Origin
Blades, DE
Night in Blades on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blades, DE to Pike Creek Valley, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
86.5 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blades, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Pike Creek Valley, DE
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 86.7-mile journey from Blades to Pike Creek Valley in Delaware is a straightforward, local drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 39 minutes. With no highway driving involved, it's a good option if you prefer sticking to surface streets. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $14, making it an economical choice for a day trip. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay. It's a practical way to navigate within the Northeast region of Delaware.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Blades, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 42.1 mi | 49m |
| South Dupont Highway | 21.1 mi | 25m |
| Sussex Highway | 13.6 mi | 18m |
| Limestone Road | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Puncheon Run Connector | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Stanton Christiana Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Skyline Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East High Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 42.1 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blades, DE and Pike Creek Valley, DE.
1
Start on South Market Street
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Market Street
2
Turn right onto East High Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
East High Street
3
Continue on Concord Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Concord Road
4
Turn left onto US 13; DE 20
14 mi
·
18 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
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on DE 7
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Stanton Christiana Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on DE 7; DE 4
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Mitch Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on DE 7
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Limestone Road
15
Turn left onto Skyline Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Skyline Drive
16
Turn right onto Foxcroft Drive
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Foxcroft Drive
17
Turn left
334 ft
·
29 sec
18
Turn left
37 ft
·
2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 86.7-mile drive, which takes approximately 1 hour and 39 minutes, flexibility is your advantage. Leaving anytime should be manageable, but consider avoiding peak local traffic times if possible. With no long stretches of highway, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops, and the estimated $14 fuel cost is quite budget-friendly. Plan for frequent turns and intersections rather than long, straightaways. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for Concord Road as it plays a significant role in navigating through local areas.
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 43.2 miles from Blades, DE, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.1 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pike Creek Valley, DE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blades, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blades, DE
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Blades, 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 42.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Blades, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East High Street
Turn right onto East High Street
Navigation decision point
5
35.7 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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
5
86.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
86.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.34 one way
$28.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.71 | $31.41 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.78 | $33.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.10 | $38.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26 | 0 | $9.08 | $4.15 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.11 | $5.54 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Pike Creek Valley, DE
Night in Pike Creek Valley on Saturday
Local time
9:29 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 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 86.7-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The drive progresses along main roads like East High Street and Concord Road, eventually leading onto Sussex Highway. Since there's no significant highway component, the longest uninterrupted stretch will be relatively short, requiring frequent adjustments in speed and direction. This means you'll be engaging with the local road network consistently, so staying alert to traffic signals and intersections is key throughout the 1 hour and 39 minute journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.1 mi on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near East High Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 (East High Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.6 miles (DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Blades, DE and Pike Creek Valley, DE, road signs point toward Wilmington and Baltimore.
Wilmington
35.7 mi in
|
~46m
Baltimore
74.6 mi in
|
~1h 31m
|
via DE 1
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.1 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pike Creek Valley, DE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East High Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.6 miles (DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pike Creek Valley, DE before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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