Summer is off to a hot start, and if you’re a Mid-Atlantic city dweller looking for ocean breezes and a weekend escape, the Delmarva seashore is hard to beat. From Washington, DC, most of the coast is just a 3–4 hour drive away. Over the years, we’ve explored many of these beaches as a couple, with friends, and on solo adventures. Along the way, we’ve picked up a few lessons about where to go, how to save money, and the best times to visit. Here are three simple tips to help you avoid crowds, stretch your budget, and—most importantly—make memories that last.
Overview
The stretch of coastline from Cape Henlopen, Delaware, to Assateague Island doesn’t have a widely used name, but I think of it as one connected seashore. While you could extend the journey north to Cape May or south to Virginia Beach, the places we’ve explored most are along the Delaware and Maryland coast. Together, they offer miles of beaches, barrier islands, bays, boardwalks, and small coastal towns—each with its own personality.
Hack #1: Go Camping
Rehoboth Beach has a reputation as one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches on the Mid-Atlantic coast, and in my experience, it earns it. We’ve walked the beach and browsed the shops there several times over the years, but have never actually stayed overnight for one simple reason: it’s expensive. We searched for affordable hotels and summer rentals more times than I can count, and the only truly reasonable rates were in the middle of winter (which is another recommendation I’ll come back to later).
Fortunately, you don’t have to stay in Rehoboth to enjoy it. Cape Henlopen State Park offers a beautiful beach of its own and is close enough to Rehoboth that you can easily bike or walk between the two. Campsites book quickly—sometimes a year in advance—so this isn’t always the best option for a last-minute getaway. We reserved our site more than six months ahead of one trip. We camped Friday and Saturday nights, spent our days at the beach, grilled dinner in the evenings, and headed home Sunday. For non-residents, campsites are about $53 per night during the summer, with lower rates for Delaware residents. The park also has excellent trails through the dunes, where I’ve spotted herons, swans, and plenty of other coastal birds.
If it’s too late to reserve at Cape Henlopen this year, consider camping at Assateague Island State Park, or or Assateague Island National Seashore. The beaches are stunning and generally much less crowded than Rehoboth or Ocean City. And, of course, there are the famous wild ponies.
Another option is renting a cabin at Pocomoke River State Park Shad Landing area and driving to Assateague from there. The park is about 30 minutes from the beach and tends to be far quieter than the other coastal destinations. My personal favorite budget-friendly getaway is one of the smaller camper cabins at Shad Landing. They typically cost about $60/night and include beds, so there’s no tent to pitch and no sleeping on the ground. You’ll need to bring your own sheets or sleeping bags, and the cabins use the campground bathhouse rather than having private bathrooms, but it’s a comfortable and inexpensive base for exploring the area.
One quick note: Assateague Island State Park and Assateague Island National Seashore sit side by side on the Maryland coast, and camping is available in both. I’ve heard many campers prefer the state park facilities. Don’t confuse either with the Virginia side near Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The wildlife refuge is well worth visiting, but camping isn’t available there.
Hack #2: Timing is Everything – Visit in Late August or Early September
One of the easiest ways to save money is simply to visit after the peak summer season. By late August and early September, most kids are back in school, which means smaller crowds and lower hotel rates. As an added bonus, the ocean is usually warmer than it is in early summer.
We’ve visited Ocean City several times during this period and have often found surprisingly affordable hotel rooms through sites like Expedia and Groupon, including properties right on the beach or within a short walk of it. For us, it’s often just a quick overnight trip—arrive in the morning, enjoy a full day at the beach, spend the night, and head home the next day.
The early summer shoulder season also works well, though waters may be cooler. The best hotel deal my husband and I ever found was at a Howard Johnson in Ocean City in early June. It was clean, comfortable, included parking, and was located right on the beach. Of course, hotel prices change constantly, so I wouldn’t focus on a specific property. Instead, I’d recommend checking rates a few weeks before your trip and being flexible about your dates. A shift of even a week or two can make a surprisingly big difference.
I also recommend visiting in winter—not as a replacement for a summer beach trip, but as a completely different experience. I love the way the coast feels during the off-season. The beaches are quiet, the pace is slower, and long walks along the surf can be just as enjoyable as a day spent swimming. Winter is a great time for a solo getaway or a weekend trip as a couple. From November through March, you’ll find fewer crowds at local restaurants, easier parking, and often more affordable Airbnb rentals. Since you’re not spending all day on the beach, there’s no need to pay a premium for an oceanfront location. One of my favorite winter stops is Dogfish Head Brewing—a perfect place to warm up after a walk by the water.
Hack #3: Stay Halfway There – or Halfway Back
This tip is for anyone coming from the Washington, DC area or nearby. Some of my friends make the beach a day trip, and if that works for them, great. Personally, I find six hours of driving in a single day a little too much if the goal is to relax.
If beachfront rentals are out of your budget—or if you’re planning a last-minute trip—consider spending a night in a town that’s halfway between home and the coast. You’ll save money on lodging and break up the drive, making the trip feel more like a getaway and less like a marathon.
We tried this approach for a last-minute trip to Bethany Beach. Rental prices near the water were far beyond our budget, so we booked a reasonably priced hotel in Dover instead. We drove to Bethany early Saturday morning, parked near one of the public beach entrances, and spent the day enjoying the beach. We brought our own umbrella, chairs, and snacks, which helped keep costs down, and wandered the boardwalk shops for a while in the afternoon.
There was just one problem: I accidentally backed my rental car into a parking meter. Since I hadn’t purchased the rental insurance, I ended up paying for the damage and completely erased any money we had saved on the hotel. Learn from my mistake and pay attention while parking.
After the beach, we drove to Rehoboth to walk around and browse a few more shops before heading back to Dover for dinner and an overnight stay. The next morning, we only had about two-thirds of the drive home remaining. It wasn’t quite as convenient as staying on the coast, but it was much more affordable and still felt like a real weekend away.
For budget-conscious travelers, towns like Dover can be a useful middle ground: close enough to enjoy the beaches, far enough away to avoid peak-season lodging prices.
If you choose to visit the Delaware and Maryland seashore this summer, I hope this blog helps you plan your trip. We won’t be making it to the beach this year because we’re saving our money and travel energy for a big Yellowstone adventure at the end of the summer. If you’ve been to Yellowstone and have any tips or favorite stops, let me know in the comments!
dink Travelers 
Leave a comment