Origin
Wilmington, DE
Late night in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, DE to Newark, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
13.5 mi
22 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Newark, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 13.5-mile drive from Wilmington to Newark, Delaware, will only take about 22 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily be on highways, with 85% of the route utilizing major roads like DE 273, the Wilmington Expressway, and the Delaware Turnpike. The estimated fuel cost is a very reasonable $2, so you won't break the bank on gas. Since it's such a quick journey, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip within the Northeast region of Delaware.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DE 273 | 4.2 mi | 8m |
| Wilmington Expressway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Delaware Turnpike | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| North King Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Boulevard | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
DE 273
— 4.2 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, DE and Newark, DE.
1
Start on US 13 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North King Street
2
Turn straight onto US 13 Business
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95; US 202
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on I 95
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 3
Toward DE 273: Christiana, Newark
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward DE 273 West: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto DE 273
4.2 mi
·
8 min
·
DE 273
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right
260 ft
·
18 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 9.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95; US 202 / Wilmington Expressway
Merge onto I 95; US 202 / Wilmington Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
8.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward DE 273: Christiana, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3
Toward DE 273: Christiana, Newark
8
9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward DE 273 West: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward DE 273 West: Newark
5
9.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
DE 273
Turn right onto DE 273
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.24 one way
$4.48 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.45 | $4.90 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Delaware Turnpike
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Newark, DE
Late night in Newark on Sunday
Local time
12:35 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
22m 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 highway-focused drive for most of this 13.5-mile journey, with 85% of the route dedicated to main roads like DE 273, the Wilmington Expressway, and the Delaware Turnpike. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a significant change in road type is 4.2 miles on DE 273. This route offers a consistent driving experience, largely characterized by the efficiency of traveling on these primary arteries. It's designed for straightforward transit rather than leisurely exploration.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.2 mi on DE 273.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on DE 273 and Wilmington Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 7 decision points packed into just 13.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 95; US 202 / Wilmington Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 13.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.2 miles on DE 273. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 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 Newark, 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 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 95; US 202 / Wilmington Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 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 Newark, 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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