By 1938, the route was designated to run from US 13 south of Townsend north to US 13 in Tybouts Corner roughly along its present-day alignment.

DE 71 heads to the northwest from US 13 at H and H Corner on two-lane undivided Summit Bridge Road, passing through wooded areas with some homes.

Past Townsend, the route continues northwest into farmland, crossing the Appoquinimink River and making a turn to the north.

[3][4] DE 71 enters residential areas as it crosses Deep Creek into the town of Middletown, where it becomes South Broad Street.

The road heads north through the town and intersects DE 299 (Main Street) in the downtown area.

The road runs a short distance to the west of the Delmarva Central Railroad line as it continues through farmland with some scattered residential and commercial development.

DE 71/DE 896 heads to the northwest through farm fields before turning to the west and passing a residential subdivision to the south.

The road passes a mix of woods and homes as it becomes the southern boundary of Lums Pond State Park and turns east.

The road heads across Dragon Creek and runs past suburban residential development before it intersects DE 72 in Williamsburg.

The route continues northeast, crossing Norfolk Southern's Reybold Industrial Track railroad line at-grade.

[6] What is now DE 71 originally existed as a county road by 1920, with the portion south of Townsend proposed as a state highway at this time.

[12] By 1938, DE 71 was designated to run from US 13 south of Townsend north to US 13 in Tybouts Corner, following roughly the same alignment it does today.