Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
Delaware's classic boardwalk — a mile of beach, Funland's rides, arcades, fries, and free bandstand concerts.
The Quick Version
- • A one-mile wooden boardwalk along the beach, lined with Funland amusement park, arcades, shops, and the boardwalk-food classics.
- • Funland (on the boardwalk since 1962) has no gate admission — you buy tickets and pay per ride, from kiddie rides to midway rides, plus Skee-Ball.
- • The beach itself is free; parking and rides cost. The Rehoboth Bandstand runs free open-air concerts all summer.
- • About 1.5–2 hours from Wilmington — the quintessential take-the-kids-down-the-shore day.
Best Ages
All ages
Plan For
Half to full day
Adults
Free (boardwalk & beach); pay per ride at Funland
Kids
Free
What to Expect
Rehoboth's boardwalk is the classic Delaware beach experience: a one-mile wooden promenade along the sand, lined with restaurants, shops, arcades, and amusements. The anchor for families is Funland, a small amusement park that's been on the boardwalk since 1962 — there's no gate admission, so you buy tickets and pay per ride, from gentle kiddie rides to bigger midway rides, plus Skee-Ball and arcades.
Add the free beach, the boardwalk-food institutions (Grotto Pizza, Thrasher's fries, Dolle's taffy), and the Rehoboth Bandstand's free summer concerts, and you've got an easy all-ages day.
Set expectations: in peak summer it's crowded and parking is tough — come early or for an evening, and budget for treats and ride tickets. The boardwalk itself is flat and stroller-friendly; the beach is open sand. About 1.5–2 hours from Wilmington, it's the quintessential shore day with kids.
Who It's Best For
Toddlers have Funland's kiddie rides; bigger kids get the midway rides, Skee-Ball, and arcades; everyone gets the beach and the fries. A true all-ages outing.
Highlights
Funland
All agesA boardwalk amusement park since 1962 — no gate fee, pay per ride, from kiddie rides to midway rides, plus Skee-Ball and arcades.
The beach
All agesFree, wide, and right off the boardwalk — toggle between sand and treats all day.
Boardwalk food
All agesGrotto Pizza, Thrasher's fries, Dolle's salt water taffy, and ice cream — eating your way down the boards is part of the tradition.
Rehoboth Bandstand concerts
All agesFree open-air music near the boardwalk all summer — an easy evening with little kids.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Driving in midday on a summer weekend — parking is brutal; come early or for an evening.
- • A tight budget with no plan — rides, arcades, and treats add up fast.
- • Forgetting sun protection — the boardwalk and beach are wide open.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Free (boardwalk & beach); pay per ride at Funland
Kids
Free
Under
Free
Walking the boardwalk and the beach are free. You pay per ride at Funland (no gate admission), plus arcades, food, and parking (metered or paid lots in season).
Getting There
Parking
Metered street parking and paid lots; both fill in summer.
Summer weekends are brutal for parking — arrive early, come for an evening, or use a lot a few blocks back from the boardwalk.
Entrance
The boardwalk runs along the beach at the end of Rehoboth Avenue; Funland is mid-boardwalk between Delaware and Brooklyn avenues.
Parent Logistics
The boardwalk is flat and stroller-easy; the beach is soft sand, so bring a carrier or beach gear. Peak-season crowds slow a stroller down.
Public restrooms along the boardwalk and beach.
Not confirmed — plan ahead.
Very little on the boardwalk or beach — bring sun protection. Shops and arcades offer a break.
Food & Snacks
The boardwalk is a food destination in itself — Grotto Pizza, Thrasher's fries, Dolle's salt water taffy, ice cream, and more.
Snack strategy: It's hard not to eat here — budget for treats. For a sit-down meal, the Rehoboth Avenue restaurants are a block away.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Come for an evening: Funland lit up plus a bandstand concert is the magic, and parking eases.
- ✓ Buy a Funland ticket sheet rather than paying ride-by-ride.
- ✓ Thrasher's serves their fries with vinegar — famously no ketchup.
- ✓ Off-season, the boardwalk is a pleasant free stroll even when the rides are closed.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Summer evenings are the magic — Funland lit up plus a bandstand concert — and parking eases a bit after the beach crowd thins. Weekday or early visits beat the peak crush. Funland and the amusements are seasonal.
Seasonal Notes
The boardwalk is open year-round, but Funland and most amusements and arcades are seasonal (roughly spring through fall, peak in summer). The Bandstand runs free concerts through the summer.
Rainy Day?
Arcades and indoor shops give some cover, but it's mostly an outdoor and beach day.
While You're in the Area
Cape Henlopen State Park is about 10 minutes away; the Rehoboth outlets and the Junction & Breakwater Trail are close too.