Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
71.2 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellefonte, DE
Antonio Garcia Prats
Milford, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Bellefonte, DE to Milford, DE is 71.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and Bay Road, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Delaware, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route primarily uses surface roads, offering a straightforward drive. With a duration under two hours and minimal fuel costs, this is an easy day trip for local travelers.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 42.8 mi | 49m |
| Bay Road | 14.7 mi | 19m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Delaware Turnpike | 2 mi | 2m |
| Wilmington Expressway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| North Walnut Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Edgemoor Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Marsh Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 115 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,247 veh/hr typical · worst 6,454
Quietest
1 AM
~546 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 95 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Bellefonte, DE and Milford, DE.
Start on DE 3 Alternate
Turn left onto DE 3
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Merge onto I 95; US 202
Continue on I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto DE 1
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Continue on DE 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 113; DE 1 Business
Take the exit
Continue on DE 1 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto North Walnut Street
Turn left onto DE 36
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Bellefonte, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 69.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 495 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward DE 1 South, DE 7 South: Mall Road, Dover, Beaches
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward DE 1 South: Dover, Beaches
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 113; DE 1 Business toward US 113 South, DE 1 Business: Milford, Georgetown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.43 one way
$24.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $13.61 | $27.23 |
| premium | $5.20 | $14.57 | $29.13 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $17.59 | $35.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.14
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$0
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.97 | $4.56 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bellefonte on Sunday
Local time
1:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Frost
Destination
Late night in Milford on Sunday
Local time
1:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
48°F
Smyrna, DE
36 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.
This route has a low highway share of 6%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. You'll encounter 42.8 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway before transitioning to local streets. Expect a consistent pace on Bay Road, with frequent intersections and potential for traffic as you approach your destination. The majority of the drive involves navigating through towns and local traffic patterns.
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 1.4 miles in near I 495 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.2 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 1.4 miles (I 495 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
107 ft
Total Descent
278 ft
Highest Point
183 ft
Elevation Range
182 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bellefonte, DE and Milford, DE, road signs point toward Dover and Beaches.
Dover
Beaches
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Milford, DE
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, DE
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-17:00; Su 08:00-14:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, DE
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-14:00; Sa 08:00-14:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, DE
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-19:00; Sa,Su 07:00-19:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Milford, DE
Cuisine: american
Visit websiteFast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
New Castle, DE
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 04:30-20:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Smyrna, DE
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 08:30-22:00; Su...
Visit websiteFast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Smyrna, DE
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 04:00-21:30; Su 04:30-21:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Wilmington, DE
Cuisine: burger
Hours: 24/7
Visit websiteAttraction
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Park
Near the start, short detour
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
Attraction
Later in the drive, short detour
Attraction
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, DE
Visit websiteAttraction
Near the start, short detour
Monument
Near the start, short detour
Monument
Near the start, short detour
Monument
Near the start, short detour
Ruins
Near the start, short detour
Yes
Near the start, short detour
Museum
Later in the drive, short detour
Dover, DE
Visit websiteMotel
Later in the drive, right off the route
Dover
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
New Castle, DE
Visit websiteHotel
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, DE
Visit websiteHotel
Later in the drive, short detour
Dover, DE
Visit websiteHotel
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington
Visit websiteHotel
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, DE
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1680
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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