How far is Bethany Beach, DE from Wilmington, DE?

The driving distance from Bethany Beach, DE to Wilmington, DE is about 104.5 miles (168.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 87.4 miles (140.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
104.53 mi
01h 54m
Flight
87.41 mi
140.68 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethany Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
87.41 mi
Kilometers
140.68 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
104.53 mi
Kilometers
168.23 km
Drive Time
01h 54m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilmington
Fri, Apr 17, 8:24 PM EDT
Return by in Bethany Beach
Fri, Apr 17, 10:19 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethany Beach
2026-04-17T18:30
Arrive Wilmington
Fri, Apr 17, 8:24 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:42 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bethany Beach
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Highland Acres
DE

Census designated place

From Bethany Beach
52.1 mi
00h 57m
To Wilmington
52.4 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
81°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bethany Beach and Wilmington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethany Beach and Wilmington.

  1. 1

    Start on Campbell Place

    612 ft · 29 sec · Campbell Place

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Pennsylvania Avenue

    2999 ft · 1 min · North Pennsylvania Avenue

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Coastal Highway

    15.5 mi · 28 min · Coastal Highway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on Coastal Highway

    19.3 mi · 27 min · Coastal Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Milford Bypass

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Milford Bypass

  6. 6

    Continue on Bay Road

    14.5 mi · 19 min · Bay Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    4.4 mi · 5 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    27.6 mi · 32 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    6.5 mi · 7 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Delaware Turnpike

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Delaware Turnpike

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Expressway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Wilmington Expressway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Expressway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Wilmington Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue

    1263 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight left onto North Adams Street

    740 ft · 25 sec · North Adams Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West 11th Street

    2938 ft · 2 min · West 11th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto North King Street

    26 m · 3 sec · North King Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North King Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bethany Beach and Wilmington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
43.7 mi · 42%
Coastal Highway
34.8 mi · 33%
Bay Road
14.5 mi · 14%
Wilmington Expressway
4.62 mi · 4%
Milford Bypass
2.09 mi · 2%
Delaware Turnpike
1.76 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Keep slight right to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

27.6 mi · 00h 32m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.1 mi
87.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Highland Acres
00h 57m from Bethany Beach
Leave By
2:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Bethany Beach and Chance Rain Showers near Wilmington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bethany Beach to Wilmington?

The road trip is about 104.5 miles (168.2 km) and usually takes 01h 54m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Highland Acres is a useful midpoint, sitting about 52.1 miles from Bethany Beach and 52.4 miles from Wilmington.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 87.4 miles (140.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.08 one way or $30.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Bethany Beach and Chance Rain Showers near Wilmington.

Stop Ideas Near Highland Acres

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Highland Acres, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Highland Acres.

BUS

Dover, Delaware

3 mi away
716 South Governors Ave
BUS

Easton Airport, Maryland

58 mi away
29137 Newman Road
BUS

Kent Island, MD

64 mi away
3206 Main Street
RAIL

Newark

64 mi away
429 South College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethany Beach and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 87.41 mi (140.68 km).

Bethany Beach

#1 Bethany Beach

Town in Delaware

Population1,283
Coordinates38.5395600, -75.0551800
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Wilmington

#2 Wilmington

The largest city in New Castle County, Delaware.

Population70,376
Coordinates39.7459500, -75.5465900
Altitude28
CountryUnited States
Start: (-75.055172, 38.539498)
End: North King Street (-75.546511, 39.745918)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 168 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.69 gal
13.96 L · about $15.08
Round trip
$30.15
7.38 gal · 27.92 L
Estimated CO2
32.8 kg one way
Round trip: 65.6 kg / 145 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $15.08 $30.15
Mid-grade $4.60 $16.97 $33.94
Premium $4.95 $18.28 $36.56
Diesel $5.98 $22.07 $44.13

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Delaware · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Bethany Beach and Wilmington. The current time is 18:30:48.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.