Planning a Beach Vacation on a Budget

If you’re planning a vacation on a budget, Coastal Delaware offers plenty of free and inexpensive activities for everyone in your group. No matter what you love, there are plenty of things to do that won’t break the bank.

What to Do Cheap on Vacation

If you want to save money on your vacation, start by planning the stuff that will cost money. Budget for transportation, lodging and meals. That will give you a sense of how much of a budget you have left over. At that point, you can do several things to save money and have fun on your trip:

  • Consider camping rather than a more expensive hotel stay.

  • Look for vacation packages that save you money.

  • Research free events on the days you will travel and plan your days around them.

  • Remember to take in nature, which is often free or inexpensive with a state park pass.

  • Check any organizations you belong to and any libraries for free passes to events and travel discounts.

  • Consider smaller meals, like quick bites, instead of more formal dinners.

What to Do at Bethany Beach

The good news about Bethany Beach is that it’s pedestrian-friendly. You can park your car and save on gas and walk all over town and the beach. Bethany Beach even offers free parking near the boardwalk to save you money. 

Here are a few more things you can do in town on a budget:

  • Browse at Bethany Beach Comics and Gaming.

  • Take the Bethany Beach Trolley to see the town for only 25 cents per ride!

  • Take a dip in the ocean, watch the sunset and relax in the sand.

  • Build sandcastles and hunt for shells or buried treasure.

  • Check out some craft beers at Ocean View Brewing.

What to Do in Coastal Delaware

Coastal Delaware has several things you can do to save money on your trip while having tons of fun:

  • Check out free concerts and free movie nights at the beach during the summer.

  • Take photos of the incredible nature around you.

  • Visit lighthouses in the area.

  • Visit DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, where admission is free and donations are appreciated.

  • Hike along the coastal trails.

  • For just $10 — or $5 if you’re from Delaware — you get a full day of access to Cape Henlopen State Park, where you can hike, kayak, swim and explore nature.

  • Visit Broadkill Beach, an ERDG Backyard Stewardship™ community horseshoe crab sanctuary, or Slaughter Beach, another crab sanctuary, to watch the wildlife.

  • Go to a local farmer’s market to grab a bite and check out local crafts.

  • See the exhibits at Zwaanendael Museum for free.

  • For $5, you can visit and tour a lightship — a floating type of lighthouse.

Save Even More Money

Planning your itinerary can save you more by helping you decide ahead of time where you will spend and where you will save. Find more ways to save without scrimping on fun by downloading the free Southern Delaware travel guide from Ocean View Brewing. It has everything you need to plan your getaway!

Caroline Judge