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Delaware Water Gap: River Road and 209, Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives Pennsylvania The Poconos, Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Delaware Water Gap: River Road and 209

River Road, US 209, Milford Road · Delaware Water Gap → Milford

Leisurely31 mi55 min1,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 600 ftOne way
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The drive

This drive goes north through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, starting with River Road at the village of Delaware Water Gap and passing Shawnee on Delaware and Smithfield Beach. River Road joins US 209 at park headquarters, and US 209 continues past Bushkill and Dingmans Ferry to Milford. It is 30.6 miles, about 55 minutes, a leisurely drive with mostly gentle curves.

The upper River Road, from Hialeah Recreation Site to park headquarters, is not plowed in winter. The park closes it before winter weather, from January 2 or the first significant snowfall, and most sites reopen on April 15. US 209 is the park's top winter plowing priority, so in winter start on US 209.

Along the way

  1. Delaware Water Gap
  2. Shawnee on Delaware
  3. Smithfield Beach
  4. Bushkill
  5. Dingmans Ferry
  6. Milford
Elevation
1,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 600 ft
Delaware Water GapMilford
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Delaware Water GapMilford
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • River Road from Hialeah to park headquarters closes in winter and usually reopens in mid-April.
  • There is no general entrance fee, but swimming, picnicking and boat-launching areas such as Smithfield Beach, Bushkill Access and Dingmans Access charge a per-vehicle day-use fee.
  • Old Mine Road on the New Jersey side is not part of this drive; its north section was closed for repaving.

River Road from Hialeah to park headquarters closes from early January (or the first big snow) to mid-April. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Delaware Water Gap NRA: current conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Delaware Water Gap drive on River Road and US 209 take?

Delaware Water Gap to Milford is 30.6 miles and takes about 55 minutes.

Is River Road at Delaware Water Gap open in winter?

No: River Road between Hialeah and park headquarters is not plowed and closes from January 2 or the first significant snowfall until about mid-April. US 209 is plowed first.

Is there a fee to drive through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area?

There is no park entrance fee, but some day-use areas such as Smithfield Beach charge a per-vehicle fee.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Delaware Water Gap: River Road and 209, from Delaware Water Gap to Milford