Origin
Delaware City, DE
Night in Delaware City on Friday
Local time
10:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Delaware City, DE to Smyrna, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware City, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Smyrna, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 26.2-mile journey from Delaware City to Smyrna, Delaware, is a quick, 35-minute drive that's perfect for a single day trip. Primarily utilizing the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wrangle Hill Road, and South Dupont Parkway, you'll find about 5% of the route is on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this trip is very budget-friendly. The route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be navigating a series of road connections rather than a straight shot. Given the short distance and duration, no overnight stays are necessary, making it an easy excursion within the Northeast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with only 5% of the journey on highways. While the longest uninterrupted stretch is a solid 19.2 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, the overall character involves frequent changes in direction. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, you'll experience a dynamic drive that weaves through local roads. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience as you navigate the transitions between Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wrangle Hill Road, and South Dupont Parkway.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near DE 9 / 5th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.2 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (DE 9 / 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 7.7 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
DE 9 / 5th Street
Turn right onto DE 9 / 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward DE 1 South: Dover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
23.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward US 13: Rest Area
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 13: Rest Area
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| Wrangle Hill Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| South Dupont Parkway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Dupont Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 5th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Clinton Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East South Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware City, DE and Smyrna, DE.
1
Start on Clinton Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clinton Street
2
Turn right onto DE 9
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Street
3
Continue on DE 9
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Wrangle Hill Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
5
Merge onto DE 1
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward US 13: Rest Area
9
Turn left onto US 13
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Dupont Parkway
10
Continue on US 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Dupont Boulevard
11
Turn right onto East South Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East South Street
12
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.34 one way
$8.69 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.76 | $9.51 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.78 | $11.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Smyrna, DE
Night in Smyrna on Friday
Local time
10:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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
35m 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 Delaware City, DE to Smyrna, DE covers 26.2 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wrangle Hill Road, South Dupont Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from Delaware City, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.34 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.2 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (DE 9 / 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 7.7 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Delaware City, DE to Smyrna, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include First State National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Smyrna, DE
More trips to Smyrna, DE
Explore more options from Delaware City, DE or browse trips ending in Smyrna, DE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse DE road trips.