Vehicles
Delaware has approximately 900,000 registered vehicles, reflecting its small population and high vehicle ownership rate typical of a car-dependent state.
Households without a vehicle
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B08201 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Registered vehicles | 900000 | 283400000 |
- •Delaware has no state vehicle safety inspection requirement, unlike many neighboring states.
Public Transit
DART First State operates Delaware's public bus and paratransit system, while Amtrak and SEPTA serve Wilmington's train station. Transit ridership share remains modest statewide.
Workers commuting by public transit
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Public transit commute share (%) | 2 | 5 |
- •Wilmington's train station is a major Amtrak Northeast Corridor stop, also served by SEPTA regional rail.
Airports
Delaware has no major commercial airport; residents typically use Philadelphia International Airport or Baltimore-Washington International for air travel. Wilmington Airport serves general and limited charter aviation.
Passengers boarded at all commercial airports in Delaware
2012–2025FAA Air Carrier Activity Information System, calendar-year commercial-service enplanements.
Passengers boarded at New Castle (ILG)
2012–2025FAA calendar-year enplanements.
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Annual passengers (millions) | 0.05 | 853 |
- •Delaware is the only U.S. state without a major scheduled commercial passenger airport.
Traffic
Traffic congestion in Delaware is concentrated along I-95 near Wilmington and Route 1 to the beaches in summer. Overall commute times remain moderate compared to national levels.
Traffic fatalities
1994–2024NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), State Traffic Data.
Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles
1994–2024NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), State Traffic Data.
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute time (minutes) | 25 | 26.4 |
- •Summer beach traffic on Route 1 to Rehoboth Beach can rival I-95 congestion levels.
Commuting Patterns
Most Delaware workers commute by car, with average commute times close to the national norm. Many residents in northern Delaware commute to jobs in Philadelphia and Wilmington.
Mean travel time to work
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, aggregate travel time ÷ workers not working at home, B08013/B08012 (2020 not released).
Workers who drive alone
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
Workers who work from home
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Average commute time (minutes) | 25 | 26.4 |
- •Many New Castle County residents commute across the border into Pennsylvania for work.
Infrastructure
Delaware maintains a compact but heavily used road network anchored by I-95 and the Delaware Memorial Bridge. A notable share of bridges require repair, similar to many aging East Coast states.
Bridges in poor condition
2000–2025FHWA National Bridge Inventory, Bridge Condition by Highway System (as of June each year).
Bridges in good condition
2000–2025FHWA National Bridge Inventory, Bridge Condition by Highway System (as of June each year).
Total highway bridges
2000–2025FHWA National Bridge Inventory, Bridge Condition by Highway System (as of June each year).
Vehicle miles traveled
1994–2024FHWA vehicle miles traveled as published with NHTSA FARS (fatalities ÷ fatality rate per 100M VMT).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bridges in poor condition (%) | 12 | 7.5 |
- •The Delaware Memorial Bridge is one of the busiest toll bridges on the East Coast.