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Highest-rated free things to do in Delaware by visitors

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Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock
Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Delaware.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Delaware using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. New Castle Farmer's Market

Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. New Castle Farmer's Market

- Rating: 4.1/5 (120 reviews)
- City: New Castle
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

- Rating: 4.5/5 (122 reviews)
- City: Milton
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Bethany Beach Nature Center

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Bethany Beach Nature Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- City: Bethany Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Rehoboth Beach Farmer's Market

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Rehoboth Beach Farmer's Market

- Rating: 4.5/5 (54 reviews)
- City: Rehoboth Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Indian River Inlet Bridge

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. Indian River Inlet Bridge

- Rating: 4.6/5 (168 reviews)
- City: Bethany Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Junction and Breakwater Trail

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. Junction and Breakwater Trail

- Rating: 4.7/5 (227 reviews)
- City: Rehoboth Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (170 reviews)
- City: Fenwick Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Tanger Outlets Rehoboth Beach Surfside

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Tanger Outlets Rehoboth Beach Surfside

- Rating: 4.2/5 (441 reviews)
- City: Rehoboth Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Rehoboth Beach Public Beach

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Rehoboth Beach Public Beach

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,709 reviews)
- City: Rehoboth Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk

Tripadvisor

30 / 30

#1. Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,019 reviews)
- City: Rehoboth Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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