85°
Sunny
0%
54
Sussex County, DE · Atlantic Ocean
Indian River Inlet
Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
The inlet connecting Indian River Bay to the Atlantic, spanned by the 2,600-foot Indian River Inlet Bridge. A major fishing destination — surf casting for striped bass, flounder, bluefish, and red drum. Currents here are strong and the swimming isn't casual.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 78°F water · 85°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny. High near 85, with temperatures falling to around 79 in the afternoon. South wind 15 to 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph.
Weather
- 85°F air — ideal beach weather
- 20 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 78°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued september 9 at 1:09pm edt until september 10 at 10:00am edt by nws mount holly nj
54 /100
ok
42 Swim
65 Sunbathe
80 Walk
34 Fish
75 Photo
Best for walking today
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued September 9 at 1:09PM EDT until September 10 at 10:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 ft expected. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 NM and Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 NM. * WHEN...Until 10 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
85°F
Clear
Wind
15 to 20 mph
S
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 12 PM–02 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
85°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
78°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
8:15 PM
5.2 ft · in 58m
Wave Height
3.3 ft
4s · SW swell
Barometer
29.87 inHg
1012 hPa · buoy 44009
Water Quality
Clean
30 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 9d ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ455)
The PHI office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NJZ014 Eastern Monmouth — Sandy Hook Low
- NJZ026 Coastal Ocean — Long Beach Island Low
- NJZ025 Coastal Atlantic — Atlantic City Low
- NJZ024 Atlantic Coastal Cape May — Ocean City Low
- DEZ004 Delaware Beaches — Rehoboth Beach Low
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:36 AM
Sunset
7:19 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:40 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:50 AM | High | 4.4 ft |
| 1:40 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:15 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:28 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:41 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 2:34 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 9:03 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:10 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 9:27 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 3:24 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 9:48 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:50 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 10:11 AM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 4:10 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 10:30 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:28 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 10:52 AM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 4:55 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 11:11 PM | High | 4.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:06 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 11:34 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 5:41 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 11:52 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:46 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 12:16 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| 6:30 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8557380, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
85°
Sunny
4%
78
77°
Chance Rain Showers
41%
64
79°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
23%
73
82°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
66%
18
80°
Mostly Sunny
9%
82
80°
Sunny
4%
83
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 15 to 20 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 78°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Major
10:30 PM - 12:30 AM
Minor
4:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Major
10:50 AM - 12:50 PM
Minor
6:10 PM - 7:10 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Delaware Seashore State Park lots.
Dogs
Dogs permitted on leash outside swim areas.
Entry Fee
$10/vehicle DE, $20/vehicle out-of-state (within Delaware Seashore SP)
Address
Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Indian River Inlet today?
Indian River Inlet shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Indian River Inlet dog-friendly?
Dogs permitted on leash outside swim areas.
Is there an entry fee at Indian River Inlet?
$10/vehicle DE, $20/vehicle out-of-state (within Delaware Seashore SP)
Are there lifeguards at Indian River Inlet?
No lifeguards are stationed at Indian River Inlet. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Indian River Inlet?
Amenities at Indian River Inlet include fishing pier, jetty access, marina, bait shop.
When is the water warmest at Indian River Inlet?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Indian River Inlet located?
Indian River Inlet is in Sussex County, DE, at Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS