Lewes, DE Road Trips

It is home to about 3,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Lewes Chamber of Commerce website

Although Lewes is a small town, there is always something to see and do! The beaches to visit in and around Lewes are, Lewes Beach, Lewes Bay, Cape Henlopen Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, and Ocean City Maryland. If you are a history buff, here are some places that offer tours that will interest you: Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation- this tour takes you out on the Bay to look at the beautiful and historic lighthouse of Lewes; the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse and Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse. The Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse was built in 1926 to replace a lighthouse that had been damaged by a storm. It is also one of the most popular lighthouses on the Atlantic. The Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse housed keepers from 1885 to 1950 when it was lit automatically and was only less than a mile from the beach. Fort Miles Historical Association- located in Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes and focuses on World War II history in Delaware. Lewes Historical Society Complex at Shipcarpenter St. and West Third. Restored buildings and country store. Marine Museum next to Post Office. Walking tour of historic homes. Call Lewes Chamber of Commerce at +1 302-645-8073. Lightship Overfalls- built in 1938 and located on the canal in downtown Lewes since 1973. This was the final lightship that was constructed by the United States Lighthouse Service. Zwaanendael Museum- honors the first European colony in Delaware and houses pieces from Lewes military and social history. Cape Artists Gallery- 110 West 3rd Street, +1 302-644-7733

Cape Henlopen State Park, ☏ +1 302-645-8983. It has several camp grounds, trails for walking, biking, and skating, nature trails, tennis and basketball courts, large fields to run around, hosts the annual Great Delaware Kite Festival which is held on Easter weekend every year, the Great Dune, a World War II observation tower overlooks the beach, 3,000-acre park (1,200-ha), nature center, and areas for surf fishing. Cape Henlopen is also the Eastern Terminus of the American Discovery Trail. (updated Nov 2025) Winswept Stables- a great place to visit for people who wish to learn how to ride horses.+1 302-645-1651 Cape May-Lewes Ferry- a seventy-minute cruise traveling on the Delaware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey, you can travel as a foot passenger or bring your car or truck across with you. +1 302-644-6030 Lewes Harbour Marina- charters boat trips and a shop for boating supplies. +1 302-645-6227 Heritage Golf Club- a larger, more developed golf course, with a waterfall and eleven sand traps. Nassau Valley Vineyards & Winery- picnic tables are available for people packing lunch, also hosts weddings. Great Delaware Kite Festival- held on Easter weekend every year, kite raffles, local food, stunt demonstrations. Overfalls Lightship Opening Party- this party is held the Friday before Memorial Day every year and commemorates the beginning of summer and offers live music, food, and a cash bar.

There are many different types of restaurants to choose from when dining in Lewes. There are local favorites and chain restaurants. There are also chain fast food restaurants on the Route 1 highway. Striper Bites- American style, specializes in seafood. Located in downtown Lewes Agave Mexican Restaurant- Mexican food, located in downtown Lewes, reasonable pricing, locals rave about the guacamole and margaritas. Plus, casual atmosphere, happy hour daily, over 70 different kinds of tequila. 137 Second Street, Lewes. Mr. P Pizza and Pasta- local favorite for homemade pizza and fresh bread. The Wheelhouse- overlooks the historic Lewes harbor, seafood, offers lunch, and dinner. Lemon Tree Restaurant- local favorite, diner food, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, home of the famous "Bubba" size. Tokyo Stakehouse- Japanese cuisine, popular for sushi and sashimi, hibachi grilles. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop- fine quality sandwiches since 1976, wide variety of specialty sandwiches.

Nassau Vineyards, 36 Nassau Commons, +1 302-645-9463. Orchards, Winery, Picnic Tables. Bring your lunch and have a glass of wine. Open Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, closed M. Irish Eyes Pub and Restaurant- there are two locations in Lewes and Rehoboth, offers large beer list and menu. 213 Anglers Road, Lewes and 52-b Rehoboth Avenue. Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats- this brewery and restaurant in Rehoboth offers vintage beers and brew new beers regularly. 320 Rehoboth Avenue. Grayhare Tavern- over forty beers, happy hour daily, pool, darts and big screen tv's. 18766 John J. William Highway, Rehoboth. Bottle and Cork- nightclub and hosts live music. 1807 Highway One, Rehoboth.

Dogfish Inn - Trendy, retro-style motel associated with Dogfish Head Brewery 105 Savannah Rd, +1 302-644-8292 Lazy L at Willow Creek- bed and breakfast, pets are welcome. 16061 Willow Creek Road, +1 302-644-7220 Inn at Canal Square- waterfront, within walking distance to Lewes Bay and within a mile of the ocean beach of Cape Henlopen State Park. 122 West Market Street, +1 302-644-3377 Cape Henlopen State Park- camp grounds that offers over 150 sites, available March 1- November 30. +1 302-645-8983 Zwaanendael Inn- also is known as Hotel Rodney, historic inn built in 1926 located in downtown Lewes near Second Street shopping, about a mile down the road from Lewes beach. 142 Second Street, +1 302-645-6466 The Beacon Inn- located at 514 E Savannah Rd near second Street shopping, restaurants, and Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, +1 302-550-9283 Blue Water House- bed and breakfast, hosts special events. 407 East Market Street, +1 302 645-7832 Steamboat Landing RV Park- located near the Broadkill River, within 20 minutes to Delaware Beaches, numerous grass lots for your cars and campers. +1 302-645-6500 There are also some chain hotels such as Sleep Inn & Suites, Heritage Inn, and Red Mill Inn available to vacationers. The Inn at Lewes Rehoboth Beach, 18282 Coastal Highway, ☏ +1 302-200-9978. One-bedroom efficiency apartments available for short and long term, event weekends, seasonal and off-seasonal rentals. Furnished or unfurnished. Half-mile to Tanger outlet shopping, two miles to Lewes Beach, four miles to Rehoboth Beach.

From northern Delaware, follow Delaware Route 1 south to Five Points and turn left to follow U.S. Route 9 Business (Savannah Road) east into Lewes. From the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, follow U.S. Route 50 east and turn left onto Maryland Route 404 east in Wye Mills. Continue along Maryland Route 404 east to the Delaware border, where the road becomes Delaware Route 404. Follow Delaware Route 404 east through Georgetown to Five Points and continue straight onto U.S. Route 9 Business (Savannah Road) east into Lewes. The closest airport with commercial air service to Lewes is the Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY IATA) near Salisbury, Maryland about 40 miles to the southwest. This airport is served by American Eagle flights from American Airlines hubs in Charlotte and Philadelphia. Rental car service is available at this airport. Visitors may also fly into Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI IATA) near Baltimore or Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA) in Philadelphia, which are served by a wider selection of airlines. From here, you can rent a car and drive to Lewes. The closest train station to Lewes is in Wilmington, about 90 miles to the north. Wilmington Station is served by Amtrak trains operating on the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Boston along with some long-distance trains, and SEPTA Regional Rail commuter trains running along the Wilmington/Newark Line from Center City Philadelphia. Rental car services are available at the station. From Wilmington Station, rent a car or take DART First State buses to Lewes.

Since Lewes is a small town, traveling by foot is a popular option for locals and visitors. You can easily walk to the beach and through town to go shopping or site seeing. Many people also choose to bike and rollerblade to and from their destinations. In Lewes, parking meters are in effect on streets in the downtown business district, the 1812 Municipal Parking Lot, the Canalfront Park Parking Lot, and the 3rd Street Parking Lot from May 1 to October 14 from 9AM to 6PM. The rates for these meters are $1.00 per hour. Between October 15 and April 30, parking in the downtown business district is limited to a maximum of 3 hours. In the 1812 Municipal Parking Lot, parking is limited to a maximum of 3 hours from May 1 to October 14 and to a maximum of 3 hours on the canal side from October 15 to April 30. Parking meters are in effect at the Lewes Beach #1 and Lewes Beach #2 lots from May 1 to September 30 from 9AM to 6PM. The rates for these meters are $2.00 per hour. Parking at metered spots in Lewes can be paid with change or the Parkmobile app, with the 1812 Municipal Parking Lot, the Canalfront Park Parking Lot, the 3rd Street Parking Lot, and the Lewes Beach #1 and Lewes Beach #2 lots also accepting credit cards. Change machines are available at Mary Vessels Park and the Lewes Beach #1 and Lewes Beach #2 lots. Free parking is available at a lot at Schley Avenue and Franklin Avenue and at Otis Smith Park on Savannah Road.