Great Bicycling in Rehoboth Beach

We recently visited the Rehoboth Beach, Delaware area. Glad we had our bicycles along because this area had a great trail system. We particularly enjoyed the Junction & Breakwater Trail and the scenic routes through Cape Henlopen State Park.

The Rehoboth Beach area offers numerous cycling trails, most of which are level and easy to ride. While the most of the trail is away from roads or separated from them, there are a few sections that run alongside a road. The scenery varies from woods and fields to neighborhoods and cityscapes, providing a diverse and enjoyable riding experience.

Our First Visit to Delaware

This was our first visit to Delaware, and we stayed at the Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay camping resort. It served as a great home base for exploring the area. We love outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking, so having our bicycles along was a must. A quick search led us to the Junction & Breakwater Trail, a rails-to-trails ride that sounded like fun. We discovered that there is free parking for the trails at the Tanger Outlet Mall, which is where our bike ride began.

Day One: Ride to Lewes Delaware

There are several trails to explore. You can ride them out and back or make a big loop. On our first day, we rode to Lewes, and it was such a pleasant ride that we decided to do the trail in the other direction on the second day.

From the Tanger Outlets, head left on the trail toward Lewes. It starts as a gravel trail through woods and fields, then transitions to a paved path through the well-maintained Senators neighborhood. As you reach historic Lewes, you’ll need to walk or park your bike to explore the quaint town with its shops and restaurants.

Bike racks are available so you can lock up your bike and explore the area on foot. Lewes bills itself as the First Town in the First State. The downtown seems to be thriving with several shops and restaurants.

We visited the Lewes Bakery, famous for its cinnamon rolls, but they were sold out, so we tried an Ooey Gooey instead—a firm but tasty caramel bar. We also purchased some freshly roasted coffee from their on-site roastery. Yum! Then we headed back to the start.

There are also several historical centers to check out. We thought that the Lightship Overfalls was interesting. It is one of only 17 remaining lightships. Built in 1938, this Lightship helped guide shipping traffic at the mouth of the Delaware Bay.

After exploring Lewes, we headed back to the start of the trail. Along the way, we discovered an alternate place to start your ride, the Wolfe Neck parking area, which offers parking, bathrooms, and a bicycle tool station. Note that you’ll need to pay to park here.

Day Two: Ride Rehoboth Beach to Cape Henlopen State Park

We enjoyed our ride on the Junction & Breakwater Trail so much that we decided to come back for a second day of cycling. On day two, we headed right on the trail from the Tanger Outlets, leading us toward Cape Henlopen State Park.

As with the day before, we started on a gravel trail. After crossing a road, we entered a commercial area and then rode through a neighborhood. There was a short stretch of the ride on and along roads. One thing that surprised us was how friendly local drivers were. When we stopped at an intersection, they often waved us through. It felt like a very bicycle friendly community.

We entered Cape Henlopen State Park and rode past a pond, which was a great place for bird watching. Our visit also included the opportunity to see some WWII concrete observation stations. These were created to watch for any suspicious ship activity in the Delaware Bay. Learning a bit about the area by exploring this state park was very interesting.

Back to Lewes for Lunch

After riding through the park, we were getting a bit hungry. And after our first visit to Lewes, it looked like the perfect place for lunch. It is a short ride from the North entrance to Cape Henlopen State Park to Lewes. We parked our bikes and headed to Agave Mexican restaurant, where Judy enjoyed a shrimp burrito with guacamole, and Erling had chicken enchiladas served with rice and beans. It was delicious.

We explored a bit more and then headed back through the park and retraced our path to the parking area at the outlet mall. What a fantastic day of bicycling!

More to Explore in Delaware

We hope you found this article on bicycle trails near Rehoboth Beach and Lewes Delaware to be helpful. For trail maps and more information about these bike trails, you might check out TrailLink or Delaware Greenways.

While you are in the area, here are a few other ideas for things to explore. You might enjoy checking out the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. A wide boardwalk situated along the beach, there are many shops and restaurants available. You might grab a bit to eat while enjoying a nice day at the beach.

Just a short drive down Highway 1 takes you to Delaware Seashore State Park and Fenwick Island State Park. These offer you great access to the beach.

Continuing to the Maryland border, you can visit the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. There is a plaque by the lighthouse which marks the boundary between the two states.

We’d love your feedback. Is there another activity you’d recommend for people visiting the area? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

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