Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon
Rehoboth Beach, DE
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon is a certified Boston qualifier with a course that’s mostly flat with some small hills in Cape Henlopen State Park. The after party features unlimited food and 3 beer tickets for those over 21. (For all finishers and friends and family who buy wristbands). We … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Dec 05):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 38 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 55 |
| L (°F) | 29 | 30 | 37 | 25 | 31 |
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What a fun race!
This one was a lot of fun. I love being near the ocean, and part of the course went along the boardwalk which was great. The race was well organized … MORE
This one was a lot of fun. I love being near the ocean, and part of the course went along the boardwalk which was great. The race was well organized and I enjoyed the course. Long sleeve tech shirts were nice though I wish it wasn’t white.
The Santa bar crawl afterwards (not associated with the race) was a blast.
Good PR choice->BEST after-race food!
This was an (emotionally) painful one as I missed a PR by 2 seconds! 😩. I ran my heart out the last 2 miles. Technically I ran faster than the … MORE
This was an (emotionally) painful one as I missed a PR by 2 seconds! 😩. I ran my heart out the last 2 miles. Technically I ran faster than the last one but the Rehoboth course was 0.22mi longer. (That’s a ~2min difference for me.)
This is a flat course and no doubt there were lots of BQs and PRs for other runners. 269ft elev gain. Several miles are run on fine gravel so while the route was generally flat you don’t get the same spring from gravel as you do on asphalt so you have to work a bit harder to maintain speed.
We were super lucky with weather. It was 37 degrees at the start and temps ended at 42 but no precipitation until light rain the last couple miles. The day prior, it was snowing and raining and felt much colder.
This race gets really great reviews so I was wondering what made it special. The course is pretty. Much of it is on trails (including time in Cape Henlopen State Park) or nice neighborhoods. Hydration stations were every ~2 miles. Porta potties were woefully insufficient but fortunately there was enough woodland opportunities and that was my destination. One gripe is that there’s no timing mat at the 13.1mi mark; I don’t understand why so many marathons don’t have one. It makes figuring out your splits really difficult, particularly when the marathon course is (much) longer than 26.2mi as in this race’s case.
There isn’t an expo. It’s a bib pick-up where runners also receive a long-sleeved tech t-shirt and wrist band for the after-party.
The big wow-factor to this race is the after-party. Holy crow. They offer a buffet of mostly hot foods—waffles, biscuits, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, potato salad, macaroni salad, macaroni and cheese, salad, meatballs, hot dogs, chips, bananas, cookies, chocolate milk, soda. Then each runner is given 3 drinks/beer tickets and there is dancing and a dj in a heated tent….My one question was “who has the energy to dance”?
Lots of 50-staters doing this one, and I met one guy off to catch a flight to Kentucky to run another marathon tomorrow 😯…Serious respect for that guy.
The Rehoboth Seashore Marathon has a generous cut-off time of 7hrs and therefore is friendly to slower runners. The start and finish are 1/2 a mile a part and nearby street parking is free and ample. Given the off-season, hotels are very reasonable. This is a good one for Delaware, for a PR, for a BQ, and for slower runners. Recommend.
Cute Beachtown, great production
This race could’ve been one of my favorites except I’m a Florida girl and it was 38°! That being said, I dressed appropriately and shed layers when I needed to … MORE
This race could’ve been one of my favorites except I’m a Florida girl and it was 38°! That being said, I dressed appropriately and shed layers when I needed to and really enjoyed the day. We did packet pick up the night before in light snow, which was really fun. Easy to park for and pick up race packet. As mentioned, you did need to size up one or two sizes for the long sleeve shirt; nice design.
Parking on the street was very easy pre-race, and I’m glad because I had to run back to the car for something before the race started! Nice flat race, some boardwalk near the water, beautiful homes, entered the state park, and that was quiet and a nice section to walk in. Finished with some streets with lots of supporters. After the race: I like the medal, which has the running company’s cute logo on it, the wonderful hot buffet of breakfast and lunch foods, and the three free beers was a nice touch, although we only tasted one. My friend and I were then driving back to Virginia for another half marathon.(we flew into DCA and drove about two hours to get to Rehoboth Beach; stayed at the Fairfield Inn and suites on Coastal Highway, a 10 minute ride to the race location location). So we did not stay, but it really was a cute beach town that I would’ve loved to spend more time in. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and it was a fun time to be there.
There was great communication prior to the race, and having an app with all the information in it was a great touch. Results were up quickly afterwards. Overall, a great half marathon and I’m glad we selected it for our Delaware race.
Great experience, a Delaware must-do!
Really great experience and time spent in Rehoboth beach. Perfect choice for Delaware on my 50 states quest. The details: Registration - make sure to sign up at least a … MORE
Really great experience and time spent in Rehoboth beach. Perfect choice for Delaware on my 50 states quest. The details:
Registration – make sure to sign up at least a month or more in advance. The last minute price was a bit steep, and then it sold out but my friend was luckily able to get off the wait list after a few days.
Rehoboth isn’t the most convenient place to fly into, but it was actually pretty easy flying into Philly and driving about 2 hours and virtually zero traffic even on a Saturday
Bib pickup was organized and efficient, no unneeded junk. Nice long sleeve shirt (they advise you to size up – definitely listen to this) and some seriously cute local vendors with ornaments! I was so excited because I collect an ornament in every state, so to have custom ones for the race right at the pickup tent was such a bonus!
Race morning – plenty of parking within a 5-10 min walk to the start. Didn’t see any gear check so probably advised to drive yourself or walk up with only what you need.
Course was a good mix of neighborhoods, boardwalk by the ocean, and a lot of time on a trail. Some congestion at certain parts but not terrible. Plenty of aid stations and very nice people.
Post race – truly maybe the best spread I’ve seen at a race. An entire buffet line of breakfast and lunch food options. Seriously delicious and probably factored into the higher cost of the race, I think it’s worth it. Then there was a covered tent to sit down and eat and get beers etc. The heated blankets at the finish were also much needed
Yes it was cold, but actually pretty perfect running weather. We stayed the whole weekend in Rehoboth and absolutely loved it – super charming and festive, great places to eat, cute local shops. 10/10 would recommend!
Good choice for Delaware race!
I came from California to do this race. Signing up months ago, I didn't think it about it possibly being cold on the ocean front, but it was actually a … MORE
I came from California to do this race. Signing up months ago, I didn’t think it about it possibly being cold on the ocean front, but it was actually a great temperature to run in (38 degrees). It had snowed the morning before but was all clear later the same day. Packet pick up was in a covered tent with race merchandise for sale and a few other things. I really liked the long sleeved shirt. The course took place on roads, the boardwalk, paved trails and a little bit of dirt/mud trail. Got a variety of scenery which was nice. I thought the aid stations were well stocked and had great volunteer support. The finish line had people handing out heat blankets (?) and a great medal. The food at the finish line festival was a huge buffet of hot foods, salads, cookies, chips, drinks, etc… Rehoboth Beach is a very nice area and I’m so glad I did this race.
Winter Beach Run
I stayed at the Ocean Glass Inn which was a great location only a 20 minute walk to the start and a 10 minute walk from the finish. The race … MORE
I stayed at the Ocean Glass Inn which was a great location only a 20 minute walk to the start and a 10 minute walk from the finish. The race was a beautiful run along the water and among trails on a gravel path (Miles 7.5 to 10.5). There were water stops at every 2 miles, the volunteers and support was amazing. There were a couple of spots that you get hemmed in because of the tightness of the space, but most people were respectful of the spacing. They had gels and stroopwaffles .
A Nice Race to Go in December
It can be cold at Rehoboth Beach in winter time. We hot one of the cold days this year. It was snowing heavily the day before. Fortunately, the snow stopped … MORE
It can be cold at Rehoboth Beach in winter time. We hot one of the cold days this year. It was snowing heavily the day before. Fortunately, the snow stopped and all snow melted out on the running day.
The route is mixed of street asphalt roads, beach side wood boardwalk, and mostly unpaved bike paths in wetland park.
Good:
A well organized small event.
Plenty of free street parking near the start / finish line.
The aid stations were very helpful and friendly.
All aid stations served with water and aggregator. Two or more served GU gels and cut into half bananas.
Plenty of food and drink were served at the finish area.
Many pacers for different finish goals.
Rehoboth Beach is a nice beach town to visit.
Not so good:
The start were combination of marathoners and half-marathoners together. The route was congested on the boardwalk before the marathoners and half-marathoners broke up the route.
There is no gear check.
Glad to complete Delaware, race was okay
Most of the race is on a trail and the course is out and back so you do pass runners often, both half marathon and marathon runners. That is nice … MORE
Most of the race is on a trail and the course is out and back so you do pass runners often, both half marathon and marathon runners. That is nice for comradery, but the half marathon walkers were finishing when I was finishing the marathon and took up a lot of the course, which makes a fast finish hard to accomplish. The after party was large and had a lot of food options. You are given 3 alcohol tickets; after a marathon I cannot stomach much of anything so I did not partake, but the tent was crowded and runners look like they were having fun. The course was not as well marked as I am used to and there were small signs for mile markers. There were not many volunteers at the water stations, so be ready to get your water right away. Nice medal and shirt. Rehoboth Beach is a cute town and the scenery was nice!
A Fun December Race
I am so glad that I did this race! It is such an Underrated Race! It was a perfect race to do as my last race of the year. I … MORE
I am so glad that I did this race! It is such an Underrated Race! It was a perfect race to do as my last race of the year. I love running in the cold and by the beach with no hills! Everyone was super friendly, nice, and welcoming (even though it was freezing cold). This race had all the best little details like motivation signs in places where there are no people cheering you on (because you run through a trail) to people hugging you at the end when giving you a warm foil sheet with your medal (making you feel like you just won a gold medal at the Olympics). Also, they have the packet pick-up on the day of the race, which is awesome for people visiting from out of town. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone and everyone!
Rehoboth is a fun town
-Race COMMUNICATION was great. -Not an EXPO just a bib pickup with some extra merch for purchase. No vendors to buy nutrition from so bring what you need. The running … MORE
-Race COMMUNICATION was great.
-Not an EXPO just a bib pickup with some extra merch for purchase. No vendors to buy nutrition from so bring what you need. The running store across the street had a small supply of stuff. Pick-up was 2 tables for all the runners, so it was congested. The start was kind of odd. Everyone lined up, the national anthem was sung and people just started running. No hype or 1,2, 3 go. There was also very few port-a-johns at the start. Go before you come! Most of the race was VERY congested. I felt like I was on top of other people for 10 miles.
-COURSE was not what I expected for a beach town. Only 1-2 miles of it was along the ocean and a large amount of it was on a trail/path. Kind of weird to be running by corn fields. The volunteers were great and there was a decent number of spectators to cheer you on.
-AFTER PARTY was so fun! That was my favorite part of the run. They had a ton of food, and you got 3 beer tickets. I partied in the tent with the DJ and people were drinking and dancing and having a great time. There was NOT a gear check, so I was freezing in my cold wet stuff. Bring a friend to hold your stuff.
-SWAG was a thin long sleeve shirt and the medal was cool with a detailed shark on it. Something different.
-The town of REHOBOTH was a great time. Lots of hotels, shops and restaurants with great food. Saturday after the race the town does a “Santa Bar Crawl” and everyone dresses up in crazy outfits and drinks. It was wild to watch.
DE Marathon To Do
Marathon hosted around 1,000 runners and 2,000 Half-Marathon runners. Although the course has two long out and back sections, the course scenery distracts from the "compact" layout of the course. … MORE
Marathon hosted around 1,000 runners and 2,000 Half-Marathon runners. Although the course has two long out and back sections, the course scenery distracts from the “compact” layout of the course. As I ran, I thought the course was similar to Disney in that you cannot see all the other participants because the trees, paths weave around in such a way that those ahead of you are not visible much of the time.
Race registration includes a large hot buffet that is also available to spectators to join. Although a unique feature for me after 30 total marathons, this feature required a slow moving line to get any sustenance after the race. The food was standard catering fare, and I rather have a $45 off the registration to run and be given a bagel, banana, and water/gatorade at the end. With that said, the after party was an actual party atmosphere. The tent was a fun place to start recovery.
The participant t-shirt runs very small as advertised and is not high quality despite Brooks name. The finisher medal is a nice design for the course. No other swag is provided.
A Must Do Race-Well Organized, Fun Vibes
December is the perfect time to visit Rehoboth Beach and this race is a must do in Delaware. Cool weather, ocean breezes and given it's not high season there is … MORE
December is the perfect time to visit Rehoboth Beach and this race is a must do in Delaware. Cool weather, ocean breezes and given it’s not high season there is room to move and explore the area. Great beach town with boardwalks and plenty of restaurants that are open even in the “off season”.
Easy marathon logistics, stayed in a Hilton within walking distrance of the start and finish. There are lots of options to choose from within walking distance. Great communicaction and race organization. Expo was a smaill outdoor event. Race course is a lovely mix of seaside boardwalk, paths through seaside marsh lands and some neighborhooods. Mostly flat. Easy options for spectators to cheer you on throughout.
Afterparty was excellent with plenty of food and drinkk options and a party atmosphere.
Love the vibe around this race and it’s one I hope to do again.
Cold, fun, fast
A fun last race of the year. Course is flat, and trail is manageable even for those with no experience (mostly packed gravel). Kind, accommodating race directors, a cute shirt … MORE
A fun last race of the year. Course is flat, and trail is manageable even for those with no experience (mostly packed gravel). Kind, accommodating race directors, a cute shirt and a great looking medal.
Biggest gripe is the out and back. It’s a very clear, narrow turnaround and as a slower runner it might be a mental battle seeing people coming from the other direction. However, they do try to make it fun with a runway of flags and a DJ who shouted much needed words of encouragement. Food can be included after if you buy a wristband, but the beach offers a good selection for post-race lunches. Probably wouldn’t run again unless I was already in the area but a chill, extremely well-run race nonetheless!
Nice local race, not a bucket list race
The cities of Rehoboth Beach and Lewes are great walking and shopping towns. All the local shop owners and race volunteers are awesome to meet! This is a good race … MORE
The cities of Rehoboth Beach and Lewes are great walking and shopping towns. All the local shop owners and race volunteers are awesome to meet! This is a good race if you’re trying to visit each state, or if you’re within a couple hour drive of the race like we were (DC area) and would like to see Delaware for the first time. Not a race I would travel to as a first race experience or in search of a personal best.
Logistics:
Communication and online resources up through the start of the race were casual and relatively minimal, but altogether sufficient – all the logistics you need to attend the race, and nothing extra! Packet pickup on race morning was quick, and it was easy to drop off the race bag at the car (free parking!). Clothing bins at the start line were taken to the finish, but they function mainly as donation bins and are not designed to retrieve your items.
When the starting horn went off, I and many others were still in line for the bathrooms, so I started the race about ten minutes late, which was no issue at all. The course was well marked with signs, cones, arrows on the ground, and volunteers. Roads were not closed, and the road crossings were very well-managed, safe, and easy. Water stops were about every 2.5 miles, and there were a couple port-a-potties every few miles.
Course:
The mile-long section along the beach, and going across the salt marsh were beautiful. I always enjoy running through neighborhoods as well. However, several miles (maybe just under half) of the race is on an out-and-back gravel trail with not much to look at. With runners going in both directions, I definitely was wishing for some elbow room to get settled into a steady pace. It felt very crowded, especially when the marathon leaders started coming through, making three lanes of traffic and single-file running. The combo of the crowded trail, the gravel, and the cold weather (26 degrees at the start and windy!) made this flat course feel more difficult than anticipated.
Party:
The food at the finish looked amazing. Unfortunately, we didn’t stick around to eat it or to get our celebratory beers. By the time we finished, the restaurant was full to the point of no standing room inside, and it was too cold and windy to sit outside. We had our food, but it was impossible to eat without somewhere to set the plate down, so we ended up tossing it. We couldn’t find an opening to approach the bar for our beer or for a place to drink it, so we decided to just head out. If it had been a warmer day, I think this had the potential to be a better experience!
Nice Run in Delaware
The race starts in "downtown" Rehoboth Beach. The early part of the course (miles 2-3) runs along the boardwalk allowing for some great ocean views. Then the route takes runners … MORE
The race starts in “downtown” Rehoboth Beach. The early part of the course (miles 2-3) runs along the boardwalk allowing for some great ocean views. Then the route takes runners into Henlopen State Park, and from there, the course gets even more “woodsy”. Approximately 5 miles of the course runs on trails through the forest. It is a nice route, and the flags hanging in the woods is a neat feature. Overall, it is a very flat race. On this particular day in December, it was VERY COLD… wind chill temp was 15F at the start!
Finisher medal and shirt were nice; there was a lot of hot food at the finish.
I hope you enjoy the cold!
I a not a big fan of the cold; however, this race was so well organized that I tolerated the cold pretty well. I stayed at the Atlantic Sands Hotel. … MORE
I a not a big fan of the cold; however, this race was so well organized that I tolerated the cold pretty well. I stayed at the Atlantic Sands Hotel. Left the hotel at 6:55am, got to the start at 6:56am, and started the race at 7:01am. The location was PERFECT. Sufficient aid stations and nice crowd support. I’m not a lover of trail running but the trail wasn’t bad at all. The expo was great with just the right vendors that I wanted. The after party was fun. Overall, a great race.
Great choice for Delaware.
I enjoyed the variety in this race. From oceanside on a boardwalk, through state parks on trails and neighborhoods on streets. I stayed almost equidistance between the start and finish … MORE
I enjoyed the variety in this race. From oceanside on a boardwalk, through state parks on trails and neighborhoods on streets. I stayed almost equidistance between the start and finish lines so was able to walk everywhere. It was a cool day; the mylar blanket at the finish line was definitely welcomed. Around the 22 mile mark flags from each state represented in the race are strung across the trail. I was disappointed to see them being taken down as I approached. I am a back of the pack racer so would have appreciated any late incentives. The last two aid stations were unattended; one had a single cup on the table though there were Gatorade bottles in cases on the ground. The last aid station had dozens of filled cups available. This was my 27th state, 31st marathon and I would recommend it for those looking for a marathon in Delaware.
Lives Up to the Reviews
This is a lovely, super easy course along the coast and through a state park. Plenty of places to stay or park near the start. I had no problems with … MORE
This is a lovely, super easy course along the coast and through a state park. Plenty of places to stay or park near the start. I had no problems with the race production. Swag is fine. I’m very happy to have logged this one for DE.
Great Race
The course was nicely varied... street, paved trails, dirt trails, boardwalks. The scenery was very nice as well. The out and back was nice to be able to see the … MORE
The course was nicely varied… street, paved trails, dirt trails, boardwalks. The scenery was very nice as well. The out and back was nice to be able to see the leaders.
The after party was good; a food buffet, mostly warm.
Perfect Course for a Personal Best
Rehoboth is a cute beach town Delaware, so if you have time race weekend be sure to check out the town!! Packet pickup was easy, but crowded. Parking is free … MORE
Rehoboth is a cute beach town Delaware, so if you have time race weekend be sure to check out the town!!
Packet pickup was easy, but crowded. Parking is free because it is the beach off season, but I still had to park a little over a five minute walk away. Since this race is in December that short walk was cold! Be sure to have your bib number available as you will need this to pick up your bib – this was said in an email multiple times and there were signs with QR codes posted, but I saw many people unprepared at pickup.
The shirt was a long sleeved Brooks shirt – it was okay. It wasn’t my favorite but definitely wasn’t the worst shirt I’ve ever gotten.
The race starts right by the Rehoboth boardwalk. Parking was easy (I got there an hour before the start) and there were plenty of spaces. The start line had plenty of bathrooms available.
The start line was crowded as the half marathon and full marathon start together and there was a bottleneck situation at the start – this didn’t affect me. I started near the 2:00 half marathon pacers and had to do minimal weaving in the beginning of the race. This race had pacers for the full and half marathon which was awesome!
The race starts at 7:00 AM so you get great sunrise views over the ocean. Many people came out to cheer especially on the boardwalk section of the course. The course is flat compromised of road, boardwalk, and packed gravel running. Because it is flat and there are not a lot of turns this is a great course for a personal best – BUT it can get boring.
I wish there were more water stops on the course and would bring a handheld bottle if I ran this race again – which I probably will run again since this is semi-local for me!
The afterparty is AMAZING! This is a top afterparty for sure with a DJ and tons of food. After running in the cold (real feel of 15 degrees at the start) I was glad to go into the warm tent for the afterparty.
Overall, I recommend this race if you are looking for a fast and flat course, stunning ocean views, great race production, and an after party like no other! 🙂