The A259 runs along the north of Rustington, westward to Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Chichester, and east to Worthing and Brighton.

In World War I, Rustington was home to a planned American aerodrome, to the east of the High Street.

It also houses Rustington Museum, exploring the village's history from the Stone Age to the modern day with artefacts from throughout time.

Rustington achieved national fame in 1956 with the launch of Flanders and Swann's show At the Drop of a Hat, in which "The Gnu Song" contains the lines: I had taken furnished lodgings down at Rustington-on-Sea Whence I travelled on to Ashton-Under-Lyne... Rustington shares Angmering railway station with Angmering and East Preston.

To celebrate, on 7 September 1996, Neville Duke returned to Rustington to unveil a plaque, marking the event, joined by a Gloster Meteor and a Hawker Hunter, which flew over the sea front.