 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. and Fri–Sat 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. (checked 2026-10-14) | Dogfish Head — Visit | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| The park page describes extensive bike paths and both ocean and bay beaches (checked 2026-10-14) | Delaware State Parks — Cape Henlopen | Checked |
| The Fort Miles page describes a fire control tower, not an observation tower (checked 2026-10-14) | Delaware State Parks — Fort Miles | Checked |
| The city states parking meters and permits are in effect from May 15 to September 15, payment required 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at a meter rate of $4 per hour citywide. No beach tag appears on the city's parking or beach-rules pages (checked 2026-10-14) | City of Rehoboth Beach — Parking | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| Where parking meters are located, payment is required 10 am to 10 pm daily, May 15 to September 15; the meter rate is $4 per hour citywide (checked 2026-10-15) | City of Rehoboth Beach — Meters | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| Parking permits are required in all non-metered areas from 10 am to 5 pm, May 15 to September 15 (checked 2026-10-15) | City of Rehoboth Beach — Parking Permits | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
| A resident proposal on the city's own engagement portal asks the city to “Make beach tags mandatory”; the city replied that the idea was shared with elected officials (checked 2026-10-15) | Reach Out Rehoboth (City of Rehoboth Beach) — Share Your Big Idea: Beach tags | Checked monitored · 2026-10-15 |
Road Trippin’ with the Harts
The Highway Heads books turn the miles between stops into a game the whole car can play.
See the booksLive Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Rehoboth Beach, not drive time.
- Cape May County (WWD) — 22 miles
- Ocean City Municipal (OCE) — 28 miles
- Dover Civil Air Terminal/Dover Air Force Base (DOV) — 35 miles
Explore the Full Road Trip
Return to the Highway Heads map and discover the next family-ready stop.
Explore the Map