Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
78.8 mi
127 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Selbyville, DE
Mhajr Invincible
The drive from Middletown, DE to Selbyville, DE covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 113, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Bay Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.4 miles on US 113. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.17 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
39.4 miles from Middletown, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 113 | 35.4 mi | 51m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Bay Road | 14.7 mi | 19m |
| Summit Bridge Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| South Dupont Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Pepper Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Broad Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| McCabe Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, DE and Selbyville, DE.
Start on DE 299
Turn left onto DE 71
Continue on DE 71
Take the ramp onto DE 71
Merge onto US 13
Turn left
Merge 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
Turn left onto McCabe Road
At end of road, turn right onto Pepper Road
Continue on DE 54
Turn left onto East Church Street
Turn right onto Hudson Alley
Arrive at destination
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.
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 39.4 miles or 51m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Selbyville, DE than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Middletown, DE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Middletown, DE
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Middletown, 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 0 and 78.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto DE 71 / South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left toward DE 1 Toll South: Dover, Beaches
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
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
Turn right onto Hudson Alley
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$13.17 one way
$26.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $14.49 | $28.98 |
| premium | $5.01 | $15.55 | $31.10 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $17.37 | $34.74 |
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: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Middletown on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Selbyville on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
80°F
Spring Hill, DE
39 mi in
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
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.
78.8 mi in 1h 49m — 51% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 113.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 71 / South Broad Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 71 / South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
57 ft
Total Descent
88 ft
Highest Point
65 ft
Elevation Range
46 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, DE and Selbyville, DE, road signs point toward Beaches and Georgetown.
Beaches
Georgetown
“Diamond Town of the Diamond State” · Founded 1861
Top landmarks
Founded 1778
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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