Nanticoke Heritage Byway
Western Sussex County's river towns, from Seaford across the Nanticoke River on the Woodland Ferry to Bethel, Laurel and Trap Pond.
- LengthAbout 35 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout 45 minutes[1]DelDOT suggests 2 to 3 days to enjoy it fully.
- RoadsUS 13 and several roads in western Sussex County[1]
- Start and endFrom the Route 20 exit on US 13 through Seaford, Bethel and Laurel to Trap Pond State Park[1]
- Fees and passesNot verified
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Nanticoke Heritage Byway leaves US 13 at the Route 20 exit and wanders about 35 miles through western Sussex County: Seaford, Bethel and Laurel, ending at Trap Pond State Park. On the way it crosses the Nanticoke River on the historic Woodland Ferry.
These were river and railroad towns. Seaford and Bethel built ships, and after the railroad arrived in 1856, Seaford and Laurel shipped oysters, fruit and baskets to northern markets. The money from those trades shows in the older homes along the route.
DelDOT lists the Seaford Museum, Ross Mansion and Plantation, the Chapel Branch Nature Trail and Old Christ Church among the stops. The scenery alternates between farm fields, woods and small-town main streets.
Stops along the way
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Seaford Museum
Local history museum in downtown Seaford.
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Ross Mansion and Plantation
Historic house and grounds in Seaford.
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Woodland Ferry
Historic cable ferry across the Nanticoke River.
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Bethel
Small town once known for shipbuilding.
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Laurel
Town on Broad Creek with many historic homes.
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Trap Pond State Park
State park where the byway ends.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Millsboro Farmers' Market, DE · about 10.8 mi from the route
- Milton Farmers' MarketMilton, DE · about 18.6 mi from the route
- Ocean Pines Farmers MarketOcean Pines, MD · about 18.7 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- The Berlin Farmers MarketBerlin, MD · about 19.0 mi from the route
- Nassau Valley Vineyards Farmers' Market, DE · about 21.7 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Food events nearby
- Cape May Coffee & Chocolate FestivalJun 17, 2027 · Cape May, NJ · about 42.2 mi from the nearest stop
- Delaware State FairJul 22-31, 2027 · Harrington, DE · about 18.6 mi from the nearest stop
Dated public events within about 50 miles, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad BywayMD · about 21 mi away
- Chesapeake Country Scenic BywayMD · about 49 mi away
- Bayshore Heritage BywayNJ · about 55 mi away
- Delaware Bayshore BywayDE · about 56 mi away
- Religious Freedom BywayMD · about 69 mi away
- Pine Barrens BywayNJ · about 77 mi away
More scenic drives in Delaware
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- Nanticoke Heritage Byway (Delaware Department of Transportation, Delaware Byways) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).