Ice cream & boardwalk treats at the Delaware beaches with kids
Ice cream is half the point of a beach day, and the Delaware coast delivers — a working-dairy creamery, boardwalk frozen custard, saltwater taffy, and a fries stand so famous a national chain copied it. This is the family shortlist from Lewes down to Fenwick. Most are seasonal, so check current hours before you go. We've led with the one that's a genuine outing for little kids; the rest are quick, joyful stops.
1. Hopkins Farm Creamery
Lewes
The standout for little kids — farm-fresh ice cream on a working dairy near Lewes, with a play area and cows to see. A destination, not just a cone.
Good to know
- • Thrasher's French Fries (Rehoboth & Bethany boardwalks): not ice cream, but THE boardwalk treat — fresh-cut fries in peanut oil, vinegar, no ketchup, since 1929. Fun fact: the Five Guys founders grew up on Thrasher's and modeled their fries on it. Seasonal boardwalk hours. source
- • Kohr Bros Frozen Custard (Rehoboth boardwalk): classic vanilla-chocolate swirl frozen custard from multiple boardwalk stands — fast, simple, walk-up, and easy with restless little kids. Seasonal. source
- • The Ice Cream Store (Rehoboth, just off the boardwalk): homemade ice cream with 100-plus wild flavor names — big delight for kids, though a few flavors are gag/extreme-heat novelties, so steer little ones to the classics. Vegan and gluten-free options. source
- • Dolle's Candyland (Rehoboth boardwalk): the saltwater-taffy and caramel-corn landmark since 1927 — the experience as much as the candy. Note: the famous rooftop Dolle's sign was moved to a local museum, so it's no longer overhead. Seasonal. source
- • Kilwins (Rehoboth, steps from the boardwalk): premium ice cream plus fudge hand-paddled in copper kettles on marble — kids love watching the fudge being made. Seasonal hours. source
- • King's Homemade Ice Cream (downtown Lewes, 2nd St): a homemade-ice-cream institution since 1972 — simple quality flavors, shakes, and floats in a walkable downtown. Seasonal (historically closed in winter), so check current hours. source
- • Vanderwende Farm Creamery (Dewey Beach): farm-fresh small-batch ice cream and soft serve from a Sussex County dairy family — the go-to family ice cream in Dewey, with generous portions. Seasonal. source
- • Dickey's Frozen Custard (Bethany Beach, near the boardwalk): an old-fashioned frozen-custard walk-up that's a multi-generational Bethany tradition — the line is part of the ritual. Seasonal. source
- • Moo Cow Cone (Bethany Beach area, Jefferson Bridge Rd): hand-dipped ice cream with loaded toppings, big milkshakes, and a non-dairy Italian-ice option — pet-friendly and a newer local favorite. Seasonal. source
Questions parents ask
What's the best ice cream for young kids at the Delaware beaches?
Hopkins Farm Creamery near Lewes is the standout — it's a working dairy with a kids' play area and cows to see, so it's an outing, not just a cone. On the boardwalk, Kohr Bros frozen custard is the easy fast walk-up.
What's the classic Rehoboth boardwalk treat?
Thrasher's French Fries (fries in peanut oil and vinegar, no ketchup), Kohr Bros frozen custard, and Dolle's saltwater taffy are the three boardwalk classics. They're all seasonal, so check hours.
Are there farm-fresh ice cream options at the beach?
Yes — Hopkins Farm Creamery (Lewes) and Vanderwende Farm Creamery (Dewey) are both working-farm creameries, the closest thing to ice cream straight from the cow.
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Checked against each place’s current info.
Admission and hours come straight from each place’s guide. Last reviewed June 19, 2026. Confirm anything dated on the source before you go.