Delaware road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Delaware
The best motorcycle roads in Delaware are short, so the trick is linking them into loops. The rolling, wooded Brandywine and Red Clay valleys north of Wilmington have the state's only real curves, DE 9's Bayshore Byway runs quiet and flat beside the marshes, and the Coastal Highway and the Sussex County back roads finish at the beach. Here are 11 roads, with where each runs, why it's worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 11
- Regions
- 3
- Curviest
- Brandywine and Red Clay
- Best months
- May to Jun, Sep to Oct
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Delaware
You can ride the length of Delaware in a morning, so the best days here string several of these roads into one loop, often dipping into Pennsylvania or Maryland, or crossing the bay by ferry to New Jersey. North of Wilmington, the Piedmont gives you hills, creeks and stone walls. Everything south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is flat farm country, marsh and beach, where the scenery does the work instead of the corners.
The list runs north to south. Northern roads are best in spring and fall; the bayshore and beach roads are best in the shoulder seasons, when the summer traffic is gone. For the state at a glance see the Delaware riding overview, and for timing see the best time to ride in Delaware.
Northern Delaware
The Brandywine and Red Clay valleys
- 1. Kennett Pike (DE 52)Why: The main road of the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway, running northwest from Wilmington through Greenville and past Winterthur to the village of Centreville and on toward the Pennsylvania line. Smooth, rolling and lined with trees and old estates. Watch for: Cars turning into museum, shop and estate entrances, and slow traffic through Centreville. Best season: April to June, September to October.
- 2. Montchanin Road (DE 100)Why: The byway's narrower, more wooded half, winding north through Montchanin near the old mills of the Brandywine toward Brandywine Creek State Park and the Pennsylvania line. Loop it with Kennett Pike. Watch for: Cyclists, narrow bridges and blind bends. Best season: April to June, September to October.
- 3. Red Clay Valley Scenic BywayWhy: A tangle of small roads following Red Clay Creek through Yorklyn and Ashland, with the Ashland and Wooddale covered bridges along the way. The twistiest riding in Delaware, all at low speed. Watch for: Low, narrow bridges, blind corners, walkers near the nature center, and high water after heavy rain. Best season: April to June, September to October.
The bayshore
Delaware Bay: marsh roads and bay beaches
- 4. DE 9, New Castle to Port PennWhy: The north end of Delaware's Bayshore Byway starts in colonial New Castle on the Delaware River, runs through Delaware City, crosses the C&D Canal on the Reedy Point Bridge and follows the marsh to Port Penn and Augustine Beach. Watch for: Crosswinds on the bridge, trucks near the refinery at Delaware City, and sand at the beach pull-offs. Best season: April to June, September to November.
- 5. DE 9, Leipsic to Little CreekWhy: South of Smyrna, the byway passes Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the fishing town of Leipsic, then crosses open marsh to Little Creek and on toward Dover and the Air Mobility Command Museum. Huge skies, and birds by the thousand in spring and fall. Watch for: Wind, farm equipment, standing water after storms and high tides, and bugs in summer. Best season: April to May, September to November.
- 6. The bay beach roadsWhy: East of Milford and Milton, short roads run out through marsh and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge to small bay beach towns like Slaughter Beach and Broadkill Beach. Quiet out-and-backs, with horseshoe crabs spawning on the beaches in late spring. Watch for: Flooding at high tide, sand on the pavement, and no shoulders. Best season: May to June, September to October.
Sussex County
Sussex County: the coast and the back roads
- 7. Coastal Highway (DE 1)Why: South of Rehoboth and Dewey Beach, DE 1 runs down a thin barrier strip through Delaware Seashore State Park and over the tall Indian River Inlet Bridge, then on through Bethany and Fenwick Island. Surf to the east, Rehoboth and Indian River bays to the west. Watch for: Summer traffic and pedestrians in the beach towns, wind on the bridge, and sand on the shoulder. Best season: May, September to October.
- 8. US 9, Georgetown to LewesWhy: A rural two-lane across Sussex farm country from the county seat to the coast at Lewes. US 9 is also the route the Cape May-Lewes Ferry carries, so this is the road to the boat. Watch for: Poultry trucks, farm equipment and building traffic near Lewes. Best season: April to June, September to November.
- 9. Nanticoke Heritage BywayWhy: In western Sussex around Seaford, Bethel and Laurel, the byway follows the Nanticoke River through farm country and small river towns, and crosses the river on the little cable-guided Woodland Ferry. Watch for: Farm dirt on the road and slow traffic. Confirm the ferry is operating before you build a route around it. Best season: April to June, September to November.
- 10. DE 24 and Trap PondWhy: East of Laurel, DE 24 and the roads off it lead to Trap Pond State Park and its bald cypress swamp, a shady, quiet corner of the state. Watch for: Narrow roads, sandy edges, and farm and timber trucks. Best season: April to June, September to October.
- 11. Cape May-Lewes FerryWhy: The boat across the mouth of Delaware Bay links Lewes with Cape May, New Jersey, and turns a Delaware ride into a two-state loop. It carries motorcycles. Watch for: Summer sellouts, so reserve ahead, and a wet, rolling deck. Follow the crew's tie-down directions. Best season: May to October.
Put them together
Three Delaware loops built from these roads
- The Brandywine loopUp Kennett Pike (DE 52), across the line into the back roads of Pennsylvania's Chester County, and back down Montchanin Road (DE 100), with the Red Clay Valley as a detour. A half day of the best curves in the state. More on the Pennsylvania riding page.
- The bayshore dayDE 9 south from New Castle through Delaware City, Port Penn and Leipsic to Little Creek, then back north on a different road. Bring a camera for the refuges and a layer for the wind.
- The two-state ferry runUS 9 to Lewes, the ferry to Cape May, a ride up the New Jersey shore, and home across the Delaware Memorial Bridge. A long day, so check the ferry schedule and reserve first. See the New Jersey riding page.
Summary
Delaware motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Kennett Pike (DE 52) | Northern | Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Montchanin Road (DE 100) | Northern | Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Red Clay Valley Scenic Byway | Northern | Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| DE 9, New Castle to Port Penn | Bayshore | Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov |
| DE 9, Leipsic to Little Creek | Bayshore | Apr to May, Sep to Nov |
| Bay beach roads | Bayshore | May to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Coastal Highway (DE 1) | Sussex coast | May, Sep to Oct |
| US 9, Georgetown to Lewes | Sussex | Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov |
| Nanticoke Heritage Byway | Western Sussex | Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov |
| DE 24 and Trap Pond | Western Sussex | Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Cape May-Lewes Ferry | Sussex coast | May to Oct |
Make them count
Ride Delaware's roads with Rippin'
The list from the app below shows the Delaware roads riders have added so far. If the Brandywine or your favorite bayshore stretch isn't there, add it: ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment, then drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it, and it goes live with your name on it. More on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
A segment board is about who rides a road and who owns it, never a race. Rippin' doesn't reward speed on public roads, and the Red Clay Valley's blind bends and narrow bridges are no place for it anyway.
In a state this small, turf goes a long way. Any loop that closes on itself claims the land inside it on the live map, and the Brandywine loop above can put a real piece of northern Delaware under your name. Read how Turf Wars works.
Live from the app
Delaware on Rippin' right now.
0 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Delaware on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
No Delaware events are on the Rippin' map yet. Know a bike night, rally or charity ride? Post it in the app under Meets, or have the organizer add it, and it shows up here and on the map for every rider nearby.
No Delaware roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Delaware?
Kennett Pike (DE 52) and Montchanin Road (DE 100), the two halves of the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway, have the best curves. The Red Clay Valley is the slow, twisty pick, and DE 9 along the bayshore is the scenic one.
Are there twisty motorcycle roads in Delaware?
Only in the far north, around the Brandywine and Red Clay valleys near the Pennsylvania line. South of the C&D Canal, Delaware is flat, and the appeal is water, marsh and quiet roads.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Wilmington?
DE 52 and DE 100 through the Brandywine Valley, the Red Clay Valley Scenic Byway, and DE 9 south through New Castle and Delaware City. Cross into Chester County, Pennsylvania for more curves.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Rehoboth Beach?
The Coastal Highway (DE 1) in the off-season, US 9 inland to Georgetown, the bay beach roads near Milton, and the ferry from Lewes to Cape May.
Can you take a motorcycle on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry?
Yes, the ferry carries motorcycles. Reserve ahead in summer and follow the crew's tie-down directions. Check the ferry operator for schedules and rates.
Can I add Delaware roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put the Brandywine on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride a Delaware road with it recording, and add it. Your name stays on it.
Free on iPhone and Android. How Rippin' works
