Good beaches for a day/weekend? (Chesapeake, Hampton: sales, hotel, house)

[elacklen]

We've recently moved to the area and are looking for a beach trip this weekend. If we can't find lodging we'll just do a day trip-leaving VERY early Sat morning. I know we're supposed to avoid Hwy 50 if we want to get anywhere...
We don't care about a boardwalk, sights, lots of places to eat, or anything like that. We'd rather have a quiet beach. Oh, and we don't want to head south all the way to Hampton Roads.
Thanks!

[CAVA1990]

You really want to drive three hours each way to go to the beach?

[ChristineVA]

I do day trips all the time. I usually go to Ocean City because I have teens and, after a day at the beach, they *do* like to go to the boardwalk.

Anyway, for a quiet area, go to the Delaware State Park that sits right between Fenwick Island, DE and Bethany Beach, DE. You need to get there very early as there is a limit to how many cars can pull in and park. They charge you per car (I think it might be $8 but can't remember). It has a snack bar and shower/bathroom facilities. It's pretty quiet as far as beaches around here go.

You would take Rt 50 all the way until you can take the exit for Rt 90. This will put you on coastal highway at about 120th street. Hang a left and drive about 2-3 miles and you will see the beach/park. Depending on where you come from in the DC/VA area, should take you about 3 hours depending on how many stops you make.

If you leave very early on a Saturday morning (NLT 6:00 AM) you will do fine with traffic. I've done it many a time.

[mdcrim]

I would vote for Assateague (south of Ocean City). It's about three hours and the island of Chincoteague is just adorable. Get a hotel on the water with a dock and you can go fishing and crabbing. And I think you can dig for clams at Assateague. You may be able to see the wild ponies, too. The annual pony swim may be this weekend so it may be packed there.

[pcity]

In addition to Fenwick Island State Park (which is the one ChristineVA described), Delaware Seashore State Park and Cape Henlopen State Park in Delware are worth a visit too.

All will be crowded on a hot summer weekend, but all are big enough that you can find some less populated areas. The less populated areas might be a bit of a walk from the parking lot/restrooms though.

Cape Henlopen is the closest of the three state parks. The other two add about 10 miles, while Assateague is an extra 30.

Assateague is the nicest of them all (and the National Seashore part is nicer than the State Park IMO), but it is the longest drive.

[michgc]

I agree that Cape Henlopen/Lewes, DE will be the closest. Bonus is that if you go out to eat in DE, there is no sales tax. And FYI, Lewes is prounounced like the name Louis.

[cowherjaw]

I have never done the Delaware state parks as decribed by others but if you truly leave VERY early on Saturday, the Bay Bridge and 50 are of no negative consequence. I don't know of any nice quiet beaches in July though.

[jillabean]

Native Delawarian here My vote for a quiet beach for a day trip would be Indian River Inlet (part of the Delaware Seashore State Park others mentioned). It's a guarded beach and there is a shower house and snackbar (although I used to bring a cooler). I used to go there as a teen and hang out for the beach, use the shower house, and then head back up to Rehobeth for dinner with friends before driving home. Then again, home was still in the same state, lol. Now I just stay in Rehobeth since I have relatives there and can stay there with them and walk everywhere.

BTW, some natives pronounce Lewis as "Looos." I never did though--then again, even though I grew up there, I never had a strong Delaware accent.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by jillabean

Native Delawarian here

BTW, some natives pronounce Lewis as "Looos." I never did though--then again, even though I grew up there, I never had a strong Delaware accent.

Hey, me too! Well, at least I lived there in HS and it was my home address during college. I went to St. Mark's and lived in Newark (right inside the state line off of Rt 40). Previously, we had lived just on the other side of the state line in MD (Elkton).

I agree with the suggestions of going to the Delaware state parks. And a day trip, while tiring, is doable. The Bay Bridge is not bad on a Saturday.

[slowlane3]

In the June 2012 issue of Chesapeake Bay magazine (available at many libraries) the readers' survey recommended as "Best Bay Beach" these, in the following order:

1. Herrington Harbour South (2 miles north of North Beach, MD)
2. Fairlee Creek (Kent County MD)
3. (a tie) La Trappe Creek (Choptank River), MD and Sandy Point State Park, MD (right next to the Bay Bridge)
4. (a tie) Cape Charles Town Beach, VA (probably too far south to travel) and Chesapeake Beach (Calvert County MD)
5. (a tie) Betterton Beach (Kent County MD) and Windmill Point (Rappahannock River, Lancaster County VA)