DE 1 begins at
MD 528 at the
Maryland state line in
Fenwick Island, where it heads north along a multilane
divided highway called Coastal Highway through the
Delaware Beaches resort area along the
Atlantic Ocean, crossing the
Indian River Inlet on the
Indian River Inlet Bridge. In
Dewey Beach, the route turns northwest away from the ocean, running through commercial development from
Rehoboth Beach to
Nassau. DE 1 forms a
concurrency with
US 9 from
Carpenters Corner to Nassau. Past Nassau, DE 1 leaves the Delaware Beaches resort area and runs northwest through rural areas in northern
Sussex County. The route bypasses
Milford to the east along the Milford Bypass, crossing into
Kent County. After an interchange with the northern terminus of
US 113, DE 1 heads north along Bay Road through more rural areas, passing east of
Frederica. The route becomes a
freeway near
Magnolia and turns into a
toll road called the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway while passing
Dover Air Force Base. DE 1 bypasses the city of
Dover to the east and begins to run parallel to
US 13. The route passes east of
Smyrna and enters
New Castle County, where it crosses US 13 multiple times and heads west of
Odessa. The road has an interchange with the northern terminus of the
US 301 toll road in
Biddles Corner. The toll road portion of the route ends before it crosses the
Chesapeake & Delaware Canal on the
Senator William V. Roth Jr. Bridge in
St. Georges. DE 1 becomes concurrent with US 13 from
Wrangle Hill to
Tybouts Corner, where US 13 splits to the northeast. The DE 1 freeway heads north and meets
US 40 in
Bear before it comes to
Christiana, where
DE 7 joins the route. The DE 1 designation ends at an interchange with
I-95 and DE 7 continues north along the freeway to the
DE 58 interchange, from which point DE 7 turns into a divided highway with at-grade intersections. DE 1 serves as a primary
hurricane evacuation route from the Delaware Beaches and points along the
Delaware Bay to inland locations in northern Delaware. The sections of DE 1 between
DE 12 near Frederica and Clapham Road in
Little Heaven and between Trap Shooters Road near Magnolia and
DE 9 near Dover Air Force Base are designated as part of the
Delaware Bayshore Byway, a
Delaware Byway and
National Scenic Byway. The section of DE 1 between the south end of the DE 7 concurrency and the northern terminus at I-95 in Christiana is part of the
Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, a
National Historic Trail. DE 1 has an
annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 116,110 vehicles at the US 13 interchange north of Smyrna to a low of 10,590 vehicles at the southern boundary of
South Bethany. a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.
Fenwick Island to Nassau DE 1 begins at the
Maryland state line south of the
Delaware Beaches town of
Fenwick Island in
Sussex County, where the road continues south into the town of
Ocean City, Maryland, as
MD 528. From this point, DE 1 heads north on Coastal Highway, a four-lane
divided highway. A block after the state line, the route intersects the eastern terminus of
DE 54. The road continues north into the town of Fenwick Island and heads through business areas with some residences a short distance to the west of the
Atlantic Ocean. DE 1 passes west of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce Information Center as it leaves Fenwick Island and enters
Fenwick Island State Park, running along a narrow strip of land with the
Little Assawoman Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The route heads past a small area of residential development before it goes through more of the state park, running to the west of a
fire control tower from
World War II. The road runs through the community of
York Beach and enters the town of
South Bethany, where it passes through residential areas. DE 1 leaves South Bethany and heads into commercial areas in the community of
Middlesex Beach, briefly curving northwest before turning north again. The route continues into the town of
Bethany Beach, where the road name changes to Delaware Avenue. DE 1 runs past residences and comes to an intersection with
DE 26, which heads east into the commercial center of Bethany Beach. The road curves northeast and leaves Bethany Beach as it passes to the east of a
Delaware National Guard training site. Continuing north, DE 1 becomes Coastal Highway again and heads past the community of
Sussex Shores, running between wooded areas to the west and beachfront homes to the east. Farther north, the route crosses into
Delaware Seashore State Park, where it travels along a strip of land between the
Indian River Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. DE 1 comes to a
right-in/right-out access point to the South Inlet area of the park before it crosses over the
Indian River Inlet on the
Indian River Inlet Bridge, a
cable-stayed bridge. Past the bridge, the road passes to the east of
United States Coast Guard Station Indian River Inlet and the North Inlet area of the park, continuing north through more of the state park between the
Rehoboth Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The route travels near the
Indian River Life-Saving Station and two fire control towers from World War II before it leaves Delaware Seashore State Park and heads west of the residential community of
Indian Beach prior to entering the town of
Dewey Beach. At this point, DE 1 runs through business areas. The route comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of
DE 1A, which heads north toward the city of
Rehoboth Beach. At this intersection, DE 1 turns northwest away from the Atlantic Ocean and passes through residential areas with some commercial development. The road leaves Dewey Beach and continues to a right-in/right-out interchange with
DE 1B, which heads north into Rehoboth Beach. Immediately after, the route crosses over the
Lewes and Rehoboth Canal on a high-level, twin-span crossing and enters commercial areas. After the bridge, the road has a southbound ramp connecting to South Timberlake Trail and a northbound right-in/right-out serving Oyster House Road, which allows
U-turns from the southbound direction to the northbound direction via South Timberlake Trail and Oyster House Road. At this point, the route gains a southbound
combined right turn, bus, and bicycle lane. DE 1 intersects the northern terminus of DE 1A, at which point it widens to eight lanes, with three travel lanes in each direction plus a combined right turn, bus, and bicycle lane in both directions. The road passes more businesses, with the Rehoboth Avenue Extension
service road running parallel to the northbound lanes to the Shuttle Road/Sea Blossom Boulevard intersection. Shuttle Road heads south to the Rehoboth Beach Park and Ride, a
park and ride facility serving
DART First State buses. Following this, the roadway passes between two sections of the
Tanger Outlets Rehoboth Beach outlet mall. Farther northwest, the route heads to the northeast of the Rehoboth Mall and comes to an intersection with the eastern terminus of
DE 24 and the southern terminus of
DE 1D in the community of
Midway. DE 1 passes to the northeast of another section of the Tanger Outlets as it is lined with more businesses. In the community of
Carpenters Corner, the route intersects
US 9, which travels northeast to provide access to the city of
Lewes,
Cape Henlopen State Park, and the
Cape May–Lewes Ferry across the
Delaware Bay. At this point, DE 1 becomes
concurrent with US 9, and the two routes run through woods before curving west past businesses and passing north of the
Lewes Transit Center park and ride serving DART First State buses. At the Five Points intersection, US 9 splits from DE 1 by heading west concurrent with
DE 404, with access to the northern termini of
DE 23 and DE 1D, while
US 9 Bus. heads northeast toward Lewes. At this intersection, access from eastbound US 9/DE 404 to northbound DE 1 is provided by a reverse
jughandle. Past Five Points, DE 1 narrows back to four lanes and heads south of a
park and pool lot located at a church before it bypasses the community of
Nassau to the southwest, curving northwest to pass over the Georgetown-Lewes Trail on a bridge.
Nassau to Dover Air Force Base After the bridge over the trail, DE 1 leaves the Delaware Beaches resort area and heads into a mix of farm fields and residential and commercial development, coming to a junction with Minos Conaway Road and traveling to the northeast of Red Mill Pond. The road intersects Cave Neck Road in the community of
Overbrook and passes northeast of Eagle Crest Aerodrome and the Hudson Fields event venue as it continues through more agricultural areas with some residential subdivisions and woods. The route crosses the
Broadkill River and runs to the southwest of a golf course before it comes to a junction with
DE 16, which heads west to the town of
Milton and east to the community of
Broadkill Beach along the Delaware Bay. This is the northernmost signalized intersection on DE 1. Following this, the highway continues through farmland and woodland to the southwest of the
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, reaching an intersection with the northern terminus of
DE 5; this intersection has no access from northbound DE 1 to DE 5. Immediately after this intersection, the road travels across Waples Mill Pond along the
Primehook Creek and runs north-northwest through more agricultural areas, crossing
Slaughter Creek. The route curves northwest as it bypasses the community of
Argos Corner to the southwest. Past here, DE 1 crosses
Cedar Creek and passes near a couple residential subdivisions before intersecting Johnson Road. A short distance later, the road reaches an interchange connecting to
DE 30 northeast of
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus. After this interchange, the route comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance with the southern terminus of
DE 1 Bus., which heads northwest into the city of
Milford. At this point, DE 1 curves north and becomes the Milford Bypass, which heads around the eastern part of the city. The route passes between residential development to the west and farmland to the east before turning northwest into wooded areas and coming to a
diamond interchange with
DE 36. Past this interchange, DE 1 crosses the
Mispillion River into
Kent County and continues northwest to an interchange with the eastern terminus of
DE 14 serving downtown Milford. The road runs between businesses to the southwest and a wooded residential neighborhood to the northeast, reaching a southbound exit and a northbound exit and entrance with Northeast 10th Street; there is no access across DE 1 at this interchange. The route passes near more development before it comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with the northern termini of
US 113 and DE 1 Bus. at the northern end of Milford. Past this interchange, DE 1 becomes Bay Road and crosses
Swan Creek to the east of Tub Mill Pond before it runs through a mix of farm fields and residential and commercial areas. The route reaches a
partial cloverleaf interchange with Thompsonville Road and continues through farmland with some woods and development, crossing
Old Baptist Church Branch. The road curves northwest and comes to an interchange with Frederica Road and Milford Neck Road as it passes southwest of the DE Turf Sports Complex and a park and ride lot that are served by the interchange; Frederica Road heads northwest to the town of
Frederica. DE 1 bends to the north and bypasses Frederica to the east, crossing the
Murderkill River in marshland. The route has an interchange with the eastern terminus of
DE 12, which heads south (west) into Frederica. The road runs north through agricultural areas, passing to the west of
Barratt's Chapel, before it reaches the community of
Little Heaven. Here, DE 1 comes to an interchange that connects to Bowers Beach Road, which leads east to the town of
Bowers Beach along the Delaware Bay, and Clapham Road, which heads northwest toward the town of
Magnolia and the community of
Rising Sun; at this interchange, Old Beach Road serves as a service road to the west while Little Heaven Road serves as a service road to the east. Following this, the road runs through farmland with some woods before coming to a right-in/right-out interchange with Trap Shooters Road, a road that connects to Barkers Landing Road, which provides access to Magnolia. At this point, the route transitions into a four-lane
freeway. DE 1 crosses the
St. Jones River in marshland on the Barkers Landing Bridge and continues north to a diamond interchange with the southern terminus of
DE 9, at which point it enters the city of
Dover. At this interchange, the route turns northwest and passes between an asphalt plant and sand plant to the southwest and the runways of
Dover Air Force Base to the northeast, with a southbound right-in/right-out serving the asphalt plant and sand plant.
Dover Air Force Base to Christiana Along the Dover Air Force Base boundary, DE 1 becomes the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The road comes to a northbound exit and entrance which serves the Commercial Gate of Dover Air Force Base. The freeway passes between the air base golf course to the southwest and various base buildings to the northeast before it reaches a diamond interchange with Old Lebanon Road that provides access to the Main Gate to the northeast and base housing to the southwest. After this, the route continues between base residences and the main part of the base prior to reaching a northbound exit and southbound entrance at the eastern terminus of
DE 10 and Bay Road that serves the North Gate of Dover Air Force Base; the route becomes a
toll road at this interchange. DE 1 runs north along the west side of Bay Road before it passes over it, where there is a southbound exit and entrance and a northbound entrance that serves to provide access to DE 10 from southbound DE 1 and to northbound DE 1 from DE 10. Immediately after this is a southbound exit and northbound entrance with the
Puncheon Run Connector freeway, which heads west toward
US 13. The freeway continues north along the eastern edge of Dover and comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance at
DE 8, which provides access to downtown Dover to the west and the town of
Little Creek to the east. Past this interchange, the highway turns northwest through rural areas, crossing the
Little River before it comes to the Dover mainline toll plaza. DE 1 passes to the northeast of
Dover Motor Speedway and the
Bally's Dover hotel, casino, and harness racetrack as it runs between campgrounds belonging to the speedway. Past this, the route comes to a
trumpet interchange that provides access to US 13 and Scarborough Road, serving the northern part of Dover. This interchange has toll plazas on the southbound exit and northbound entrance. Following this interchange, the toll road leaves Dover and crosses
Dyke Branch as it continues through wooded areas with some fields and nearby development. The route heads to the east of the town of
Cheswold, passing under
DE 42 without an interchange and crossing
Alston Branch. The freeway curves north and heads across the
Leipsic River. DE 1 continues through rural areas a short distance to the east of US 13 before it reaches the town of
Smyrna. Here, the freeway comes to a trumpet interchange serving US 13 at the southern edge of town, with tolls on the southbound exit and northbound entrance. The highway runs along the eastern edge of Smyrna and crosses
Mill Creek, heading between residential development to the west and rural land to the east and passing under
DE 6 with no access. DE 1 curves northwest and crosses the
Duck Creek into
New Castle County, where it heads through farmland with some woods. The road features a virtual
weigh station for trucks in the northbound direction, where trucks can be weighed at highway speeds. The route crosses US 13 at an interchange to the north of Smyrna, with access to the
Smyrna Rest Area along US 13 to the south. The freeway continues northwest through rural areas to the west of US 13, curving north and crossing over
Sandom Branch and US 13 to briefly travel along the east side of the U.S. highway. The route crosses the
Blackbird Creek prior to another bridge over US 13 to again run to the west of it as it passes to the east of the town of
Townsend, crossing
Herring Run along this stretch. DE 1 heads north and closely follows along the west side of US 13 as it runs through more rural areas with residential development to the east. The freeway turns northwest away from US 13 and crosses the
Appoquinimink River, passing to the northeast of a residential neighborhood before coming to a diamond interchange with
DE 299, which provides access to the town of
Middletown to the west and the town of
Odessa and US 13 to the east. Past this interchange, DE 1 curves northeast and passes over US 13 again before it turns north and crosses
Drawyer Creek. The freeway continues north a short distance to the east of US 13 past residential subdivisions as it comes to a diamond interchange with Pole Bridge Road, which heads west to intersect US 13 and the southern terminus of
DE 896 in the community of
Boyds Corner. This interchange has tolls on the northbound exit and southbound entrance. After this interchange, DE 1 curves northwest and crosses over US 13, turning north and reaching the
Biddles Corner mainline toll plaza. After the toll plaza, DE 1 widens to six lanes and comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with the northern terminus of the
US 301 toll road. Immediately after, the route has a southbound exit and northbound entrance providing access to US 13 in the community of
St. Georges; the southbound exit connects to US 13 by way of Lorewood Grove Road while the northbound entrance consists of a direct ramp from US 13 starting from that route's intersection with Port Penn Road that merges into the ramp from US 301. This interchange marks the north end of the toll road portion of DE 1. The freeway turns northwest and crosses the
Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and the Michael N. Castle Trail on the north bank of the canal on the cable-stayed
Senator William V. Roth Jr. Bridge. The highway passes through a mix of fields and residential subdivisions and curves north, crossing
Dragon Creek before coming to a
diverging diamond interchange with US 13 and
DE 72 near the community of
Wrangle Hill to the west of the city of
Delaware City. At this point, US 13 becomes concurrent with DE 1, with the freeway running through farmland and passing over
Norfolk Southern's Reybold Industrial Track railroad line and
DE 7 without access to the west of
PBF Energy's
Delaware City Refinery. US 13/DE 1 cross
Red Lion Creek and continue concurrent to the community of
Tybouts Corner, where DE 1 splits at an interchange to remain as a freeway and US 13 heads northeast as a divided highway with at-grade intersections. Within this interchange is the northern terminus of
DE 71 at US 13; southbound DE 1 has a direct ramp to DE 71. Past Tybouts Corner, DE 1 narrows to four lanes and travels north past residential subdivisions, passing over Norfolk Southern's New Castle Secondary railroad line prior to a partial cloverleaf interchange at
US 40 in
Bear. The highway gains a third auxiliary lane in each direction and continues north to a diamond interchange with
DE 273 in
Christiana, where the auxiliary lanes end. Past this interchange, the freeway becomes six lanes and runs through wooded areas, crossing the
Christina River before it comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with DE 7 and Mall Road that serves the
Christiana Mall and adjacent retail development to the east of the road. At this point, DE 7 joins DE 1 on the four-lane freeway, passing to the west of the shopping mall before DE 1 comes to its northern terminus at a modified
cloverleaf interchange with
I-95 (Delaware Turnpike) that has
flyover ramps from northbound DE 1 to northbound I-95 and from southbound I-95 to southbound DE 1; the flyover ramps split from DE 1 south of the DE 7 interchange. Past I-95, the freeway continues north as part of DE 7 to a partial cloverleaf interchange with
DE 58; this interchange uses the exit numbers from DE 1. In the southbound direction, a
collector/distributor road serves both DE 58 (intersecting that road at-grade) and I-95. Past DE 58, DE 7 continues north as a divided highway with at-grade intersections. ==Tolls==