A Queer Road Trip to Delaware: Art, Adventure, & Community in the First State.

Looking for a fabulous, feel-good weekend escape that’s packed with charm, adrenaline, and queer joy? Buckle up! We're road trippin’ to Delaware! 🏳️‍🌈 As The First State to join the Union (yep, in 1787!), Delaware brings history, tax-free shopping 💸, gorgeous beaches 🏖️, and a mighty LGBTQ+ community, all wrapped up in one small but unforgettable state.

First Stop: Wilmington – Art, Magic, & Queer Vibes

From NYC, it’s just a two-hour drive to Wilmington, where the magic begins.

✨🧚‍♂️ Winterthur Museum Garden and Library’s Enchanted Woods is a whimsical garden trail straight out of a fairytale.
🎨 Next, dive into the art scene at the Delaware Art Museum featuring Marisol to Warhol and a stunning outdoor sculpture garden.📚 At Huxley & Hiro, a queer- and woman-owned bookstore, find good reads, Queer books, and positive vibes. Then, it’s off to Historic New Castle, where cobblestone streets and colonial charm make you feel like you've time-traveled to the 1700s 🕰️.

🏡 I am staying at a cozy tiny home Airbnb, but there are many hotel options in Wilmington. My fabulous AIRbnb hosts plug me into the local queer scene and tell me to hit up a Queer Happy Hour and close out the evening at Crimson Moon, the only queer bar in town.

🌲 Bear, Delaware – Into the Trees!

In Bear, go on the Go Ape Treetop Adventure, which has the toughest ropes course I have ever done. 🧗‍♂️ Ziplining through the forest? ABSOLUTELY ICONIC. 🌳💨

🎭 Milton – Small Town, Big Feels

Milton is a historic town about 30 minutes from Rehoboth Beach. The town was named after the English poet John Milton, author of Paradise Lost.

This quaint town offers some of the best theatre in the region at Milton Theatre, which offers 400 shows a year ranging from plays to concerts to operas to comedy to ballet. I caught the final performance of Bare: A Pop Opera. I might have cried 17 times…ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

🌈 Rehoboth Beach – Queer Nostalgia by the Sea

I've been coming to Rehoboth Beach since I was a kid, so it’s a full-circle moment! Check into the LGBTQ-owned Rehoboth Guest House, steps from all the action.🏳️‍🌈 CAMP Rehoboth, an LGBTQ+ community center, is nearby and doing incredible work for the LGBTQ community, including education, arts, health, and advocacy.

🛍️ Rehoboth is packed with queer-owned gems:

💃 Purple Parrot: Tasty bites by day, fierce drag by night
🍹 Aqua: Open-air cocktails + community vibes
👕 Beach Essentials: Stylish, upscale, and casual menswear
✨ BRASHhh: Your home for glitter, gifts, and gay sass
☀️👬For a dose of Queer coastal history, visit Poodle Beach, where LGBTQ+ folks have gathered for generations to be free and find community.
🐻👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼Head to the unofficial Bear and Lesbian beach, Gordon’s Pond, backed by dunes and perfect for a peaceful afternoon.

🌊 Dewey Beach – High-Flying Fun & Zen Vibes

Adventure calls in Dewey Beach!🎈 Go 400 feet up with Dewey Beach Parasail! The views? UNREAL.

🧘‍♂️ Then, chill it out with Dewey Beach Yoga. Sun, sand, and speedos, oh my!

🌅 Final Stop: Cape Henlopen State Park

End your road trip at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes watching the sun set over the dunes. It’s golden, calm, and the perfect way to reflect on a weekend of connection, discovery, and Queer joy.

Delaware may be small, but its LGBTQ+ community is mighty. From adrenaline highs to heartfelt theater, inclusive bars to historic beaches, this state brings it.

I arrive solo and leave with new friends, a full heart, and maybe a few potential next ex-husbands. 😉

To learn more, and plan YOUR ultimate itinerary, check out VisitDelaware.com!

*This blog is sponsored by Trip Scout and Visit Delaware

Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary in Delaware

A Queer Road Trip to Delaware: Art, Adventure, & Community in the First State.