Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smyrna, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Camden, DE
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick commute within Delaware, the 16.8-mile trip from Smyrna to Camden is a straightforward, 23-minute journey. Because of the short distance, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate primarily via the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, the Puncheon Run Connector, and South Dupont Highway. Budgeting about $3 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical trip for your local travel plans. Since both towns reside in the Northeast region, you won't experience major environmental or cultural shifts, keeping the drive simple and efficient. It is an ideal route if you need to move between these two points quickly without the complexity of a long-distance haul.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| Puncheon Run Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| South Dupont Highway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Dupont Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Camden Wyoming Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, DE and Camden, DE.
Start on East South Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Merge onto US 13
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector
Turn left onto US 13
Turn right onto DE 10
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward DE 1 Toll: Dover, Beaches, Wilmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward DE 1 Toll South: Dover, Beaches
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector toward Salisbury, Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$2.79 one way
$5.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.05 | $6.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.26 | $6.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 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 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Smyrna on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Camden on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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-focused driving experience that demands your attention more than a standard interstate cruise. You will spend your longest uninterrupted segment covering 10.9 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Despite the highway usage, this route maintains a zero-percent highway share, meaning you are dealing with local road dynamics throughout the trip. The transition from the memorial highway onto the Puncheon Run Connector and South Dupont Highway keeps the drive engaging as you navigate the local infrastructure. You will find that the personality of the road shifts from open stretches to more technical, turn-heavy sections as you approach your destination.
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 South 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 9 decision points packed into just 16.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
65 ft
Total Descent
58 ft
Highest Point
57 ft
~13.3 mi in
Elevation Range
40 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smyrna, DE and Camden, DE, road signs point toward Beaches, Wilmington, Salisbury and Norfolk.
Beaches
Wilmington
Salisbury
Norfolk
Camden is in Kent County, Delaware.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 16.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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