Origin
Claymont, DE
Late night in Claymont on Thursday
Local time
12:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Claymont, DE to Wilmington, DE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
14m
Distance
8 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 13m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Claymont, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8-mile drive from Claymont, DE to Wilmington, DE is easily manageable within a single day. Expect the journey to take around 14 minutes, making it perfect for a quick trip. You'll primarily be navigating local roads like Philadelphia Pike and Harvey Road, with no highway driving involved, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is just $1, which is incredibly budget-friendly. This route feels like a straightforward local commute within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Delaware without significant travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
4 miles from Claymont, DE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive on this route. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating city streets and local thoroughfares for the entire 8 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't applicable here, as you should anticipate frequent turns and intersections. This drive will feel like a typical urban or suburban transit, requiring your attention to traffic signals and local road conditions rather than long, open stretches of highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilmington Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilmington Expressway and Harvey Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 13 Business / Philadelphia Pike.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 14m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 13 Business / Philadelphia Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 95 / Wilmington Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 13 Business / Philadelphia Pike
Turn left onto US 13 Business / Philadelphia Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward I 95 South: Wilmington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 South: Wilmington
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95 / Wilmington Expressway
Merge onto I 95 / Wilmington Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward DE 52 South: Delaware Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7A
Toward DE 52 South: Delaware Avenue
4
8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 13 Business / North King Street
Turn right onto US 13 Business / North King Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Expressway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Harvey Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Philadelphia Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 11th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Governor Printz Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North King Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Expressway
— 5.3 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Claymont, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on US 13
124 ft
·
11 sec
·
Governor Printz Boulevard
2
Turn left onto US 13 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Philadelphia Pike
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Harvey Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Harvey Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 95 South: Wilmington
5
Merge onto I 95
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 7A
Toward DE 52 South: Delaware Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on West 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 11th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 13 Business
86 ft
·
2 sec
·
North King Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 13 Business
Trip Plan
Given the brief 14-minute duration and 8-mile distance, you have a lot of flexibility with when to depart for your trip from Claymont to Wilmington. With an estimated fuel cost of only $1, refueling isn't a major concern for this specific journey. Since it's such a short drive, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but be mindful of the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; anticipate navigating through town with multiple turns. A good tip is to check local traffic patterns before you leave, especially if you're traveling during peak commuting hours on roads like Philadelphia Pike.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4 miles from Claymont, DE, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 8 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilmington, DE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Claymont, DE.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Claymont, DE
This is one driving day of about 8 miles and 14m.
At 8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Wilmington Expressway for about 5.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4 mi from Claymont, DE · 7m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4 miles from Claymont, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wilmington, DE
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Wilmington, DE if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.33 one way
$2.65 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.45 | $2.91 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.55 | $3.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.77 | $3.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.84 | $0.38 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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 Thursday
Local time
12:40 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
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
14m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Claymont, DE to Wilmington, DE covers 8 miles and takes about 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilmington Expressway, Harvey Road, Philadelphia Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4 miles from Claymont, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 14m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 13 Business / Philadelphia Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 95 / Wilmington Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Claymont, DE to Wilmington, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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