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Trip from Blades, DE to Dover, DE

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

49m

Distance

37.4 mi

60 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 46m ★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

sharp part of a weapon or cutting tool

Blades, DE

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Kent County, Delaware, United States, and capital city of Delaware

Dover, DE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 37.4-mile drive from Blades to Dover, Delaware, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 49 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with about 6% of the journey on highways, making it a turn-heavy local experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this short trip is budget-friendly. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is relatively quick, it’s perfect for a spontaneous outing or an easy addition to a larger travel plan within the Northeast region. You'll find this route offers a straightforward connection between these two Delaware towns.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

18.7 miles from Blades, DE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this 37.4-mile journey. You'll be on roads like South Dupont Highway and Sussex Highway, with only a small portion (6%) on higher-speed highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is about 20.5 miles on South Dupont Highway. This means you'll be engaging with local traffic and frequent intersections rather than cruising on an open interstate. The road character remains consistent, focusing on efficient local transit rather than scenic views.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Dupont Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East High Street.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Blades, DE to Dover, DE is easy. At 49m with 6% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East High Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.1 miles (US 13 Alternate): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 37.3 miles (West Loockerman Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East High Street

Turn right onto East High Street

Navigation decision point

3
35.1 mi into trip | ~45m in | US 13 Alternate

Take the exit onto US 13 Alternate

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

4
37.3 mi into trip | ~49m in | West Loockerman Street

Turn right onto West Loockerman Street

Navigation decision point

4
37.4 mi into trip | ~49m in | Kings Highway

Turn left onto Kings Highway

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Dupont Highway 20.5 mi 24m
Sussex Highway 13.6 mi 18m
US 13 Alternate 2.2 mi 4m
East High Street 0.5 mi <1m
Concord Road 0.4 mi <1m
West Loockerman Street 0.1 mi <1m
South Market Street <0.1 mi <1m
Kings Highway <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Dupont Highway — 20.5 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blades, DE and Dover, DE.

1

Start on South Market Street

94 ft · 5 sec · South Market Street
2

Turn right onto East High Street

0.5 mi · 55 sec · East High Street
3

Continue on Concord Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Concord Road
4

Turn left onto US 13; DE 20

14 mi · 18 min · Sussex Highway
5

Continue on US 13

21 mi · 24 min · South Dupont Highway
6

Take the exit onto US 13 Alternate

2.2 mi · 4 min · US 13 Alternate
7

Turn right onto West Loockerman Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · West Loockerman Street
8

Turn left onto Kings Highway

37 ft · 1 sec · Kings Highway
9

Arrive at destination

Kings Highway

Trip Plan

Given the short 49-minute duration and 37.4-mile distance, this trip offers excellent flexibility. You can leave whenever suits your schedule, and with an estimated fuel cost of just $6, it’s an economical choice. There are no recommended stops, so you can make the journey in one go without needing to plan for breaks. Keep an eye on local traffic patterns, especially on South Dupont Highway, as it can get busy. This route is designed for efficiency, so focus on a smooth, direct transit between Blades and Dover.

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 18.7 miles from Blades, DE, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 37 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.7 miles or 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dover, DE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Blades, DE.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Blades, DE

This is one driving day of about 37.4 miles and 49m.

At 37.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on South Dupont Highway for about 20.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.7 mi from Blades, DE · 25m into the drive

Downtown Harrington, DE, DE

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harrington, DE

19 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

Camden, DE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harrington, DE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Blades, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dover, DE

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Dover, DE if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.20 one way

$12.40 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.79 $13.58
premium $4.93 $7.25 $14.51
diesel $5.61 $8.26 $16.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.2 0 $3.93 $1.80
Efficient EV 9.4 0 $3.27 $1.50
EV Truck/SUV 15 0 $5.24 $2.39

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Blades, DE

Late night in Blades on Thursday

Local time

12:19 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dover, DE

Late night in Dover on Thursday

Local time

12:19 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

15 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

49m 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 Blades, DE to Dover, DE covers 37.4 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Dupont Highway, Sussex Highway, US 13 Alternate. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.7 miles from Blades, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.20 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.
The drive from Blades, DE to Dover, DE is easy. At 49m with 6% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East High Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.1 miles (US 13 Alternate): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 37.3 miles (West Loockerman Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Blades, DE to Dover, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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