Beach and Campground Guide

Bethany Beach: Beach closed 1-5 a.m. No open fires, alcohol, glass containers, boats. Surfing allowed north of Campbell Place when lifeguards go off duty. Kites, ball playing permitted when lifeguards are off duty. Bikes allowed on boardwalk from 6 to 9 a.m. No roller skates, skateboards, alcohol on boardwalk. No feeding sea gulls. No dogs on beach April 1 -Oct. 1. Parking permits required mid-May through second Monday in September in nonmetered areas east of Del. 1; meters elsewhere. 539-8011.

Cape Henlopen State Park, Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes: Beach closed sunset to 8 a.m. Dogs must be leashed and are restricted in some areas. No fires. Surfing and surf fishing in designated areas. Bathhouse, nature center and trail for biking, hiking and jogging in park. Fishing pier. Grilling allowed in contained devices, but not in swimming area. Dunes are offlimits. Daily entrance fee, $2.50 Delaware-registered vehicles, $5 out-of-state; military discount. 645-8983.

Delaware Seashore State Park: Two bathhouses, just south of Dewey and on the south side of Indian River Inlet bridge). Swimming beaches on Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay. A small-boat sailing launch area is on Rehoboth Bay. Beaches closed sunset to 8 a.m., except for fishing. No open fires. Surfing, sailboards and surf fishing permitted in designated areas. Dogs must be leashed and are permitted in designated areas only. No glass containers. Grills permitted for cooking only. Daily entrance fee, $2.50 Delaware-registered vehicles, $5 outof-state; military discount. 227-2800.

Dewey Beach: Beach closed 1-5 a.m. Dogs banned 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. No alcohol or glass containers. Beach fires require a deposit and permit. No sleeping on beach or in cars. No surf fishing within 100 feet of bathers between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Parking permits required in nonmetered areas 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday; meters elsewhere. 227-6363.

Fenwick Island: No sleeping or loitering on the beach midnight to 8 a.m. Fishing and surfing allowed 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dogs banned May 1 to Sept. 30. Bonfires by permit, available only to residents. No glass containers or alcohol permitted on beach. Parking on streets by permit only. 539-3011.

Fenwick Island State Park: A bathhouse is just north of Fenwick Island. Swimming in Atlantic Ocean, sailing and water sports in Little Assawoman Bay. Beaches closed sunset to 8 a.m., except for fishing. No open fires. Surfing, sailing and surf fishing permitted in designated areas. Dogs must be leashed and are permitted in designated areas only. No glass containers. Grills permitted for cooking only. Daily entrance fee, $2.50 Delaware-registered vehicles, $5 outof-state; military discount. 539-1055 (summer only).

Lewes: Beach closed midnight to 6 a.m. No sleeping on the beach from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Dogs barred from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. No fishing off the beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alcohol not permitted. Surfing barred from main beach. Fires not allowed, but grills are OK. No jet or motorized boats within 300 feet of the beach. Metered parking at municipal beach parking lot. 645-7777.

Rehoboth Beach- Beach closed 1 to 5 a.m. Dogs prohibited on beach and boardwalk April 1 -Oct. 31. No open fires, alcohol, glass containers. Surf fishing permitted before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Surfboards permitted in area north of South Deauville beach (north of Henlopen Hotel) 7-10 a.m. only Bikes allowed on boardwalk from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. May 15-Sept. 15. No in-line or roller skates. Parking permits required 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day in nonmetered areas; meters elsewhere. 227-6181.

South Bethany: No curfew, but sleeping on beach is prohibited. No dogs. No fishing or surfing 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. No glass containers, fires, launching or landing of boats or inner tubes for swimming. Parking permits required May 15-Sept. 15. 539-3653.

Parking Permits

Bethany Beach: Residents are sent applications for free parking tags each summer, and they're allowed to buy up to two more for $10 to park on certain public streets. Tags are available at Bethany Beach Town Hall, 214 Garfield Parkway; 539-8011.

Dewey Beach: Permits are needed to park on all public streets without parking meters from Memorial Day weekend until the weekend following Labor Day. A seasonal, transferable permit is $80, and a weekly permit is $22. The permits can be obtained at Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave.; 227-6363.

Rehoboth Beach: Rehoboth Beach property owners get two free transferable tags and one non-transferable tag for each household to park on certain public streets. The rates for visitors range from $75 for a transferable tag to $50 for a nontransferable annual permit to $8 a day on weekends. The weekday rate is $2. Weekly rates are $20, and weekend rates are $12. Permits can be purchased at City Hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave.; 227-6181, and the Parking Meter Department, 3( 1/2 Lake Ave.; 227-6184. Permits also are available during the summer at at booths at the entrances to town on Rehoboth and Bayard Avenues. Look for signs.

Park & Ride Transit System Operated by the State of Delaware, runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day along Route One between Lewes and Dewey Beach and into Rehoboth Beach with intermittent stops to the center of town and at the boardwalk. The parking lot near the turnoff for Rehoboth Avenue from Rt.1 is guarded and the system is in operation 24 hours a day. Park & Ride users pay $5 per vehicle and each passenger is provided an all-day pass. Fare otherwise is $1. Daily fare is $2. For information call 302-226-2001.

Big Oak, Sussex 270, near Lewes; 645-6838. $32 a night for trailers, $27 a night for tenting for two adults and two children; $5 each additional adult and $3 for extra children. Bathhouse, camp store, about 100 sites for recreational vehicles, trailers and tents. Horseshoes, art contests, marshmallow roasts, bingo, dances, hayrides, TV and game room, swimming pool, shuttle to beach.

Cape Henlopen State Park, Cape Henlopen Drive, just past ferry terminal, near Lewes; 645-2103. $18 a night for four people ($20 for out-of-state residents), $2 each additional person. Two bathhouses (one with a laundry), 158 sites, most with water hookups, none has electricity. Beach and fishing pier on bay, trails, hiking, tours, observation towers, bird watching, nature center.

Delaware Seashore State Park, Del. 1, south of Indian River Inlet; 539-7202. $24 for state residents for three-point hookup and $26 for nonresidents; $16 for non-utility for a party of four state residents and $18 for nonresidents, with $2 for each additional person. Bathhouses, restrooms, 295 sites for tents and trailers. Fishing and boating at ocean and bay.

Eagles Nest, Sussex 235, near Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge; 684-4031. $19 per night per unit, with hookup. All sites have water and electricity. Cabins for rent. Bathhouse, general store, sites for recreational vehicles, Delaware's only BMX bicycle track, motor homes, tents, laundry facility. Sunday morning Christian services, ball field, playground, volleyball.

Gulls Way, Pepper Creek on Indian River Bay, Del. 26, near Dagsboro; 732-6383. $1,250 per season. Boat slips are $700 per season. Store, recreation room, bathhouse, laundry, 523 sites for seasonal camping. Pool, boating, fishing, marina, swimming pool and crabbing pier.

Holly Lake, Sussex 301, near Millsboro; 945-3410. $27.50 night for family of five, $5 each additional person. Bathhouse, 1, 00 sites of all types. Petting zoo, dances, nature trails, freshwater wetlands, observation towers, night hikes, bike rides, archery range, movies, swimming pool, bingo, hayrides activity director.

Homestead, Sussex 254, near Harbeson; 684-4278. $20 a night for four people, $2 each additional person. Bathhouse, store, 158 sites, most for recreational vehicles. Tenting. Swimming pool, shuffleboard, horseshoes and game room.

Jim's Hideaway, Sussex 347 (Whites Neck Road), four miles from Bethany Beach; 5396095. $23 a night for family of four; $3 each additional person; monthly and weekly rates. Store, laundry room, bathhouses, 150 sites for recreational vehicles, motor homes, campers, tents. Game room, swimming pool, play yard.

Lowe's Lakeside Recreational Area, 3067, Sussex 465 east of Laurel near Old Christ Church; 875-3067. $16 a night for family of four with a camper; $2 each additional person. $14 a night for family of four with a tent; $2 each additional person. Electric-only sites are available for campers at $15 a night. Cabins are $225 a week, $35 a night. 122 sites, four-way hookups, pets welcome, stream4ront sites connected to major lakes, bathhouses.

Malone's Bayside Marina, Long Neck Road east of Millsboro, 947-0234; RV and travel trailers only. $20 a night with full water, electric, sewer hookup; seasonal charge is $1,300. Boat ramp, boat slips, volleyball and basketball courts, picnic pavilion.

Pine Tree, Cedar Neck Road, near Ocean Viewi 539-7006. $25 per night for four people, $3 each additional person. Bathhouse, laundry, 115 sites of all types. Swimming pool, playground.

Sandy Cove, Cedar Neck Road, near Ocean View; 539-6245. Tent sites $25 per night for four people, $3 each additional person; camper sites $27.50 per night for four people, $3 each additional person. Two bathhouses, 184 sites of all types. Recreation room, rowboats, powerboats, wave runners, canoes, dock, marina, pets allowed.

Steamboat Landing, Sussex 258 east, six miles north of Lewes; 645-6500. $30 a night for two people, $5 each additional person for recreational vehicles. Bathhouse, 400 sites, most for seasonal trailer camping, some tenting. Marina on Broadkill River, recreation area, playground, fishing, swimming pool, crabbing, two boat ramps, boat slips.

3 Seasons, 727 Country Club Road, near Rehoboth Beach; 227-2564. $42 a night for two people, $5 each additional person over 18, $2 for those 6 to 17 and  children 5 and younger free. Bathhouses, camp store, 300 sites for recreational vehicles. Swimming pool, game room, mini-golf, lounge, state-run bus stop to beach and boardwalk on site.

Trap Pond State Park, off Del. 24, east of Laurel, 875-5153. All rates are for four people, per night. Each additional person is $2. $16 a night for Delaware residents, for site with electric and water; nonresident $18 a night. Sites without hookups are $12 for residents; $14 for nonresidents. Yurts, circular tents, are $32 a night for residents and $36 a night for non-residents. Pets allowed if they are on a leash and attended at all times. Bathhouses, boat rentals, nature center.