Origin
Milford, DE
Late night in Milford on Friday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milford, DE to Wilmington, DE
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milford, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 68.6-mile drive from Milford to Wilmington, Delaware, is a straightforward 1 hour and 26 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, North Dupont Boulevard, and the Wilmington Expressway. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, this route is budget-friendly. Given its relatively short duration and lack of designated stops, it's a simple point-to-point journey within the Northeast region of Delaware. This drive is best suited for a single day's travel.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 68.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive with about 9% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.7 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. While there are highway portions, the overall feel is more akin to navigating through towns and local roads, requiring your attention for frequent turns and traffic changes. The road character will likely shift from more open highway sections to more developed, local routes as you approach Wilmington.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 43.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 36 / Southeast Front Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 36 / Southeast Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.9 miles (DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
DE 36 / Southeast Front Street
Turn right onto DE 36 / Southeast Front Street
Navigation decision point
8
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
8
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
6
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
I 95 / Wilmington Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Wilmington Expressway toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
7
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Milford, DE and Wilmington, DE, road signs point toward Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Baltimore
54.9 mi in
|
~1h 7m
|
via DE 1
Philadelphia
60.2 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 43.7 mi | 51m |
| North Dupont Boulevard | 14.9 mi | 19m |
| Wilmington Expressway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Delaware Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Walnut Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West 11th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Adams Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Rehoboth Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 43.7 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milford, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on this road
34 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto DE 36
136 ft
·
6 sec
·
Southeast Front Street
3
Turn right onto North Walnut Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Walnut Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto DE 1 Business
290 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Rehoboth Boulevard
5
Turn straight onto DE 1 Business
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Walnut Street
6
Turn slight right onto US 113; DE 1 Business
15 mi
·
19 min
·
North Dupont Boulevard
7
Continue on DE 1 Toll
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward DE 1 Toll North: Wilmington
8
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 Toll
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 165B
Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 95
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 202
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn slight left onto North Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Adams Street
17
Turn right onto West 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 11th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 13 Business
86 ft
·
2 sec
·
North King Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 13 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.3 mi from Milford, DE · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Milford, 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
$11.37 one way
$22.75 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.46 | $24.91 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.30 | $26.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Delaware Turnpike
(1.8 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$0
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Wilmington, DE
Late night in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Smyrna, DE
34 mi in
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 26m 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 Milford, DE to Wilmington, DE covers 68.6 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, North Dupont Boulevard, Wilmington Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.3 miles from Milford, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.37 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 68.6 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (DE 36 / Southeast Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.9 miles (DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Milford, DE and Wilmington, DE, road signs point toward Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Yes. Nearby national parks include First State National Historical Park.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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