Delmarva Highways :: DE 1 (Fenwick Island to Five Points)

This portion of DE 1 came about in the 1970s, and serves as the primary north/south route to and from the Delaware beach resorts.

From Fenwick Island to Dewey Beach, DE 1 is a very scenic drive. Passing through both the Fenwick Island and the Delaware Seashore state parks, DE 1 offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware's coastal bays. Driving through the Delaware Seashore State Park, drivers and passengers will notice large concrete towers along the Atlantic coast. These relics from World War II were built as U-Boat watch towers. Today... they still stand... abandoned.

From Dewey Beach to Five Points, DE 1 changes from a 4-lane scenic parkway to a 6-lane urban boulevard, serving tourists and citizens of Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. Your scenery changes from sand dunes and grass to fast food joints and gas stations. Traffic clogs this portion of DE 1 during the summer months.

North of Five Points, DE 1's scenery changes once again. No longer the coast-hugging highway it once was, DE 1 crosses the heart of Sussex County's agriculture and farming center.

	At the Maryland/Delaware border, MD 528 becomes DE 1, and continues to hug the Atlantic coast, serving Delaware's beach communities.
	Driving through Fenwick Island, heading north to Bethany Beach.
	DE 1 reassurance marker.
	Driving through the Fenwick Island State Park.
	Approaching South Bethany Beach.
	One of the many abandoned World War II watch towers that line the Delaware coast... this one in South Bethany Beach.
	Driving through South Bethany Beach.
	Intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue in Bethany Beach, featuring signals with LED arrows.
	Driving around the Bethany Beach bypass.
	Intersection with Jefferson Bridge Road, featuring a rarity in Delaware... a signal installation on a mast arm.
	Intersection with DE 26.
	Leaving Bethany Beach. Outside of town... the speed limit once again becomes 50 MPH.
	Intersection with Sussex County Road 360... near Sussex Shores.
	Entering the Delaware Seashore State Park. Several recreational area are posted through out the park, including public beaches, fishing areas, and a boat launch at the Indian River inlet.
	Upon entering the Delaware Seashore State Park, the speed limit increases to 55 MPH.
	DE 1 trailblazer... approaching the Indian River Inlet bridge.
	Crossing the Indian River Inlet bridge. The scenery on the bridge is beautiful... with the Atlantic Ocean on your left, and Delaware's coastal bays on your right.
	Driving through the Delaware Seashore State Park... heading toward Dewey Beach. Again... if you're in the area... this is a "must drive" section of DE 1. The natural beauty that this highway passes through is something that everyone should enjoy.
	Leaving the Delaware Seashore State Park... entering Dewey Beach.
	Driving through Dewey Beach. These pics don't show the massive size of the light masts in the median of DE 1 here. They really are huge, and full of curvy goodness.
	Recent construction on DE 1 at the intersection with DE 1A. DE 1A serves local traffic between Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach.
	Recent construction on DE 1 near Rehoboth Beach has added sidewalks, along with a fresh coat of asphalt and median landscaping.
	Entering the Rehoboth Beach "strip". DE 1 features some pretty ratty slab concrete in this area.
	Mileage sign.
	Second intersection with DE 1A.
	After meeting up with DE 1A, DE 1 goes from 4 lanes to 6... and serves the strip of fast food joints, gas stations, and retail outlets in the area.
	Intersection with DE 24 (John J. Williams Highway).
	Interchange with US 9. This section of US 9 serves traffic heading to the Cape may-Lewes Ferry, and is highlighted here. Also here, eastbound US 9 enters a short multiplex with DE 1.
	Interchange/intersection for US 9, DE 404, and Business US 9 outside of Lewes. Business US 9 is US 9's original alignment through downtown Lewes. DE 404 serves as a cut off between the Delaware resorts and US 50 in Wye Mills... a major tourist corridor in the summer months. More on DE 404 (and it's Maryland counterpart, MD 404) can be found here.
	After leaving the Rehoboth Beach / Lewes / Five Points metropolitan area, DE 1 once again becomes 4 lanes, and heads to Milford.