Dewey Beach

Delaware beach town between the Atlantic and Rehoboth Bay, known for watersports and nightlife.

Dewey Beach is a small resort community on the Delaware coast, wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay. It is one of the liveliest beach towns in the Mid-Atlantic states, drawing a youthful summer crowd with its laid-back atmosphere, watersports, and a stretch of bars and restaurants that keep things animated well into the night.

The beach itself is wide and well maintained, and Rehoboth Bay on the western side is ideal for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and kayaking. The town is tiny — a few blocks wide — but the concentration of restaurants and live music venues makes it feel far larger in summer. It sits just south of Rehoboth Beach, which is larger and more family-oriented, making Dewey the destination for those who want more of a party atmosphere.

The main bar strip centres on Coastal Highway, with The Starboard serving as the social hub since the 1970s. Delaware Seashore State Park stretches south from town along the barrier spit, offering surf fishing, nature trails, and the excellent fishing at Indian River Inlet.

Guide

Bars and Cafes

Dewey Beach has more bars per square foot than almost anywhere on the Delaware coast. They are clustered along Coastal Highway and a couple of side streets, and on summer weekends they fill up from mid-afternoon onwards. Most places are casual — beach attire, plastic cups, live music on outdoor stages. The crowd is predominantly young, though it gets more mixed as the summer goes on. The scene winds down sharply after Labor Day, with many places closing or cutting hours dramatically through September and October.

Guide

Getting There

Dewey Beach is at the southern end of the Delaware Beach corridor, about 120 miles from Philadelphia and 115 miles from Washington DC. By car, take Route 1 south from Rehoboth Beach — Dewey is the next town. There is limited parking and it fills quickly on summer weekends; arrive early or expect a walk.

DART First State runs bus service along the Delaware coast during summer, connecting Dewey Beach to Rehoboth Beach and points north. The Jolly Trolley also runs between Dewey and Rehoboth in summer, which is the practical way to get between the two towns if you don't want to drive. The nearest airport is Philadelphia International, about two hours away; Salisbury-Ocean City Regional Airport is closer but has limited commercial service.

Guide

Things to Do

Dewey Beach packs a lot into a very small space. The ocean beach runs the length of the town and is wide, clean, and well maintained. On the bay side, Rehoboth Bay is ideal for watersports — the calmer water and reliable breezes make it one of the better spots on the Mid-Atlantic coast for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Delaware Seashore State Park, just to the south, extends the natural setting considerably and offers surf fishing, nature trails, and access to Indian River Inlet.