Updated August 2026

Best beaches in Delaware by water quality

Delaware has 25 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 24 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 11 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 4 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.

Delaware beaches on the map

Ways to pick a Delaware beach

Cleanest water (Grade A)

Key Box Road Beach (Delaware Seashore State Park) — Sussex
Ocean Beach Near Gordons Pond (Cape Henlopen State Park) — Sussex
Rehoboth Beach - Queen Street — Sussex
South Indian River Inlet Beach (De Seashore State Park) — Sussex

A 11

B 2

C 4

D 3

F 4

Grade	Beach	County	% over limit	Samples	Advisory
A	Key Box Road Beach (Delaware Seashore State Park)	Sussex	0%	129	Excellent
A	Ocean Beach Near Gordons Pond (Cape Henlopen State Park)	Sussex	0%	89	Excellent
A	Rehoboth Beach - Queen Street	Sussex	0%	89	Excellent
A	South Indian River Inlet Beach (De Seashore State Park)	Sussex	0%	86	Excellent
A	Dewey Beach - Swedes Street	Sussex	0.4%	256	Excellent
A	Lewes Beach South (Johnnie Walker Beach)	Sussex	0.9%	232	Excellent
A	South Bethany Beach	Sussex	1.1%	95	Excellent
A	Fenwick Beach	Sussex	1.3%	226	Excellent
A	Cape Henlopen Main Beach (Cape Henlopen State Park)	Sussex	2.3%	261	Excellent
A	North Indian River Inlet Beach (De Seashore State Park)	Sussex	2.4%	167	Excellent
A	Rehoboth Beach - Virginia Avenue	Sussex	2.6%	266	Excellent
B	Deauville Beach (Cape Henlopen State Park)	Sussex	3.3%	90	Good
B	Lewes Beach North (Savannah Beach)	Sussex	5.5%	217	Good
C	Prime Hook Beach	Sussex	7.6%	92	Fair
C	Fenwick Island State Park Beach	Sussex	9.8%	307	Fair
C	Conquest Road Beach (Delaware Seashore State Park)	Sussex	10.3%	263	Fair
C	3 R's Road Beach (Delaware Seashore State Park)	Sussex	11.7%	145	Fair
D	Holt's Landing	Sussex	16.9%	354	Poor
D	Broadkill Beach	Sussex	18.7%	187	Poor
D	Bethany Beach	Sussex	19.8%	278	Poor
F	Rehoboth Beach - Rehoboth Avenue	Sussex	28.2%	39	Failing
F	Tower Road Beach - Oceanside (De Seashore State Park)	Sussex	31.6%	263	Failing
F	Dewey Beach - Dagsworthy Street	Sussex	32.1%	56	Failing
F	Slaughter Beach	Sussex	35.5%	279	Failing

CSV

Download the full Delaware beach safety ranking

All 24 graded Delaware beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.

Delaware beach grade updates

Get new grades and water-quality updates for Delaware beaches by email.

Where to stay near Delaware beaches

Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across Delaware — live availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Delaware beaches

Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Watch Delaware beach grades

Get an email when a graded Delaware beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.

Frequently Asked Questions

The table ranks Delaware beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.

Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for Delaware beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.

Delaware beaches vary. Of 24 graded beaches, 11 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 4 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.

The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.