Origin
Blades, DE
Afternoon in Blades on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blades, DE to Wilmington, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
88.5 mi
142 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blades, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Blades to Wilmington covers 88.5 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily manage it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $15 on fuel for this journey. The route primarily relies on local roads rather than major interstates, taking you from southern Delaware toward the northern part of the state. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two Delaware locations, making it a practical choice for those looking to reach Wilmington efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Blades, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 88.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way north. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on roads like East High Street, Concord Road, and Sussex Highway to navigate the landscape. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend the entire trip on local thoroughfares, which requires more active attention behind the wheel. The personality of this drive is defined by its winding local segments rather than high-speed cruising. You will find that the road demands constant engagement as you transition between these smaller routes throughout the 88.5-mile journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East High Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Blades, DE to Wilmington, DE is easy. At 1h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blades, DE to Wilmington, DE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East High Street | — | — |
| Concord Road | — | — |
| Sussex Highway | — | — |
| South Dupont Highway | — | — |
| Wilmington | — | — |
| Puncheon Run Connector | — | — |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 95 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East High Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blades, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on South Market Street
95 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Market Street
2
Turn right onto East High Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
East High Street
3
Continue on Concord Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Concord Road
4
Turn left onto Sussex Highway
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Sussex Highway
5
Continue on South Dupont Highway
21 mi
·
25 min
·
South Dupont Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge
7
Continue on Puncheon Run Connector
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Puncheon Run Connector
8
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
13
Merge slight left onto Delaware Turnpike
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
14
Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Expressway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Expressway
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
16
Take the exit slight right toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
DE 52: Delaware Avenue
17
Turn slight left onto North Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Adams Street
18
Turn right onto West 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 11th Street
19
Turn right onto North King Street
85 ft
·
3 sec
·
North King Street
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route without any designated stops, it is best to ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you depart to avoid searching for stations along local roads. Budgeting about $15 for gas is a safe estimate for the 1 hour and 39-minute duration. Because you are not dealing with long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on local traffic conditions. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between Sussex Highway and Concord Road, as the lack of highway signage means you should stay alert for upcoming turns. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours will make this 88.5-mile drive much more manageable.
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 44.2 miles from Blades, DE, or about 50m into the drive.
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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilmington, DE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blades, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blades, DE
This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Blades, DE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.2 mi from Blades, DE · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Blades, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wilmington, DE
The final approach into Wilmington, 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
$14.67 one way
$29.34 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $16.07 | $32.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $17.16 | $34.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.54 | $39.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.29 | $4.25 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.39 | $5.66 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Wilmington, DE
Afternoon in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Middletown, DE
44 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
2 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
1h 39m 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 Wilmington, DE covers 88.5 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East High Street, Concord Road, Sussex Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 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 $14.67 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 Wilmington, DE is easy. At 1h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blades, DE to Wilmington, DE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Blades, DE to Wilmington, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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