East Coast Beach Weekend Itineraries

There are two areas we love to go to for quick East Coast beach weekend itineraries from the DC-area: Assateague Island, Maryland, and Lewes, Delaware. Both of these locations are next to bigger named destinations--Ocean City, MD, and Rehoboth Beach, DE--but we prefer a smaller town vibe. If you prefer more nightlife, both of the bigger towns are fun and always have a lot going on! Either of these destinations are roughly 2.5 hours from the DC-area, both accessed by driving across the Bay Bridge near Annapolis, MD, which can unfortunately get busy and add traffic time either direction. If you are coming from Baltimore and further north, it is also feasible to avoid the bridge and just drive down through Delaware. We like to visit these destinations as a weekend itinerary: leaving work early on a Friday and returning on a Sunday. But it is always nice to tack on more days if you can!

We have visited both destinations multiple times, but have actually only spent the night near Assateague. We have only done day trips to Lewes, which can be a long day but is definitely doable if you want to save money.

Assateague Island, MD

Assateague is a thin island that runs along the Maryland coast south to Virginia, where it turns into Chincoteague. On one side, you have gorgeous beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other you beautiful wetlands on Chincoteague Bay. To access the island from Maryland, you have to take route 611, which is just south of Ocean City--about 15 minutes. We prefer to stay in the adorable town of Berlin, MD, which is also just about 15 minutes away and has been crowned the "Coolest small town in America" in the past! You can camp in Assateague, but it is very competitive and most spots are taken right after reservations open 6 months before the date.

The town of Berlin is quaint and very walkable, with lots of shops and restaurants. We personally loved our meal at Blacksmith, and have enjoyed treats from Baked Dessert Cafe and Island Creamery. There are several B&B's in Berlin, but we loved our stay at this Airbnb within walking distance to the town. My husband said it was the best he has stayed at! It has two bedrooms, but each has only a double bed so I would caution against four adults staying there (my husband and I slept separately).

Entering Assateague, you have the option to visit the State Park or the National Seashore. We have only ever done the National Seashore section, but the State Park tends to look crowded and is $5/person to enter. We have a national park pass which gets us into the National Seashore; otherwise, it is $25/car. Upon entering, we like to drive to the end of the road (on Google Maps it is labeled as "Life of the Dunes Trail") and pick out a spot on the beach there, though there are other beach options right upon entry. While it may look crowded by the amount of cars, the beach is huge! We have never felt overwhelmed here. The beach allows coolers, umbrellas, sun tents, and even bonfires at night. The park has awesome bike trails and there is a camp store and equipment outfitter where you can rent bikes or kayaks for the bay. Assateague is most famous for its free-roaming wild horses and I have seen them every visit--they are not very afraid of humans and are always around. They are beautiful and very majestic! There are also nice wetland hikes to enjoy.

Lewes, DE

Lewes is an adorable little town on the coast of Delaware just north of Rehobeth Beach, located next to Cape Henlopen State Park. This state park--with both ocean and cape access--has WWII history, great biking paths, and a fun disc golfing course! You can easily bike to the park from the town of Lewes, or just enjoy Savannah Beach in Lewes itself. Bike rentals are available in the town or at the nature center in the park, and we have rented kayaks in the park from Quest Adventure. The park was once Fort Miles, opened in 1941 to defend the Delaware Bay and River from the German surface fleet. While the fort is now closed, you will see several observation towers throughout and there is a Fort Miles Museum where you can learn more about its history. Entrance to the park is $10/person.

Lewes is a quintessential beach town that is very walkable; lots of its restaurants are in Victorian houses (like the delicious Heirloom), which adds to its unique charm. While we have never spent the night in Lewes, our friends rave about the Dogfish Inn. Dogfish is a brewery that is very popular on the East Coast, so this is definitely a good fit for beer lovers. It has a lovely fire pit area, bikes for rent, a nearby kayak launch, and a fun design! It is a smaller inn so it does book up quickly. When my husband and I visit, we are also very partial to the Dairy Queen right next to Savannah Beach; we like to grab a nostalgic blizzard and watch the sunset!