 US 301 passes more businesses before heading north on Summit Bridge Road. The road narrows into a two-lane undivided road and passes through a mix of fields and residential and commercial development as it runs immediately to the west of Norfolk Southern's Delmarva Secondary railroad line, reaching an intersection with DE 71. Here, DE 71 heads north concurrent with US 301, with the road passing near some businesses and a housing development before leaving Middletown. The road runs a short distance to the west of the Norfolk Southern rail line as it continues farmland with some scattered residential and commercial development. In Mount Pleasant, DE 896 joins US 301 / DE 71 from the east and the road widens from a two-lane undivided road to a four-lane divided highway. The road passes a few businesses before heading between the Summit Airport to the west and housing developments to the east. US 301 / DE 71 / DE 896 heads to the northwest through farm fields before turning to the west and passing a residential subdivision to the south. In the unincorporated community of Summit Bridge, the road intersects the northern terminus of DE 15. Past this intersection, US 301 / DE 71 / DE 896 turns north and crosses over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on the Summit Bridge.
