View east across Trap Pond toward groves of bald cypress trees, Trap Pond State Park, Sussex County, Delaware

Where to Rent Kayaks and Canoes in Sussex County, DE

Sussex County has six verified rental operations. They range from a state park concession in the cypress swamp near Laurel to bay-front shops a short drive from Rehoboth, Dewey, and Fenwick Island. Fees, availability, and hours are seasonal and change year to year, so the sources below are the right place to check current rates.

Quick facts

Rental operators at a glance

Operator What’s available Location / water
Southwestern Sussex: Laurel area
Trap Pond State Park concession Kayaks, canoes, rowboats, pedal boats, paddleboards; pontoon tours Trap Pond, near Laurel / sheltered cypress pond
Quest Adventures (Broad Creek, Laurel) Kayak rentals and guided paddles (verify seasonal) Laurel Kayak/Canoe Launch on Broad Creek / tidal freshwater
Lewes
Quest Kayak Kayaks, SUPs, floating party mats, beach chairs and umbrellas; guided tours 514 E. Savannah Rd, Lewes / Delaware Bay and Lewes-Rehoboth Canal
Delaware Paddlesports Single and tandem kayaks, SUPs, fishing kayaks, Hobie Mirage kayaks; guided social paddles 17296 Coastal Hwy, Lewes / various rotating locations
Near Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island
Coastal Kayak Single and tandem kayaks, SUPs; hourly to weekly; guided eco-tours 36840 Coastal Hwy, north of Fenwick Island / Little Assawoman Bay
Ecobay Kayak Single and tandem kayaks, SUPs; guided eco-tours and sunset excursions; kids’ camp 30048 Cedar Neck Rd, Ocean View / Indian River Bay
Dewey Beach
Delmarva Board Sports Kayaks and paddleboards; lessons and guided excursions Bay Resort Hotel, 135 Dagsworthy St, Dewey Beach / Rehoboth Bay

Quick Answers

  • The only rental operation inside a state park is the Trap Pond concession, near Laurel. It’s the best option if you want calm, sheltered water and no drive to the beach corridor.
  • For guided tours of the Delaware Bay or the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Quest Kayak in Lewes is the longest-running local operator, in business since 1999 according to their own site.
  • Three operators sit directly on the inland bays: Coastal Kayak on Little Assawoman Bay, Ecobay Kayak on Indian River Bay, and Delmarva Board Sports on Rehoboth Bay at Dewey Beach.
  • All beach-corridor operators are seasonal. Call ahead or check the website before making the drive, especially outside peak summer.
  • Delaware Paddlesports in Lewes is primarily a retail kayak and SUP shop. Rentals are a secondary service, and the rental fee is deductible from a kayak purchase within 30 days.

Trap Pond State Park: on-site concession on the cypress pond

Trap Pond is the county’s most self-contained rental option. The seasonal concession rents kayaks, canoes, rowboats, pedal boats, and paddleboards for use on the pond. You can rent and launch in the same place without driving across the county first.

Anyone renting must be 18 or older with a valid ID. Renters 12 and under must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.

Park interpreters also run narrated pontoon boat tours on summer weekends and holidays. That’s a good option if you’d rather be a passenger.

The pond is 90 acres, mostly 8 feet deep or less. The marked Terrapin Branch Water Trails extend to nearly nine miles for renters who want to explore beyond the open water.

Rental rates and current availability are on the Delaware State Parks Trap Pond page. The full paddling picture for Trap Pond, including launch access and the water trails, is in the complete kayaking and canoeing guide for Sussex County.

Every claim here links to a primary source.

Quest Adventures at the Laurel Kayak/Canoe Launch

The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance’s guide Paddle the Nanticoke lists Quest Adventures at the Laurel Kayak/Canoe Launch on Broad Creek, offering guided paddles and kayak rentals. That page was last updated in 2022.

Quest’s own website does not currently list this Broad Creek location. It’s possible this is a seasonal or pop-up arrangement. Call Quest Adventures before making the drive to Laurel specifically for on-site rentals.

The Laurel Kayak/Canoe Launch itself is a free, non-motorized hand-launch on Broad Creek. It’s run by the Town of Laurel and open to anyone regardless of whether the rental operation is running.

For the launch details and the full Broad Creek paddle, see the paddling guide for Sussex County and the kayak launches guide.

Quest Kayak: Lewes, Delaware Bay, and the canal

Quest Kayak describes itself as the first local kayak and SUP business in Lewes, operating since 1999. The shop is based on Savannah Road and rents kayaks, SUPs, floating party mats, beach chairs, and umbrellas, with free local delivery within Lewes.

For guided tours, the tours page lists routes on the Delaware Bay and the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Launch locations include 528 E. Savannah, Roosevelt Inlet, and Cape Henlopen State Park. Those routes are covered in more depth in the kayaking and canoeing guide.

The Visit Southern Delaware listing summarizes the offer as: “Tour the Inland Bays day or night…or ride the waves of the Delaware Beaches with the most experienced local guides.”

Delaware Paddlesports: Lewes, with a weekly social paddle

Delaware Paddlesports on Route 1 in Lewes is primarily a retail kayak and SUP shop. It also offers tax-free rentals and runs a weekly guided Social Paddle.

The Tuesday evening paddle runs at 6 p.m. for about 1.5 hours and requires a minimum of four people. The launch location rotates around the Delaware Beaches and is announced weekly.

Rental types include single kayaks, tandem kayaks, SUPs, fishing kayaks, and Hobie Mirage kayaks. All rentals include a paddle and PFD.

The rental fee is deductible from the purchase price of a kayak or SUP within 30 days. That makes this a useful try-before-you-buy option. Details are on the rental and tour page.

Coastal Kayak: bayside near Fenwick Island

Coastal Kayak sits on Little Assawoman Bay at 36840 Coastal Highway, in the Fenwick Island area. The location puts it on the water: rentals launch from an on-site bayside beach, and there’s no ramp drive needed.

All on-site rentals include a paddle, PFD with a signaling device, and basic instruction. Kayak types available range from basic single to upgraded tandem to a 2.5-person kayak. Rental durations run from hourly to weekly.

Off-site delivery rental is also offered for kayaks and SUPs, with restrictions and advance reservations required.

Guided eco-tours are offered. Paddle destinations include south toward the Fenwick Island canalside homes and north toward Bethany Beach and Daisey Marsh. Point of Cedars Island is roughly 0.75 miles offshore.

More information is on coastalkayak.com.

Accurate beats vivid: if the fee or the age rule changed, the source link is there.

Ecobay Kayak: Indian River Bay, Ocean View

Ecobay Kayak is at 30048 Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View, on Indian River Bay. The site is sister to Coastal Kayak and describes itself as being in its 20th year of operation as of 2026, per the Ecobay website.

Rentals run hourly or full day and include instruction, back support, and life jackets. Single kayaks, tandem kayaks, and paddleboards are the rental types listed.

Guided eco-tours cover Indian River Bay, with sunset and full moon excursions available as well. A kids’ camp focuses on hands-on learning about the inland bays and estuaries.

Rental details are on ecobaykayak.com/rentals/.

Delmarva Board Sports: Rehoboth Bay at Dewey Beach

Delmarva Board Sports runs out of the Bay Resort Hotel at 135 Dagsworthy Street in Dewey Beach, on Rehoboth Bay. The site describes the bay here as shallow and light on jet ski and boat traffic. That makes it a reasonable introduction to bay paddling.

Kayaks and paddleboards are both available for rental, with lessons and guided excursions offered alongside. The site describes the fleet as the largest paddleboard and kayak operation in Dewey Beach, established in 2010.

More information is on delmarvaboardsportadventures.com.

Before you rent: practical notes

No verified season open/close dates were found for the five beach-corridor operators. The Trap Pond concession operates during the summer season and is tied to state park hours. For all six, call ahead or check the operator’s website before making a trip, especially in shoulder months like May or September.

Fees vary by operator and change year to year. This guide doesn’t list dollar amounts, but every operator’s current rates are on their website or available by phone.

Trap Pond has the one hard age restriction across all six operators. Renters must be 18 or older, and anyone 12 or under needs an adult 18 or older with them.

The kayak launches guide for Sussex County covers public hand-carry and ramp access across the county. The Nanticoke River paddling guide covers the tidal launches around Seaford and the Broad Creek route from Laurel.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you rent a kayak inside a Delaware state park in Sussex County?

Trap Pond State Park near Laurel is the only state park in Sussex County with an on-site rental concession. It’s seasonal, and the fee rates are on the Delaware State Parks Trap Pond page.

Do I need to bring my own paddle and life jacket?

All five commercial operators outside the state park specify that paddles and PFDs are included with rentals. The Trap Pond concession is run by the park; check the park page for what’s included. The 18-and-older age rule at Trap Pond applies to the rental itself.

Can I get a kayak delivered to my beach rental?

Quest Kayak in Lewes offers free local delivery of kayaks and SUPs within Lewes. Coastal Kayak near Fenwick Island offers off-site delivery with restrictions, requiring reservations in advance.

Is there a rental option near Rehoboth Beach?

Quest Kayak in Lewes is the closest full-service rental and tour operator to Rehoboth, about a 15-minute drive north. Delmarva Board Sports at Dewey Beach is a few miles south of Rehoboth. Delaware Paddlesports is also in Lewes with a retail shop and rental operation.

What’s the difference between Coastal Kayak and Ecobay Kayak?

They’re sister businesses. Coastal Kayak is on Little Assawoman Bay near Fenwick Island; Ecobay Kayak is on Indian River Bay in Ocean View.

Both offer single and tandem kayak rentals with guided tours. The two locations cover the southern half of the inland bay system.

Photo of Trap Pond by Famartin (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

Last verified: 2026-06.