Trip from Seaford, DE to Delaware City, DE

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

76.1 mi

122 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 29m ★

6 AM

1h 36m

8 AM

1h 51m

10 AM

1h 42m

12 PM

1h 40m

3 PM

1h 42m

5 PM

1h 50m

8 PM

1h 32m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Seaford, DE to Delaware City, DE covers 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 36m 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, South Dupont Highway, Sussex Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.62 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

38.1 miles from Seaford, DE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 76.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 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 34 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 High 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 76.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | High Street

Turn right onto High Street

Navigation decision point

5

35.2 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge

8

71.7 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Take the exit toward DE 72: Delaware City, Newark

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 152 Toward DE 72: Delaware City, Newark

7

71.9 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

5

72 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | US 13; DE 72 / Wrangle Hill Road

Merge onto US 13; DE 72 / Wrangle Hill Road

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Seaford, DE and Delaware City, DE, road signs point toward Wilmington and Newark.

Wilmington

35.2 mi in | ~45m

Newark

71.7 mi in | ~1h 28m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway	34 mi	39m
South Dupont Highway	21.1 mi	25m
Sussex Highway	13 mi	17m
Wrangle Hill Road	3.1 mi	5m
Puncheon Run Connector	2.4 mi	3m
Middleford Road	0.9 mi	1m
5th Street	0.5 mi	1m
Clinton Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway — 34 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Seaford, DE and Delaware City, DE.

1

Start on South Pine Street

49 ft · 8 sec · South Pine Street

2

Turn right onto High Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · High Street

3

Continue on Middleford Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Middleford Road

4

Turn left onto US 13; DE 20

13 mi · 17 min · Sussex Highway

5

Continue on US 13

21 mi · 25 min · South Dupont Highway

6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 8 sec

Toward Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge

7

Continue on Puncheon Run Connector

2.4 mi · 3 min · Puncheon Run Connector

8

Merge onto DE 1 Toll

2.3 mi · 2 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

9

Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 Toll

28 mi · 31 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

10

Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll

4.0 mi · 4 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 152 Toward DE 72: Delaware City, Newark Use the slight right lane.

12

Keep slight right at fork

498 ft · 12 sec

Use the right lane.

13

Merge onto US 13; DE 72

3.1 mi · 5 min · Wrangle Hill Road

Use the straight lane.

14

Continue on DE 9

0.5 mi · 1 min · 5th Street

15

Turn left onto Clinton Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Clinton Street

16

Arrive at destination

Clinton Street

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 38.1 miles from Seaford, DE, or about 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 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 20m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Seaford, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Seaford, DE

This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Seaford, 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 34 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.1 mi from Seaford, DE · 49m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dover, DE

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.

Popular next leg

Dover, DE to Delaware City, DE

39.8 mi · 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Felton, DE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dover, DE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from Seaford, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Delaware City, DE

The final approach into Delaware City, 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

$12.62 one way

$25.23 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$13.82	$27.64
premium	$4.93	$14.76	$29.52
diesel	$5.61	$16.80	$33.60

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: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.8	$7.99	$3.65
Efficient EV	19	$6.66	$3.04
EV Truck/SUV	30.4	$10.65	$4.87

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Seaford, DE

Afternoon in Seaford on Thursday

Local time

2:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Delaware City, DE

Afternoon in Delaware City on Thursday

Local time

2:04 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

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 36m 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 Seaford, DE to Delaware City, DE covers 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, South Dupont Highway, Sussex Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 38.1 miles from Seaford, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.62 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.