Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
27m
Distance
16.4 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
17 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware City, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Elsmere, DE
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to travel between Delaware City and Elsmere, you are in for a quick 16.4-mile journey that typically takes about 27 minutes. This short trip is perfect for a one-day outing, as it is entirely manageable in a single session without the need for overnight stays. Expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the entire distance, making it an incredibly budget-friendly commute. By utilizing South Dupont Highway, West Basin Road, and River Road, you will navigate through the heart of the Northeast region. It is a straightforward drive that functions well for local errands or quick trips between these two Delaware communities.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 16.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
17 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: excellent.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route contains no highway mileage. You will spend most of your time navigating local roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch lasting only 4.7 miles along South Dupont Highway. Because you are avoiding major highways entirely, the pace remains steady but requires your full attention for frequent turns. The character of the road is consistent, favoring smaller thoroughfares over long, straight corridors. You will find that the lack of highway travel creates a more personal, hands-on driving experience as you transition between these two points.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
265 ft
Total Descent
172 ft
Highest Point
120 ft
~15.1 mi in
Elevation Range
118 ft
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 around 2.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 16.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (US 13; DE 9 Truck / South Dupont Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 13; DE 9 Truck / South Dupont Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward DE 2: Elsmere, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward DE 2 East: Elsmere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Delaware City, DE to Elsmere, DE, road signs begin pointing toward Newark along the way.
Newark
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Dupont Highway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| West Basin Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| River Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Wrangle Hill Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Kirkwood Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Hamburg Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 5th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Clinton Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware City, DE and Elsmere, DE.
Start on Clinton Street
Turn right onto DE 9
Continue on DE 9
Turn right
Turn right onto DE 9
Turn left onto DE 9 Truck
Turn right onto US 13; DE 9 Truck
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight
Continue on US 202; DE 141
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto DE 2
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.2 mi from Delaware City, DE · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.2 miles from Delaware City, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Elsmere, DE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elsmere, DE.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.72 one way
$5.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
New Castle, Delaware
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wilmington, Delaware
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Bear, Delaware
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Newark, Delaware
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Stanton, Delaware
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Newark, Delaware
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
New Castle, Delaware
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Newark, Delaware
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
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
Afternoon in Delaware City on Thursday
Local time
1:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Elsmere on Thursday
Local time
1:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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.
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