Free things to do with kids at the Delaware beaches
A beach day is the original cheap family outing — the sand and the boardwalk cost nothing. These are the free things to do around the Delaware shore with kids, with honest notes on where summer parking or a seasonal park fee sneaks in. Facts come from each place's page.
1. Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach
All the beach-town stuff with half the chaos — a quieter boardwalk, a guarded beach, and a bandstand with free summer concerts.
2. Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach
The classic mile of boardwalk — free to stroll; you only pay for the fries and the rides at Funland.
3. Junction & Breakwater Trail
Lewes
A free, flat trail between Lewes and Rehoboth, mixing pavement and crushed stone. Pick a short out-and-back with new riders; larger stroller wheels help.
4. Cape Henlopen State Park
Lewes
Lewes's big bay-and-ocean state park — beaches, trails, and a nature center. Free off-season; a per-car fee in summer.
Questions parents ask
What can families do for free at the Delaware beaches?
The beaches and boardwalks themselves are free — Bethany's quieter boardwalk, Rehoboth's classic mile, and the Junction & Breakwater rail-trail. You only pay for parking, rides, and food.
Is parking free at the Delaware beaches?
Mostly not in summer — Rehoboth and Bethany meter their streets in season, and the state parks (like Cape Henlopen) charge a per-car entry fee from spring through fall. Off-season is largely free.
Get the good ones before they fill up
One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
More guides
Checked against each place’s current info.
Admission and hours come straight from each place’s guide. Last reviewed June 15, 2026. Confirm anything dated on the source before you go.