Origin
Delaware City, DE
Late night in Delaware City on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware City, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 16.1 miles from Delaware City to Wilmington is a straightforward, short-distance trip that typically takes around 28 minutes. Because this is a local transit route, you can easily complete the entire drive in one day without needing to book an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via 5th Street, Wrangle Hill Road, and River Road, keeping your travel costs minimal with a fuel budget of approximately $3. Since both your start and end points are located within the Northeast region of Delaware, the trip offers a consistent regional feel. This drive is ideal if you are looking for a quick, efficient connection between these two Delaware communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Expressway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 4 mi | 5m |
| River Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Delaware Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Wrangle Hill Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Hamburg Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 11th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 5th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Expressway
— 4.6 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware City, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on Clinton Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clinton Street
2
Turn right onto DE 9
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Street
3
Continue on DE 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Wrangle Hill Road
4
Turn right
126 ft
·
5 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto DE 9
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
River Road
6
Turn left onto DE 9 Truck
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamburg Road
7
Continue on Bear Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Bear Road
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Toward DE 1 North
9
Merge onto DE 1
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 165B
Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 95
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 202
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn slight left onto North Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Adams Street
16
Turn right onto West 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 11th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 13 Business
86 ft
·
2 sec
·
North King Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 13 Business
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward DE 1 North
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward DE 1 North
8
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
6
12.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 95 / Wilmington Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Wilmington Expressway toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
7
17.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.05 one way
$6.10 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.34 | $6.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.57 | $7.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Delaware Turnpike
(1.8 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Wilmington, DE
Late night in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
28m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating through local thoroughfares, which demands more focus on your surroundings than a monotonous highway cruise would. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, you should prepare for a drive that requires frequent adjustments and consistent navigation. The personality of this route is defined by its local character, making it a functional way to move through the area while staying off major freeways.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.6 mi on Wilmington Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 18.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia along the way.
Philadelphia
10 mi in
|
~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.6 miles on Wilmington Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Delaware Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wilmington, DE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilmington, DE before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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