Want to include your pet on the family vacation fun this year? The following Delaware beaches welcome the addition of Fido! Just make sure to take responsibility for the behavior of your pooch—put them on a leash where it’s required, keep an eye on them (particularly if there are other beach-goers), and remember to clean up after anything that they leave behind!
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Dog Friendly Beaches in Delaware
1. Bethany Beach
Located in Southern Delaware, Bethany Beach is a pet-friendly beach known for its relaxed atmosphere. While the beach is peaceful and isn’t often crowded, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing going on—from free performances during the summer to its fun Boardwalk, Bethany Beach is a great option for everyone. Visitors with pets should pay a visit to stores like Sandy Paws Pet Gift Shop and might also want to stop by during the winter to enjoy the annual New Year’s Day Pet Show. Pets are welcomed between September 30 and May 15.
2. Fenwick Island State Park
Located south of Bethany Beach is Fenwick Island—another great beach option for dog lovers. Open year-round, Fenwick Island is also a great choice for families with kids—check out the Shipwreck Museum and book some surfing lessons (one of Fenwick Island’s most popular activities!). Dogs can join in on the fun throughout the park and are allowed on the surf fishing beaches (but not the swimming beaches).
3. Lewes
Located near the middle of Delaware’s coastline, historic Lewes offers families with dogs the combination of a pet-friendly beach with plenty of shopping and dining options. If you’re located in the New Jersey area, a fun transit option is The Cape May-Lewes Ferry—well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome aboard the Ferry. In Lewes, dogs are allowed on the beach all year, but during the summer they are only allowed on the beach after 6:30pm and before 8:00am.
4. Delaware Seashore State Park
Located in the south of Delaware, Delaware Seashore State Park is another great vacation option for people with dogs. While dogs aren’t allowed on swimming and sunbathing beaches from May 1 to September 30, they are allowed (if leashed) on non-guarded beaches. This State Park is a good choice for people who prefer being in nature to being in the city—the nearest towns are located just far away enough to make staying in the park feel like a true escape from everyday life.
5. Dewey Beach
Located just north of the Delaware Seashore State Park, Dewey Beach is one of the most popular getaway destinations for vacationers with pets. Dogs are allowed on beaches after 5:30pm and before 9:30am in the summer months, and there are no time restrictions from mid-September to mid-May. Dewey Beach is particularly popular with young people—from water sports like windsurfing to the numerous beachside clubs, the exciting atmosphere at Dewey Beach is not to be missed. Dog lovers will appreciate events like the annual “Greyhounds Reach the Beach” event. Canine visitors have to be licensed—licenses are available from Town Hall and at the iDewey Visitor Center and range from $5 to $35.
This article was written by Kaitlyn Lannan.