Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
76.3 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Delmar, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Middletown to Delmar covers 76.3 miles of Delaware’s landscape, making for a straightforward drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South Dupont Highway, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, and Sussex Highway. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the journey. Since both your starting point and destination are located within the Northeast region, you will experience consistent regional travel throughout the entire trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Middletown, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 76.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as only about 6% of this 76.3-mile route involves highway travel. You will spend much of your time on local roads, requiring you to stay attentive to changing traffic patterns and turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 26.7 miles along Sussex Highway, which offers a brief reprieve from more frequent maneuvering. Overall, the road’s personality is defined by its local nature, favoring navigation through towns over high-speed highway cruising. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
64 ft
Total Descent
78 ft
Highest Point
65 ft
Elevation Range
47 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near DE 71 / South Broad 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 76.3 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 71 / South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto DE 71 / South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left toward DE 1 Toll South: Dover, Beaches
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector toward Salisbury, Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, DE and Delmar, DE, road signs point toward Beaches, Salisbury and Norfolk.
Beaches
Salisbury
Norfolk
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex Highway | 26.7 mi | 36m |
| South Dupont Highway | 21.2 mi | 26m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| Summit Bridge Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| South Dupont Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Puncheon Run Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| East State Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Broad Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, DE and Delmar, DE.
Start on DE 299
Turn left onto DE 71
Continue on DE 71
Take the ramp onto DE 71
Merge onto US 13
Turn left
Merge onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector
Turn left onto US 13
Continue on US 13
Turn right onto MD 54; DE 54
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a quick 1 hour and 41 minute drive, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility, allowing you to depart whenever it suits your personal timeline. You won’t need to worry about planning formal stops given the short duration of the trip, but it is wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge before heading out to ensure you stay within your $13 estimate. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than major interstates, stay alert for speed limit changes as you transition between sections. If you prefer a smoother experience, try to avoid peak local traffic hours to minimize the number of turns and stops you encounter along the way.
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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 49m 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 Delmar, DE than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Middletown, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Middletown, DE
This is one driving day of about 76.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.1 mi from Middletown, DE · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from Middletown, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Delmar, 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
$12.65 one way
$25.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.85 | $27.71 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.80 | $29.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.85 | $33.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Middletown on Friday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
Destination
Morning in Delmar on Friday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
63°F
Camden, DE
38 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
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 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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