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Day trips from Delaware

Best Day Trips from Delaware 2026

Delaware's best escapes by distance: what's reachable before breakfast and back by dinner.

By Updated Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Delaware has 8+ day trips covered in this guide, led by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland and Cape May, New Jersey. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Delaware, the First State, packs remarkable diversity into the nation's second-smallest state — from the cosmopolitan Wilmington riverfront and historic New Castle's cobblestone streets to the Victorian beach resort of Rehoboth Beach and the wild marshes of Cape Henlopen. Rich in colonial and Revolutionary War history, home to major corporate headquarters and the DuPont dynasty's legacy estates, and bordered by Atlantic beaches, Delaware rewards visitors who look beyond its modest size.

Top day trips

Handpicked excursions within easy reach.

30 miles north of Wilmington; 115 miles north of Rehoboth Beach

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Amtrak: Wilmington to Philadelphia 30th Street (25 min, $15-40, book at amtrak.com); Car: I-95 north (~35 min from Wilmington in off-peak traffic); SEPTA R2: Wilmington to Philadelphia (40 min, $7.50)
70 miles southwest of Wilmington; 165 miles from Rehoboth Beach

Baltimore, Maryland

Amtrak: Wilmington to Baltimore Penn Station (55 min, $20-55, book at amtrak.com); Car: I-95 south (~75 min from Wilmington)
85 minutes by ferry from Lewes; 180 miles by road

Cape May, New Jersey

Cape May-Lewes Ferry: departs from 43 Cape Henlopen Dr, Lewes, DE; 85-minute crossing; $10 passenger, $55+ per car; book at capelevyferry.com or call 1-800-643-3779; departs multiple times daily
100 miles southwest of Wilmington

Annapolis, Maryland

Car — I-95 south then US-50 west (~1.5-2 hours from Wilmington); no direct Amtrak service
12 miles from Winterthur; 30 miles northwest of Wilmington

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

Car — Route 52 north from Wilmington to Route 1 north (~40 min); no direct public transit; book tickets at longwoodgardens.org — timed entry required; $25-35 adult admission
35 miles south of Rehoboth Beach via Route 1 and DE-54

Ocean City, Maryland

Car — Route 1 south from Rehoboth to Fenwick Island, then US-54 west then Coastal Hwy into Ocean City (~45 min); no direct public transit
100 miles southwest of Wilmington

Washington DC

Amtrak: Wilmington to Union Station (1 hr 30 min, $20-80, book at amtrak.com); Car: I-95 south (~2 hours in off-peak traffic)
80 miles south of Rehoboth Beach

Chincoteague Island, Virginia

Car only — Route 1 south to US-13 south then US-175 east to Chincoteague (~1.5 hrs from Rehoboth Beach); no public transit

Day trip tips

Make the most of your excursions.

Tip

Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.

Tip

Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.

Tip

Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.

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