Bethany in June

[Anonymous]

We're renting a house a mile inland from Bethany Beach - we're wondering in a normal (non-Covid year), how crowded is it in mid- to late-June? During the week, how early do we need to arrive to make sure we get parking? We are assuming this summer will back to normal crowds. We're going in mid-June right after school lets out.

[Anonymous]

Will they continue to have parking restrictions? Last summer they cut back on parking by reserving more spots for locals with parking passes (to keep covid away).

If you arrive by 9:30 or 10, you should be fine.

Having said that, the beach is super tiny near the boardwalk and very crowded. Think: shoulder to shoulder. You can’t social distance.

You might try one of the park beaches instead.

[Anonymous]

Renting within town limits and having residential parking passes are key. Also the trolley runs within town limits so you don’t even need to drive.

We never sit on the beach by town square. Too crowded. Just go 4 blocks or so away in either direction and it’s fine. The beach is wider and less crowded. Mid June is a good time to go, not as crowded as July or August.

[Anonymous]

OP here - unfortunately we are renting just outside town limits, so no parking passes. I'm hoping that because some schools won't be out until the following week, it may be slightly less crowded than if we were to go mid-summer.

Does anyone have recommendations for further away beaches? We're definitely willing to drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will they continue to have parking restrictions? Last summer they cut back on parking by reserving more spots for locals with parking passes (to keep covid away).

If you arrive by 9:30 or 10, you should be fine.

Having said that, the beach is super tiny near the boardwalk and very crowded. Think: shoulder to shoulder. You can’t social distance.

You might try one of the park beaches instead.

They replenished the sand over the winter, so the beach is very wide near the boardwalk. I don’t think you will have any problem with crowded conditions in mid-June, but agree it makes sense to get there by 9:30 or so for parking. Much of the beach in Fenwick is a state park, and will have no crowds. You can head there if you strike out on Bethany parking. Cape Henlooen in Lewis is lovely too, with plenty of parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will they continue to have parking restrictions? Last summer they cut back on parking by reserving more spots for locals with parking passes (to keep covid away).

If you arrive by 9:30 or 10, you should be fine.

Having said that, the beach is super tiny near the boardwalk and very crowded. Think: shoulder to shoulder. You can’t social distance.

You might try one of the park beaches instead.

They replenished the sand over the winter, so the beach is very wide near the boardwalk. I don’t think you will have any problem with crowded conditions in mid-June, but agree it makes sense to get there by 9:30 or so for parking. Much of the beach in Fenwick is a state park, and will have no crowds. You can head there if you strike out on Bethany parking. Cape Henlooen in Lewis is lovely too, with plenty of parking.

I meant to add that I sometimes check this Bethany West view beach cam to get a sense of the parking situation if we are driving: https://www.townofbethanybeach.com/365/Beach-Cams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Renting within town limits and having residential parking passes are key. Also the trolley runs within town limits so you don’t even need to drive.

We never sit on the beach by town square. Too crowded. Just go 4 blocks or so away in either direction and it’s fine. The beach is wider and less crowded. Mid June is a good time to go, not as crowded as July or August.

4 blocks south is just as crowded as right in front of the main drag. And then you hit Sea Colony.

The beach is narrow and crowded all summer.

If you go super early, it won’t be bad. Then leave for an early lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will they continue to have parking restrictions? Last summer they cut back on parking by reserving more spots for locals with parking passes (to keep covid away).

If you arrive by 9:30 or 10, you should be fine.

Having said that, the beach is super tiny near the boardwalk and very crowded. Think: shoulder to shoulder. You can’t social distance.

You might try one of the park beaches instead.

They replenished the sand over the winter, so the beach is very wide near the boardwalk. I don’t think you will have any problem with crowded conditions in mid-June, but agree it makes sense to get there by 9:30 or so for parking. Much of the beach in Fenwick is a state park, and will have no crowds. You can head there if you strike out on Bethany parking. Cape Henlooen in Lewis is lovely too, with plenty of parking.

I’ve been going to Bethany since birth (I’m pushing 50).

Despite their best efforts to widen the beach, it’s still narrow and crowded. It’s shocking how crowded it is between 10:30 and 4:30.

Tip: go early, leave early.

I wish we could afford ocean block in Fenwick. Their beaches are never crowded (no real parking for outsiders).

[Anonymous]

I’m from DE. We always went to one of the state park beaches. Delaware Seashore
state Park is just north of downtown Bethany. Cape Henlopen is further north up by Lewis and Rehoboth. Then there’s Fenwick Island State Park to the south. All are great.

The beach near downtown Bethany and in Sea Colony is horrendously crowded. The beach is just so narrow now. It will be better in June than August for sure. We stayed in Sea Colony West in August one year and all you could see was umbrellas. No view of the ocean unless you got up super early to get set up on the front row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from DE. We always went to one of the state park beaches. Delaware Seashore
state Park is just north of downtown Bethany. Cape Henlopen is further north up by Lewis and Rehoboth. Then there’s Fenwick Island State Park to the south. All are great.

The beach near downtown Bethany and in Sea Colony is horrendously crowded. The beach is just so narrow now. It will be better in June than August for sure. We stayed in Sea Colony West in August one year and all you could see was umbrellas. No view of the ocean unless you got up super early to get set up on the front row.

That should say Lewes, of course. Autocorrect fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m from DE. We always went to one of the state park beaches. Delaware Seashore
state Park is just north of downtown Bethany. Cape Henlopen is further north up by Lewis and Rehoboth. Then there’s Fenwick Island State Park to the south. All are great.

The beach near downtown Bethany and in Sea Colony is horrendously crowded. The beach is just so narrow now. It will be better in June than August for sure. We stayed in Sea Colony West in August one year and all you could see was umbrellas. No view of the ocean unless you got up super early to get set up on the front row.

That should say Lewes, of course. Autocorrect fail.

Oh and the DE Seashore State Park now has a big waterfront restaurant called the Big Chill or something. I haven’t been but it looks like a great spot to grab lunch and a drink right on the water.

[Anonymous]

Lewes and Cape Henlopen are a schlep from Bethany. And, the public beach in Lewes near DQ gets crowded before 10am (parking lot is full).

If you have young kids who are early risers, then head there early. It’s calm water since it’s on the bay.

[Anonymous]

The beach near downtown Bethany and in Sea Colony is horrendously crowded. The beach is just so narrow now. It will be better in June than August for sure. We stayed in Sea Colony West in August one year and all you could see was umbrellas. No view of the ocean unless you got up super early to get set up on the front row.

Your information is outdated and misleading. Bethany did beach replenishment this fall/winter and the town beach is wider than I have ever seen it. Also, it will be much less crowded in mid-June than from July 4 through first week of August.

[Anonymous]

All up and down the coast are the state park beach entrances. Unless you want the town beach, I’d do that. You can get a weekly pass.

PP is right about the restaurant - it’s called the Big Chill. It’s at the Inlet Bridge. PP is also right that Lewes and Cape Henlopen are a schlep. Like at least a half hour in no traffic. Hard to tell what it’s summer will be like but in normal summer traffic it can be well over 30 minutes to get even close to these areas.

Last summer there were parking time limitations in Bethany. I forget how long. Maybe two hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The beach near downtown Bethany and in Sea Colony is horrendously crowded. The beach is just so narrow now. It will be better in June than August for sure. We stayed in Sea Colony West in August one year and all you could see was umbrellas. No view of the ocean unless you got up super early to get set up on the front row.

Your information is outdated and misleading. Bethany did beach replenishment this fall/winter and the town beach is wider than I have ever seen it. Also, it will be much less crowded in mid-June than from July 4 through first week of August.

How many times has that beach been replenished? They were doing that in 2018 when we stayed there. Seems like it disappears again every couple years.