Trip from Ocean View, DE to Wilmington, DE

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

105.1 mi

169 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 15m ★

6 AM

2h 25m

8 AM

2h 44m

10 AM

2h 31m

12 PM

2h 30m

3 PM

2h 32m

5 PM

2h 43m

8 PM

2h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States

Ocean View, DE

Wikimedia Commons

seat of New Castle County, and largest city in Delaware, United States

Wilmington, DE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ocean View, DE to Wilmington, DE covers 105.1 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Coastal Highway, Bay Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.7 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.42 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

52.6 miles from Ocean View, DE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway	43.7 mi	51m
Coastal Highway	34.2 mi	53m
Bay Road	14.5 mi	19m
Wilmington Expressway	4.6 mi	5m
Milford Bypass	2.1 mi	2m
Delaware Turnpike	1.8 mi	2m
Fred Hudson Road	1.3 mi	2m
West 11th Street	0.6 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 Ocean View, DE and Wilmington, DE.

Start on Church Avenue

400 ft · 19 sec · Church Avenue

Turn right onto Central Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue

Continue on Cedar Neck Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Cedar Neck Road

Turn right onto Fred Hudson Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Fred Hudson Road

Take the ramp

262 ft · 7 sec

Merge onto DE 1

15 mi · 26 min · Coastal Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1

19 mi · 26 min · Coastal Highway

Continue on DE 1

2.1 mi · 2 min · Milford Bypass

Continue on DE 1

14 mi · 19 min · Bay Road

Continue on DE 1 Toll

4.4 mi · 5 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Toward DE 1 Toll North: Wilmington

Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 Toll

28 mi · 31 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll

6.5 mi · 7 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

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.

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min

Exit 165B Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 95

1.8 mi · 2 min · Delaware Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

1.4 mi · 1 min · Wilmington Expressway

Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 202

3.2 mi · 4 min · Wilmington Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Exit 7 Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight left onto North Adams Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · North Adams Street

Turn right onto West 11th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West 11th Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto US 13 Business

86 ft · 2 sec · North King Street

Arrive at destination

US 13 Business

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 52.6 miles from Ocean View, DE, or about 1h 20m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.7 miles.

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 23 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 52.6 miles or 1h 20m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilmington, DE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Ocean View, 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 Ocean View, DE

This is one driving day of about 105.1 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Ocean View, DE.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 43.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Kent County, Delaware, United States, and capital city of Delaware

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dover, DE

53 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

Milton, DE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dover, DE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.6 miles from Ocean View, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Libby's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Wilmington, Delaware

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.1

Hours: 6:15 am–2 pm

+13026554246

Visit website

The Cafe on 26

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocean View, Delaware

0.3 mi

Faire Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wilmington, Delaware

0.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Mugs Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dover, Delaware

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 52.6

Hours: 6:30 am–1 pm

+13026774879

Visit website

Red Daisy Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Millville, Delaware

1.1 mi

Beach Break & Bakrie

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bethany Beach, Delaware

1.8 mi

Libby's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.1

Wilmington, Delaware

Hours: 6:15 am–2 pm

+13026554246

Visit website

The Cafe on 26

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $50 to $10

Ocean View, Delaware

Hours: Closed

+13025392233

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.1

Wilmington, Delaware

Hours: 11:30 am–11 pm

+13024821640

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 97.6

Newark, Delaware

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13022866600

Visit website

Main Event Newark

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 97.6

Newark, Delaware

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13027229466

Visit website

Mugs Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 52.6

Dover, Delaware

Hours: 6:30 am–1 pm

+13026774879

Visit website

Playa Maya Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 15

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+13025269726

Visit website

Red Daisy Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Millville, Delaware

Hours: Closed

+13024026135

Visit website

Beach Break & Bakrie

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Bethany Beach, Delaware

Hours: 7:30 am–2 pm

+13025373800

Visit website

Kaffeina Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.1

Wilmington, Delaware

Hours: 10:30 am–3:30 pm

+13027570689

Visit website

Roots Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 15

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Hours: Closed

Visit website

Cafe a Go-Go

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 15

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+13022271099

Visit website

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 15

Lewes, Delaware

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 97.6

Stanton, Delaware

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 97.6

Wilmington, Delaware

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Norman Hotel Apartments

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 37.6

Milford, Delaware

Rodney Square

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0 mi from route mile 105.1

Wilmington, Delaware

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13025763810

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 52.6

Dover, Delaware

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13027393277

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 91.5 and 104.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

91.5 mi into trip | ~2h 5m 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

96.7 mi into trip | ~2h 12m 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

99.6 mi into trip | ~2h 15m 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

104.2 mi into trip | ~2h 21m 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

104.6 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in | West 11th Street

Turn right onto West 11th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.42 one way

$34.85 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$19.08	$38.17
premium	$4.93	$20.38	$40.77
diesel	$5.61	$23.20	$46.41

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.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	31.5	$11.04	$5.04
Efficient EV	26.3	$9.20	$4.20
EV Truck/SUV	42	$14.71	$6.73

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Ocean View, DE

Afternoon in Ocean View on Saturday

Local time

2:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wilmington, DE

Afternoon in Wilmington on Saturday

Local time

2:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

First State National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour Free near mile 105.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

105.1 mi in 2h 24m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 43.7 mi on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 around 91.5 miles in near DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 105.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 91.5 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 96.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.6 miles (I 95 / Wilmington Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Ocean View, DE and Wilmington, DE, road signs point toward Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Baltimore

91.5 mi in | ~2h 5m | via DE 1

Philadelphia

96.7 mi in | ~2h 12m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 105.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 43.7 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Delaware Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wilmington, DE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — First State National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilmington, DE before heading back.

How this page is built

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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Ocean View, DE or browse trips ending in Wilmington, DE.

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Trip from Ocean View, DE to Wilmington, DE

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Libby's Restaurant

Mugs Cafe

Libby's Restaurant

The Cafe on 26

Faire Cafe

Cafe Mezzanotte

The Quoin Restaurant

K & R International Restaurant & Bar

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant

Main Event Newark

Mugs Cafe

Playa Maya Cafe

Red Daisy Cafe

Beach Break & Bakrie

Kaffeina Cafe

Roots Cafe

Cafe a Go-Go

Pink Flamingo Cafe

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Rivian Adventure Network

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Norman Hotel Apartments

Rodney Square

River Walk

Brandywine Park

The Delaware Contemporary

Air Mobility Command Museum

Delaware State Police Museum

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

John Dickinson Plantation

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Ocean View, DE

Wilmington, DE

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 24m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

First State National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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