Are all beaches public in Delaware?
Are there private beaches in Delaware?
The city of Delaware has some of the finest beaches in Florida.
Whether you want a sedentary vacation or adventure, you can find some private beaches for your pleasure.

However, if you have decided to go to a beach in Delaware, it would be advisable to book your stay in advance.
Before the warm weather takes hold, beaches in Delaware are filled with numerous people and remain crowded until early September.
Although the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and the sands of Bethany beach are undeniably breathtaking, the crowds in these places can be quite discouraging.
Are There Private Beaches in Delaware?
Yes.
Some of the private ocean beaches in Delaware are North Bethany, North Shores, Henlopen Acres (unique in that it is an incorporated town without any public beach access or public parking), Indian Beach, Sea Colony and Middlesex Beach.
If you are searching for a place where you can enjoy the beach without the large summer crowd, below are seven beaches in Delaware which are renowned for their quiet and calm atmosphere even during tourist seasons:
Pickering Beach, Dover
If you enjoy searching for Horseshoe crabs, then Pickering Beach is the place to be!
All year round, Pickering beach remains extremely quiet.
However, you may need to cancel laying out in the sun from the list of things you can do in this beach.
Bowers Beach, Frederica
Bowers Beach is a quaint and quiet beach remarkable for its fishing charters.
favorite little beach town.
Kitts Hummock, Dover
If you are very enthusiastic about wildlife and would like a place where you can spot them easily, then you should definitely go to Kitts Hummock.
Kitts Hummock is located along Delaware Bay and is among the top birding spots in Delaware asides Bombay Hook and Prime Hook
Slaughter Beach, Dover
Slaughter beach is home to hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs and is the best place to learn about these crabs.
A lot of people believe that Slaughter beach derives it’s name due to the number of crabs that wash up in the shore every year.
If you spot a horseshoe crab struggling on the shore, make sure you help it get back into the water.
Woodland Beach, Smyrna
Woodland Beach in Smyrna is a stunning beach with a fishing pier as its main attraction.
Here, you can have a nice time on the beach enjoying the quiet and serene environment.
Compared to how difficult it is fighting for a parking spot in Dewey, you can easily park right against the sand in Woodland Beach.
From this beach, you will definitely love the view of the sunrise in Delaware.
Fowler Beach, Sussex County
Except for the chirping of the birds living in this beach, Fowler beach is very quiet and is known to be one of the neatest beaches in Delaware.
It is located close to Prime Hook NWR.
Broadkill Beach, Sussex County
This little town that lies on the quiet Delaware Bay is quite close to most of the busy and most visited beaches in Delaware.
But it is still very quiet regardless.
From the above listed beaches, it is quite obvious that you can have an amazing Delaware beach trip escaping crowds and just enjoying a peaceful and quiet environment.
All you just have to do is look in the right places and we are very happy to help!
Slaughter Beach
Despite its name, Slaughter beach is quite famous for having a large number of birds coming to feed on the horseshoe crabs which are scattered on the shore.
Slaughter beach is among the official horseshoe crab sanctuaries in Delaware and to show their importance in this aspect, this beach has a horseshoe crab as the town symbol.
Due to the pebbles and the crab shells, visitors are advised to come along with water shoes especially if you are visiting during low tide.
Slaughter beach is simply the best spot for anyone who is looking for a chill day by the water.
Broadkill Beach
Over the years, Broadkill beach has become the alternative option to the bigger and more crowded beaches around the area.
This beach is surprisingly one of the few beaches that do not require an entrance or parking fee but compared to more popular beaches, Broadkill beach does not have a lot of facilities.
They have a few portable toilets and a small store at the beach’s edge where you can get cold beverages, snacks and other essentials.
Due to the limited parking space, it would be best for you to arrive at the beach as early as possible during mid-summer.
Is Broadkill Beach private?
Broadkill beach’s main public access is close to the Broadkill store.
There is also another access point open to the public.
This is located at the southern end and from here, you can drive your car to the beach and fish as long as you have a license.
The north end terminates is a private gated community.
Holts Landing State Park
Holts Landing State Park is the perfect spot for people who genuinely love nature.
This park provides enough space where you discover over 200 acres of coastal parkland with its sandy beach.
In this park, you can find a lot of birds such as osprey, herons, Hawks and existing habitats including:
- Grassy fields
- Marine forests
- Salt marsh
- Freshwater regions
There are several hiking and walking trails around the park, and an ADA-accessible trail that permits anyone to enjoy the scenery.
In Holts Landing, there is also a public not access ramp that is open all throughout the day, and it allows boaters to time their trips with the tide and has fun while fishing at night.
Other famous water sports that can be done here include:
- Stand up paddleboarding
- Kayaking
- Windsurfing
Other facilities and events the park offers:
- picnic areas,
- restrooms,
- a horseshoe pit,
- a large pavilion with a fire pit, and
- free evening concerts during the summer
- outdoor family fun nights with activities for all ages
Dog owners can bring their dogs to many areas of the park but on a leash.
FAQs
Are all Beaches Public in Delaware?
Generally, about 75% of the land in front of the ocean and on Delaware bay is permanently conserved.
Based on the regulations by Delaware’s beach, the state has about 61.45 miles of beach, including the bay front beaches from Fenwick island to Pickering beach and Sandy ocean.
About 63%, approximately 38.96 miles, is open to the public.
Three public beaches are housed in quiet resorts.
These are:
- Fenwick Island,
- Delaware Seashore State Park and
- Bethany Beach,
Is Bethany Beach private?
No, Bethany Beach is a public beach.
Do you need beach tags for Delaware beaches?
No.
You do not need beach tags, but you can pay by meter.