Origin
Bear, DE
Morning in Bear on Saturday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bear, DE to Lewes, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
78.1 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bear, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Lewes, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bear, DE to Lewes, DE is 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 41m via Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and Coastal Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip entirely within Delaware, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short distance and manageable duration, this route is perfect for a relaxed day trip or a quick hop to the coast. You'll experience a local driving feel for most of the journey, so expect to navigate through towns and manage turns rather than cruising on highways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Bear, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy' with a 0% highway share, meaning you won't be on high-speed interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 40 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before transitioning to more local roads. As you progress, you'll primarily be on roads like Coastal Highway and Bay Road, which suggests a more local, potentially slower-paced experience with more frequent intersections and traffic signals. Be prepared for a dynamic drive that requires your attention to navigation.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 40 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near DE 7 / Bear Corbitt Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (DE 7 / Bear Corbitt Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.1 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
DE 7 / Bear Corbitt Road
Turn right onto DE 7 / Bear Corbitt Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward DE 1 South: Dover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
8.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
DE 1 / Milford Bypass
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 / Milford Bypass toward DE 1 South: Lewes, Rehoboth Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward DE 1 South: Lewes, Rehoboth Beach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bear, DE to Lewes, DE, road signs begin pointing toward Rehoboth Beach along the way.
Rehoboth Beach
55.5 mi in
|
~1h 7m
|
via DE 1
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 40 mi | 46m |
| Coastal Highway | 17.9 mi | 24m |
| Bay Road | 14.7 mi | 19m |
| Savannah Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Milford Bypass | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Pulaski Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bear Corbitt Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Old Hamburg Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 40 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bear, DE and Lewes, DE.
1
Start on Old Hamburg Road
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Old Hamburg Road
2
Turn right onto DE 7
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Bear Corbitt Road
3
Turn right onto US 40
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Pulaski Highway
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
5
Merge onto DE 1
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Continue on DE 1
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Bay Road
11
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Milford Bypass
Toward DE 1 South: Lewes, Rehoboth Beach
12
Continue on DE 1
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Coastal Highway
13
Keep left at fork onto US 9 BUS
459 ft
·
6 sec
·
Savannah Road
14
Continue on US 9 BUS
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Savannah Road
15
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
92 ft
·
4 sec
·
West 3rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over an hour and a half, this route offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning will give you ample time to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed. Since there are no designated stops in the data, and the drive is short, you can easily make spontaneous stops for fuel or a quick break as needed. Given the local road nature, pay close attention to speed limits and traffic, especially as you approach your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $13, suggesting you might not pass many major, budget-friendly gas stations along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.1 miles from Bear, DE, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewes, DE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bear, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bear, DE
This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bear, DE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 40 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.1 mi from Bear, DE · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.1 miles from Bear, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lewes, DE
The final approach into Lewes, DE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.95 one way
$25.90 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.18 | $28.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.24 | $34.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lewes, DE
Morning in Lewes on Saturday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Camden, DE
39 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bear, DE to Lewes, DE covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Coastal Highway, Bay Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 miles from Bear, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.95 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (DE 7 / Bear Corbitt Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.1 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bear, DE to Lewes, DE, road signs begin pointing toward Rehoboth Beach along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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