Origin
Delaware City, DE
Evening in Delaware City on Thursday
Local time
6:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Delaware City, DE to Middletown, DE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
24m
Distance
16.3 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware City, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Delaware City to Middletown, you are looking at a straightforward 16.3-mile journey. This short trip typically takes about 24 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. You will spend your time navigating local roads like Wrangle Hill Road and Middletown Odessa Road rather than sticking to major interstates. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move through the Northeast region. Since the route requires no formal stops, you have the flexibility to arrive exactly when you need to without building in extra travel time.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 16.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel for the duration of your trip. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, so prepare for a series of local transitions rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 9.1-mile run along the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. As you move away from Delaware City, the road transitions away from major thoroughfares toward the local corridors that define this 24-minute transit. It is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention due to the frequent turns.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 9.1 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 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near DE 9 / 5th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 16.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.5 miles (DE 9 / 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 7.7 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
DE 9 / 5th Street
Turn right onto DE 9 / 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward DE 1 South: Dover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m 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 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
5
13.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward DE 299: Odessa, Middletown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward DE 299: Odessa, Middletown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Wrangle Hill Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Middletown Odessa Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 5th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Clinton Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 9.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware City, DE and Middletown, DE.
1
Start on Clinton Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clinton Street
2
Turn right onto DE 9
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Street
3
Continue on DE 9
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Wrangle Hill Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
5
Merge onto DE 1
3.1 mi
·
3 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
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward DE 299: Odessa, Middletown
9
Turn right onto DE 299
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Middletown Odessa Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto DE 299
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
DE 299
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.70 one way
$5.40 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.96 | $5.92 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.16 | $6.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Middletown, DE
Evening in Middletown on Thursday
Local time
6:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
3 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
24m 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 Delaware City, DE to Middletown, DE covers 16.3 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wrangle Hill Road, Middletown Odessa Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.1 miles from Delaware City, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.70 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 16.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.5 miles (DE 9 / 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 7.7 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Delaware City, DE to Middletown, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include First State National Historical Park.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Middletown, DE
More from Delaware City, DE
More trips to Middletown, DE
Explore more options from Delaware City, DE or browse trips ending in Middletown, DE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse DE road trips.
Explore maps for Delaware City, DE or Middletown, DE on MapSof.net.