Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
99.6 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delmar, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Elsmere, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 99.6 miles from Delmar to Elsmere, this Delaware journey takes approximately 2 hours and 9 minutes to complete. You will primarily navigate via the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Sussex Highway, and South Dupont Highway. Given the manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. Budgeting around $16 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It’s an efficient, straightforward connection that gets you where you need to go without requiring a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.8 miles from Delmar, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 99.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route maintains a zero percent highway share. You will navigate a mix of surfaces, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 42.1 miles along the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Because the path relies heavily on local roads like Sussex Highway and South Dupont Highway, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns and changing traffic patterns. This setup keeps you engaged behind the wheel, offering a more dynamic experience than a standard highway slog. The transition between these major arterial roads defines the character of the trip, requiring you to adapt to varying speed limits and local intersections as you head north.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
131 ft
Total Descent
83 ft
Highest Point
99 ft
~99.6 mi in
Elevation Range
77 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Grove Street.
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 99.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (East Grove Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Bi State Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 48.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto East Grove Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Bi State Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Delmar, DE and Elsmere, DE, road signs point toward Wilmington and Baltimore.
Wilmington
Baltimore
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 42.1 mi | 49m |
| Sussex Highway | 24.4 mi | 33m |
| South Dupont Highway | 21.1 mi | 25m |
| Kirkwood Highway | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Puncheon Run Connector | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Bi State Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Stanton Christiana Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Limestone Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Delmar, DE and Elsmere, DE.
Start on North 1st Street
Turn right onto East Grove Street
Turn left onto Bi State Boulevard
Turn right onto West Snake Road
Turn left onto US 13
Continue on US 13
Take the exit
Continue on Puncheon Run Connector
Merge onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1
Continue on DE 7
Continue on DE 7; DE 4
Continue on DE 7
Turn right onto DE 2
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak congestion. While the 2-hour and 9-minute duration is easy to tackle in one go, planning your departure around local traffic patterns on South Dupont Highway can make for a smoother ride. You won't need to schedule formal rest stops for such a brief duration, but keeping your fuel budget of $16 in mind for a quick top-off before you leave Delmar is a smart move. Pay close attention to the navigation through the turn-heavy sections, as the constant adjustments require more focus than a typical highway drive. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to reach Elsmere without the stress of a long-haul journey.
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.
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 22 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 1h 7m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elsmere, DE than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Delmar, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Delmar, DE
This is one driving day of about 99.6 miles and 2h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.8 mi from Delmar, DE · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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.
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49.8 miles from Delmar, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Elsmere, DE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elsmere, DE.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.51 one way
$33.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $18.08 | $36.17 |
| premium | $4.93 | $19.32 | $38.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.99 | $43.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.46 | $4.78 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Delmar on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Elsmere on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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