Summer is finally here, and there’s an undeniable buzz around the Delaware beaches.
Beach businesses and resort towns are preparing to welcome visitors, but what should you know if you’re planning to enjoy the long weekend with your toes in the sand and an ice cream cone at your fingertips?
We’ve got you covered.
If you’re looking to visit the beaches during Memorial Day weekend, this guide will help answer questions ranging from dining to parking to the latest weather reports.
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Lifeguard shortages affecting Lewes
Let’s start with the good news: Lewes expects to have at least two lifeguard chairs on its municipal beaches for Memorial Day weekend.
This comes after the resort town originally announced that it would leave its beaches completely unguarded this summer due to staffing shortages.
Now, after the community showed up with support and lifeguard connections, Lewes hired a new lifeguard captain and plans to bolster its staffing for the summer.
The plan is to have the beaches fully staffed with lifeguards by June 15, according to Kent Buckson, the longtime beach patrol captain who stepped up to help Lewes find a new captain.
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Strohm Edwards – a Sussex County native, former lifeguard and current swim coach – will be on site as the new captain in Lewes this weekend.
While some beaches, like those at the Delaware State Parks, said they were still looking for applicants as of last week, most beaches are fully staffed. Lifeguards like Buckson remind people to check in with the municipality or beach patrol headquarters to find out where the lifeguard stands are and always swim where they can see those guards.
Even when lifeguards are present, resort towns like Rehoboth Beach remind visitors to always keep an eye on each other and swim with a buddy (if willing to brave the chilly May waters).
What do the beaches look like after this month’s storm?
After a nor’easter earlier in May caused steep cliffs in the dunes and dune crossings, the Delaware beaches are now ready to welcome visitors for the start of summer. Still, there are a few things you should know before you go.
While most beach entrances have reopened, Rehoboth Beach still has five of its 38 entrances barred off until the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control can repair those dune crossings. They include:
- Pennsylvania Avenue
- Surf Avenue
- At Stuart Kingston
- Grenoble Place
- One at Maryland Avenue
In South Bethany, all beach walkways have reopened except for the one at South 3rd Street, according to Town Manager Maureen Hartman. This entrance included an accessible ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that ramp was wiped out in the storm.
DNREC is responsible for repairing or replacing the ramp, Hartman said. In the meantime, anyone needing assistance to access the beach can contact the South Bethany Beach Patrol to schedule a day and time in advance to use a beach wheelchair.
All other beach entrances in Lewes, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach are open.
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Beachgoers will also notice that many of the beaches are significantly narrower at points, especially during high tide. That dramatic difference will slowly be corrected over time as the ocean naturally returns some of the sand to the shore.
Here are some tips that Rehoboth Beach spokesperson Lynne Coan shared to make the most of your visit to the beach:
- Spread out from the center and consider claiming a spot at the south or north end of Rehoboth Beach. Deauville Beach is open and accessible on the north end, and the south end is a bit wider, less steep and has less dune damage.
- Consider timing your visit to coincide with low tide and avoid high tide peak.
- Travel light and compact to the beach in an effort to share space with other sun-seekers.
- Need a wheelchair-accessible entrance? Visit the Laurel Avenue crossing where additional mats have been installed on the beach to provide easier wheelchair access.
In Dewey Beach, people will notice that dune crossings may be steeper than normal, according to Town Manager Bill Zolper. The sand also lost about five feet of depth back by the dunes, and that loss of depth improves as you walk down toward the water.
On a positive note: some of these changes on the beach mean Dewey Beach is seeing more of those little pools of water where young kids love to splash around and play, Zolper said.
He also reminds visitors to stay off the dunes except when walking on the marked dune crossings. Whether the dunes have post-and-rope or the typical wooden fencing installed by DNREC, people should never climb or dig into dunes.
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What to expect at restaurants, other beach businesses
Delaware’s beach towns are preparing for a summer that’s as busy – if not busier – than last year.
That means it’s once again a time for this reminder: Have patience, folks.
Many restaurants, bars, and others in the service industry are still facing staffing shortages. While some businesses are getting more help from international students than the past two years when COVID-19 restrictions limited that workforce, several other factors are impacting the seasonal labor shortage this year – especially a lack of affordable housing.
Remember last year when some businesses were limiting hours or services? Visitors could see that again this summer, according to Carol Everhart, president of the Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of Commerce.
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It may be wise to make early reservations, follow your favorite spots on social media or call ahead to stay updated on any changes.
As far as outdoor dining, many beach towns found ways to continue that into the 2022 season. However, Rehoboth Beach no longer allowed parking spaces to be blocked off for dining on public sidewalks. So, don’t expect to see those familiar red barriers in Rehoboth this summer.
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Public health guidelines, COVID cases
The Delaware Division of Public Health reported a rise in COVID-19 cases in its monthly report in May.
The state reported that an average of 20% of tests reported to DPH are coming back positive as of May 24. That’s the highest positivity rate since late January.
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While hospitalizations are not nearly as high as they were during the first omicron surge, the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 has increased since the spring. The state was reporting 115 people hospitalized and 10 in critical condition this week.
So, what should you do? This is the latest advice from DPH:
- Stay home if sick and get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- There are no mask mandates, but DPH advises masking up in indoor places or if you are at higher risk for illness.
- Get vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible.
- Stay informed and turn to reliable sources for data, information, and treatment options like de.gov/coronavirus.
Don’t know if you’re eligible for a booster? Check your eligibility with this guidance from the state:
- Children ages 5 and older, if it has been 5 months after their second dose of Pfizer
- People ages 18 and older, if it has been 5 months after their second dose of Moderna
- People ages 18 and older, if it has been 2 months since their initial dose of Johnson & Johnson
- People who qualified for an “additional/fourth” dose of Pfizer or Moderna because they have certain immunocompromising conditions or are 50 years old and older. They can get their booster dose 6 months after receiving their third dose.
Want to know where to receive booster shots? Visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/where-can-i-get-my-vaccine/#publichealth.
Parking and transportation
All resort towns from Lewes to Fenwick Island have their seasonal parking rules in place.
Rehoboth Beach set new dates for its parking season – May 15 to Sept. 15 – which matches that of Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick.
Another change to note in Rehoboth: Because of the pandemic, Rehoboth offered free parking after 4 p.m. on Mondays for the past two years. That Meterless Monday program will not continue this summer.
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Both Rehoboth and Lewes increased some parking rates this year. It is now a universal $3 per hour rate in Rehoboth, and Lewes is charging $1.50 downtown and $2.50 at the beaches.
Lewes has several free non-metered parking lots listed on its website, as well as metered lots and spaces on side streets.
When visiting Delaware State Parks like Cape Henlopen, parking is included in the entrance fee.
In Dewey Beach, parking is free in all permit-only and metered spaces Monday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. only. All other days and times, you must pay to park on public streets.
Fenwick Island and South Bethany mostly require permits to park, but Fenwick offers free parking on its side streets after 4 p.m.
In Bethany Beach, all spaces are either metered or require a permit through Sept. 15.
Many of these towns and cities offer payment through the ParkMobile app.
For more about parking (or State Park fees), visit each beach town’s website:
Consider taking the Beach Bus
Want to forget about parking or paying for gas? Take a bus to the beach. Parking is free at the park and rides in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.
The Beach Bus has already started its routes and will continue seven days a week until September 11. The stops include Rehoboth Beach and the Boardwalk, Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Ocean City, MD, Millsboro and Georgetown.
The cost to ride the bus is $2 per trip, $4 for a daily pass, $16 for a seven-day pass or $60 for a 30-day pass.
Traveling from northern Delaware or Kent County? The 305 Beach Connection from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach will also start on Saturday. It runs Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through September 5.
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Riders taking this bus will pay $6 for one-way trips from Wilmington, Christiana Mall and Odessa, and $4 from Dover and South Frederica. A daily pass from New Castle County is $10 and $8 from Kent County.
If traveling around Bethany Beach, the town also offers a trolley with a single route that runs from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and only costs 25 cents per trip.
Memorial Day Weekend weather
While some rain and cloudy skies seem to be hanging around for the start of the weekend, the forecast at the Delaware beaches looks promising.
Friday likely won’t be the best beach day with showers possible throughout the afternoon and even more likely in the evening, according to the National Weather Service.
But we’ve got great news: the sun is planning to make a triumphant return for the long holiday weekend.
On Saturday, the weather service is predicting a slight chance of showers but partly sunny skies and a high near 74. If walking the boardwalk that night, expect it to be cooler and cloudy with a low around 62.
The skies continue to clear up on Sunday with a mostly sunny forecast. The temperatures should be near 71 during the day and reaching the low 60s at night.
And if you’re planning to spend a day off in the sand on Monday, you can expect sunny skies and a high near 72.
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
