10 Best Small Towns In Delaware For A Crowd-Free Summer

The Delaware shore is famous for one stretch in particular, and that stretch fills up by Memorial Day. The ten towns ahead offer the summer version of Delaware that locals quietly recommend instead. Bethany Beach keeps a slower boardwalk than its bigger neighbor a few miles north. Lewes pairs Cape Henlopen with a working canalfront in town. Inland, Newark opens onto White Clay Creek State Park and its 40-plus miles of trails. Every spot earns its place because the summer activity is there without the parking lottery that defines the busier resort strips.

Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach is one of Delaware's beautiful beach towns and a quieter alternative to hot spots like Rehoboth Beach. Here, visitors can stroll along the boardwalk and explore one of the best places to shop, eat, and catch the sunrise. With local favorite seafood restaurants like Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar, known for its fresh coastal cuisine and laid-back waterfront atmosphere, and top-rated places to stay like the Addy Sea Historic Oceanfront Inn, a beautifully preserved Victorian beachfront retreat with modern comforts, Bethany Beach offers visitors the perfect mix of small-town appeal, relaxing oceanfront luxury, and timeless coastal style.

New Castle

New Castle is a small Delaware town that presents fun for whole families. New Castle Battery Park is a riverside site and the perfect way to spend a day strolling along the coast or sit down for a picnic. The New Castle Farmers' Market will ensure that all visitors leave with a souvenir to remember their trip by. With hundreds of vendors, each visit is unique. The Read House & Gardens is a fantastic summer activity for tourists. The mansion totals 14,000 square feet with tours of the interior, gardens, and grounds. While the mansion is open all year long, summer presents the best photo opportunities, looking out over Delaware Memorial Bridge to the north or Delaware City to the south, from the Read House's high balconies.

Middletown

Folks in Delaware know Middletown for hosting the annual Olde-Tyme Peach Festival. While the celebration is a staple of the Middletown community and a great summer event, it usually draws thousands of people. Travelers looking for fewer crowds will find other opportunities to enjoy the sun. Your Creation Station is a walk-in art studio where you craft and paint your own pottery, and the studio hosts seasonal events, as well. For more creative activities, the Center for Creative Arts Market runs from May through October, showcasing handmade goods, local art, and live entertainment. Middletown also houses an abundance of fantastic craft breweries, two among the best being the Crooked Hammock, operating in town since 2019, and JAKL Beer Works, a great venue for dinner, drinks, trivia nights, live music, and seasonal celebrations.

Lewes

Travelers looking for historical landmarks and outdoor recreation will find them and much more in Lewes, Delaware. Cape Henlopen State Park boasts more than 5,000 acres of beaches, mature maritime forests, prime nesting habitats, and a tapestry of winding bike trails. The park also houses Fort Miles, which was part of the nation's coastal defense during World War II.

The Lewes Canalfront Park is another community-driven area. The three-acre park and marina features boat slips, a playground, and space for free outdoor movies and concerts throughout the summer. The Lightship Overfalls LV-118 is one of the must-see attractions in Lewes. Launched in 1938 for the US Lighthouse Service, the Lightship Overfalls served as a floating lighthouse that guided ships through the Delaware Bay and now operates as a museum highlighting the region's maritime history.

Millsboro

Millsboro blends small-town Delaware appeal with laid-back summer fun in the heart of Sussex County. Cupola Park is a local favorite, located along the Indian River. The city of Millsboro often hosts outdoor events during the spring and summer months, and the park is a great meeting spot for friends and families thanks to a large playground area and a pavilion with picnic tables. Both Millsboro Pond and Ingram Pond are top spots for fishing and boating, presenting a remote, secluded experience far from any downtown streets. The Millsboro Farmers' Market runs every year between June and September, with a collection of fresh fruits and vegetables, local meats, baked goods, flowers, and handmade crafts.

Fenwick Island

Fenwick Island State Park stretches for three miles, containing boardwalks and beaches that give visitors plenty of space and solitude to enjoy the ocean breeze. The state park also features landmarks such as a preserved World War II-era fire control tower. The Fenwick Island Lighthouse is another must-see historical landmark, standing since 1858. Each year, Fenwick Island celebrates the anniversary of its first lighting, offering photo opportunities along the beautiful coast. Beyond the landmarks, Viking Golf & Go-Karts and Thunder Lagoon Water Park are great attractions for guests of all ages without the lineups and crowds of other coastal beach towns.

Newark

Newark is a beautiful small town, but many of its greatest summer activities lie just beyond its downtown districts. White Clay Creek State Park sits just north of Newark, with explorable woodlands and creeks along Delaware's northern edge. White Clay Creek also features Delaware's most heavily stocked trout waters and more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, far from any crowds. The Carpenter Recreation Area inside the park also promotes plenty of outdoor activities, including a popular disc golf course.

Just south of Newark, Iron Hill Park is another great place to leisurely stroll and enjoy the warm weather, thanks to its dog park, trails, and the Iron Hill Science Center operated by the Delaware Academy of Science. The science center's plethora of exhibits covers insects, fossils, geology, zoology, and much more.

Odessa

Odessa is a small town with a lot of opportunities for summer activities, whether you're a traveler who likes to stick to the downtown core or venture out into the wilderness. The Historic Odessa Foundation has worked for years to maintain restored 18th and 19th-century houses, offering tours, lectures, workshops, and a visit to Cantwell's Tavern, a former hotel built in 1822.

The annual Odessa Brewfest occurs on the first Saturday after Labor Day with vendors selling samples of the best regional and national craft beers, wine, and spirits. Those who don't mind driving beyond Odessa will find the Blackbird Creek Reserve south of town. The reserve offers miles of hiking trails through uplands and along the marsh, a canoe/kayak launch spot, and plenty of chances to capture one-of-a-kind wildlife photos, especially in the summer.

Milford

The Milford community is strong and inviting, hosting plenty of seasonal events that welcome newcomers. The Mispillion Riverwalk stretches for a mile through the heart of downtown Milford. The riverwalk helped revitalize the downtown district and is now the largest municipal park in Delaware. The Riverwalk Farmers' Market houses plenty of unique vendors selling handmade art pieces, but those looking for an even quieter destination will find it at Gallery 37, a truly one-of-a-kind showcase of paintings, crafts, carved masks, and more. Once you've completed your exploration of downtown Milford, Mispillion River Brewing is the best place to kick up your feet, relax, and enjoy local craft beer.

Dover

Days in Dover move pretty slowly, but that's just the way residents like it. Dover prioritizes history and nature, contributing to a long list of hobbies and activities that are perfect for tourists on relaxing summer days. The Old State House, located in the First State Heritage Park, was erected in 1791. It's a must-see historical landmark, sitting within the same block as both the Liberty Bell Replica and the World War I Memorial.

After a day of learning about Dover and Delaware history, Silver Lake Park is a nature-lover's paradise and the perfect destination for visitors looking for crowd-free summers. With great places to fish for bass, catfish, and carp, and a park of 182 acres, visitors will have no trouble finding their own walking paths and a slice of serenity in the heart of town.

Delaware In The Summer

These Delaware towns have no shortage of activities for tourists to enjoy in the summer. Newark's White Clay Creek State Park features more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, and Middletown houses a slew of unique craft breweries perfect for ending a summer day. Whether you're looking for scenic parks, farmers' markets, outdoor recreation, or fascinating historical landmarks, you'll find them in these Delaware towns.