Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
38.6 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newark, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Cheswold, DE
Vladislovas Sketerskis
If you are planning a quick jaunt from Newark to Cheswold, you are looking at a manageable 38.6-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip stays entirely within Delaware, moving from the Northeast region down toward the central part of the state. Because the drive is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you can easily make the round trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel, making this a highly cost-effective excursion. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or build in your own breaks along the way.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.7 mi | 26m |
| Wrangle Hill Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| South Dupont Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Sunset Lake Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| South College Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| North Dupont Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Chapel Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Chestnut Hill Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, DE and Cheswold, DE.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto DE 273
Turn left onto DE 896
Turn left onto DE 4
Turn right onto DE 72
Continue on DE 72
Continue on DE 72
Take the ramp
Merge onto DE 1
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 13
Continue on US 13
Turn right onto DE 42
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 38.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Newark, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto DE 273 / East Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto DE 4 / East Chestnut Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto DE 72 / South Chapel Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward DE 1 South: Dover, Beaches
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.40 one way
$12.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.01 | $14.02 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.49 | $14.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Newark on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Night in Cheswold on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features no highway stretches. Your journey relies on navigating a mix of roads, including the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wrangle Hill Road, and South Dupont Boulevard. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time on the road during a 22.7-mile stretch along the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Because the route is composed of local roads, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns and shifting traffic patterns. It is a practical drive that keeps you engaged with the local landscape as you transition between these specific thoroughfares.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near DE 273 / East Main Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 38.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (DE 273 / East Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.9 miles (DE 4 / East Chestnut Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (DE 72 / South Chapel Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
85 ft
Total Descent
175 ft
Highest Point
128 ft
Elevation Range
102 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Newark, DE to Cheswold, DE, road signs begin pointing toward Beaches along the way.
Beaches
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 38.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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