Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
60.7 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Felton, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Elsmere, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Felton to Elsmere covers a 60.7-mile stretch within Delaware, making it an ideal one-day excursion. You can expect the journey to take roughly 1 hour and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Given the manageable duration, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you to complete the trip comfortably in a single day. Budgeting about $10 for fuel will get you from the southern end of the state to the northern outskirts. This drive stays entirely within the Northeast region, providing a straightforward transition between these two Delaware points.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 60.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend your time navigating a mix of roads, starting with 42.1 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, which serves as your longest uninterrupted stretch. The route also incorporates the South Dupont Highway and the Kirkwood Highway to complete the connection. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a driving experience that requires more focus on local traffic patterns and intersections. The character of the road shifts significantly as you move from the quieter areas near Felton toward the more developed environment surrounding Elsmere.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
195 ft
Total Descent
153 ft
Highest Point
103 ft
~58.2 mi in
Elevation Range
84 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near DE 12 / West Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 (DE 12 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 13 / South Dupont Highway): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 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.
At end of road, turn right onto DE 12 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 13 / South Dupont Highway
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 Felton, 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 |
| South Dupont Highway | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Kirkwood Highway | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Puncheon Run Connector | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Stanton Christiana Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Limestone Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mitch Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Felton, DE and Elsmere, DE.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto DE 12
Turn left onto 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
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.4 mi from Felton, DE · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Felton, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.06 one way
$20.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.02 | $22.04 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.40 | $26.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Felton on Friday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Elsmere on Friday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
59°F
Middletown, DE
30 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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 by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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