Delaware #1
Mouth of Delaware-New Castle to Dover
The Delaware River is an important shipping waterway, but there is a lesser-known aspect to it, as it meanders through historic small towns and salt marshes on the northern end of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) Peninsula. The 45-mile, 1-1/2 hour drive begins at historic New Castle, founded by the Dutch in 1651. The Old Court House on Delaware Street, built in 1732, ranks as one of the oldest public buildings in the United States.
Ten miles west on Rte. 9, a high bridge spans the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, linking Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River and providing a breathtaking view of the river to the left, the Jersey Shore and Salem nuclear power plant straight ahead, and the canal and marshes reaching west toward Maryland. Three miles past the bridge, the road winds through the tiny town of Port Penn, named for William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, who also was awarded what is now Delaware in a 1682 land grant. An interpretive center in town focuses on man's impact on the natural resources of the area.
The countryside, along Rte. 9 past Port Penn, is mainly farmland, alternating with salt marshes, including those at the Augustine, Cedar Swamp and Woodland Beach wildlife areas. Woodland Beach, approximately 20 miles south of Port Penn, is worth a detour for its three miles of unspoiled tidal marshes, which attract great blue herons and snowy egrets. Crossing over Duck Creek and heading past the Woodland Beach turnoff leads to the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, one of a string of nature preserves along Delaware Bay, a major stopover for migrating birds. After passing though the town of Leipsic, the road continues south to Rte. 8. The state capitol, Dover, lies four miles to the west along Rte. 8.
Starting Point:
New Castle, DE
Distance of Drive:
58 miles
Must Eat:
Golden Dove Diner
1101 North Dupont Hwy., New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: 302-322-1180
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Full Menu
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Any time of the year
Points of Interest on Drive:
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Woodland Beach Wildlife area
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