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If you’re looking for a good time, you’re looking for Dewey Beach!
It’s a classic little beach town with a small community that more than triples in size with the summer weather as visitors come from all over to soak up some sun.
You can walk from the top to the bottom of the town in about 25 minutes; it is one mile long and three blocks wide- but if you visit in the summertime, you can expect every square inch packed with tourists looking for things to do in Dewey Beach, DE.
So let this Dewey Beach travel guide point you in the right direction of all the best things to see, do, and eat so you can have the best trip ever.
If you want to extend your trip why not check out all of the Delaware Beaches and let us help you find the best Delaware beach resorts.
Best Things to do at Dewey Beach
Dewey Beach Activities
Don’t worry about what to do in Dewey Beach, it’s such a lovely town that whether you’re in the mood to splash around in the water, get a drink, listen to live music, or just relax with a fishing rod in hand you can make it happen here.
Fishing in Dewey Beach
If you want to go fishing in Dewey Beach, try the Indian River Inlet, where you can walk onto the jetty and or Tower Beach for a less crowded experience.
Dewey Beach Water Sports
If lounging in the sand with a book isn’t for you, head to Dewey Beach Water Sports, where you can rent jet skis, bikes, kayaks, and more.
If you are looking for a giggle, check out the banana boat!
Nick’s Mini Golf
Bring the whole family for fun at Nick’s Mini Golf as you make your way through the quirky obstacles to try and get a hole-in-one.
Themes include dinosaurs and beach ball golf.
Dewey Beach Attractions
While there isn’t a Dewey Beach boardwalk (however, there is one in the nearby town of Rehoboth), there are still tons of things to do in Dewey Beach.
Dewey Beach
The main attraction of your trip will be visiting Dewey Beach itself!
Whether you’re sunbathing in the warmth or taking a brisk winter walk, the beach is always everyone’s number one place.
Dewey, the town, is one mile long and three blocks wide with the Atlantic at the eastern border and Rehoboth Bay to the west.
There are summer rules in place to keep everyone safe.
The beach is closed during the night.
Dogs require a licence which can be purchased from Dog Ambassadors who patrol the area.
Dogs can’t use the beach during the day.
Smoking is banned on the beach and at the dunes, fines will be issued.
There is a restriction on the number of food containers (three) so only pack food and drink for the day.
Leave the glass bottles and containers at home.
No drinking funnels.
Fishing is allowed 100 feet away from bathers and can only take place during the day.
Beach fires require a permit.
Fifer’s Farm Kitchen
Stop by for a farm fresh breakfast or lunch, or grab some fresh produce for a picnic on the beach from Fifer’s Farm Kitchen.
Expect fruit, deli meat, homemade pastries, pies, and other treats.
Dewey Beach Parasail
See the beach from above with Dewey Beach Parasail; they boast a perfect safety record and offer views for the entire family to remember for a lifetime.
Minimum weight to parasail is roughly 125 pounds, if a user is lighter they might be able to buddy up on a tandem ride.
Sand Dollar Cruises
If you need Dewey Beach activities for a bachelorette party, a family reunion, or any other large group, try booking Sand Dollar Cruises; they have private cruises and a cycle boat cruise for the whole crowd to blast.
The tour includes sailing past draw bridges, marinas, and multi-million dollar beach homes!
Hopkins Farm Creamery
Only closed for the winter, Hopkins Farm Creamery is a staple from March to December for the freshest and tastiest ice cream.
Restaurants in Dewey Beach
There are a variety of places to eat in Dewey Beach, from easily accessible lunch at one of the beach bars to a quick slice of pizza to some of the nicer restaurants where you can sit back and enjoy a well cooked meal.
Most of the food tends to be seafood-inspired, given the location, but if you somehow made it to Delaware and haven’t fallen in love with crab cakes, there are still plenty of spots that will give your diet lots of variety.
Mama Maria’s
Serving up everything from classic Italian pasta dishes to the perfect pizza pie, Mama Maria’s is a tasty place for the whole family.
Grotto’s Pizza
The Delaware staple, Grotto’s Pizza’s signature tomato and cheese swirl, is a local and visitor favorite and is also a popular spot to catch the game and grab a pitcher of beer.
Sharky’s Grill
Sharky’s Grill is a family-style restaurant with a classic diner menu; get a stack of pancakes, a gyro, or just a club sandwich on your visit,
The Lighthouse
Stop by for Happy Hour, enjoy the raw bar, or dine on the tasty seafood dishes while watching the sunset on the bay at The Lighthouse.
Sirvida
If you’re craving something fresh and funky, Sirvida’s Mexican cuisine will hit the spot; their weekend-long Happy Hour is always a local favorite, too, and is a local favorite date night spot.
For more date night inspiration, read this guide for all of the most romantic things to do in Delaware.
Dewey Beach Nightlife
“Dewey Beach” and “Nightlife” go hand in hand; this beach is known to have the best party scene of all the Delaware beaches.
Frequently popular with college students working on the summer breaks, people of all ages will find fun things to do in Dewey Beach with live music, drinks, food, and events all summer long.
Woody’s
If you need a midnight snack, Woody’s serves up their late-night menu until 1 am; especially their infamous crab cakes – plus their beach bar gives it all too easy access to get a nice cold drink on a hot day.
Rusty Rudder
Listen to live music and watch the sunset over the water at Rusty Rudder 7 days a week – be sure to try some of their famous Crushes, a local favorite Delaware drink.
Bottle & Cork
Famous for its live concerts and fun atmosphere, Bottle & Cork is the place to go for music lovers who want to party all night long.
The Starboard
Arguably the most famous spot in Dewey, The Starboard has been a town staple for over 60 years and serves up great food, drinks, and fun times.
Nalu Surf Bar
Nalu Surf Bar is popular for its close proximity to the beach and fun island atmosphere, making for a great quick stop for lunchtime or a must-hit spot on the bar crawl.
Things to do in Dewey Beach in Winter
Admittedly, like any other beach town, there is a lot less going on in the winter than in the summertime.
However, the silver lining is that you won’t have long wait times or need reservations for anything!
Even though there are fewer things to do at Dewey Beach in the off-season, there’s still enough to have a great weekend away.
If you’re visiting Delaware in the winter, consider heading further north to see all of the other great things this state has to offer; this guide for all of the best things to do in Wilmington, DE and all of the best things to do in Dover, DE will steer you in the right direction.
Sip & Shop Dewey
Kick off the holiday season with homemade gifts, free beer and live music at Sip & Shop.
This festive event is a great chance to meet the local Dewey artists too.
Dewey Tree Lighting
See the unlit Christmas tree on Dewey Beach Baywalk come to life at the official tree light ceremony.
Don’t forget your Santa hat!
Dewey Beer Co
Stay warm indoors and visit the Dewey Beer Co, a microbrewery with an enticing menu to perfectly pair with your locally made beer.
Tanger Outlets
Delaware is most well known for its tax-free shopping, and the Tanger Outlets are the perfect place to take full advantage.
Bar Crawl
If you visit Dewey Beach and don’t go on a bar crawl, have you even visited Dewey Beach?
Plus, you’ll never have to wait long for your drinks if you visit when there are only locals around in the winter.
Urban Float
Just a short drive away in Rehoboth Beach, Urban Float is a great place to go for some true R&R with their float tanks offering relief from physical, mental, and emotional ailments.
Perfect opportunity to hide away from Christmas madness.
Dewey Ball Drop
It’s not just NYC that drops the ball! Dewey does too.
Join revelers on the 31st of December to ring in the new year and take part in the street events.
Dewey Dunk on the Beach
Are you brave enough to join the hundreds of others willing to run into the 45 degree Atlantic Ocean to welcome the new year?
You might want to pack a towel!
Dewey Winter Gala
Contribute to the development of this Delaware beach town while having fun at the annual Dewey Winter Gala.
Locals and businesses come together to drink, play games and listen to live music while raising funds.
Where to Stay in Dewey
The Bay Resort (126 Bellevue St) for a private pier and waterfront dining.
Alternatively, consider Hotel Dewey (1409 Coastal Highway) for modern rooms, blocks away from the beach.
Since Dewey is close to the other Delaware Beaches you could stay elsewhere and day trip in!
Check out our Delaware resorts guide for more.
Getting to Dewey Beach
One of the reasons the Delaware Beaches are so famous is because they’re within a reasonably short drive from so many major cities.
New York City is about 200 miles away, and on a good day with no traffic, you should be able to have your those in the sand in under 4 hours.
If you’re coming from Philadelphia, you might not even need to stop for gas!
Your 125-mile trip should take just over 2 hours.
Baltimore and Washington DC are both about 2 and a half hours away and clock in around 120 miles, making it an easy escape away from the city life.
Parking in Dewey Beach
During the summer season, which spans from May 15-September 15, all public streets in Dewey Beach require payment which is easily done through the Park Mobile App or you can plan ahead and get a daily/weekend/weekly parking permit.
Metered parking is also in effect during this time, and the streets are heavily patrolled due to the increase in population.
However, there are ample parking opportunities outside of the summer months, and it is free.
Final Thoughts
Come for the party, stay for the sand and surf!
Dewey Beach is such a fun-loving town that you’ll wish you could stay forever- plus, its close proximity to the rest of the Delaware Beaches means you can easily explore them all, even if you’re only visiting for a weekend.
If you’re looking for things to do near Dewey Beach, try these guides to see the best of Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, or Lewes Beach.