Origin
Delaware City, DE
Afternoon in Delaware City on Thursday
Local time
1:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16.1 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware City, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 16.1 miles from Delaware City to Wilmington is a straightforward, short-distance trip that typically takes around 28 minutes. Because this is a local transit route, you can easily complete the entire drive in one day without needing to book an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via 5th Street, Wrangle Hill Road, and River Road, keeping your travel costs minimal with a fuel budget of approximately $3. Since both your start and end points are located within the Northeast region of Delaware, the trip offers a consistent regional feel. This drive is ideal if you are looking for a quick, efficient connection between these two Delaware communities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 16.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating through local thoroughfares, which demands more focus on your surroundings than a monotonous highway cruise would. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, you should prepare for a drive that requires frequent adjustments and consistent navigation. The personality of this route is defined by its local character, making it a functional way to move through the area while staying off major freeways.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE is easy. At 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Street | — | — |
| Wrangle Hill Road | — | — |
| River Road | — | — |
| Hamburg Road | — | — |
| Bear Road | — | — |
| DE 1 North | — | — |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 95 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware City, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on Clinton Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clinton Street
2
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
5th Street
3
Continue on Wrangle Hill Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Wrangle Hill Road
4
Turn right
125 ft
·
6 sec
5
Turn right onto River Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
River Road
6
Turn left onto Hamburg Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamburg Road
7
Continue on Bear Road
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Bear Road
8
Take the ramp left toward DE 1 North
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
DE 1 North
9
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
11
Merge slight left onto Delaware Turnpike
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
12
Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Expressway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
13
Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Expressway
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
14
Take the exit slight right toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
DE 52: Delaware Avenue
15
Turn slight left onto North Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Adams Street
16
Turn right onto West 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 11th Street
17
Turn right onto North King Street
85 ft
·
3 sec
·
North King Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.67 one way
$5.34 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.92 | $5.85 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.12 | $6.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 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 | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Wilmington, DE
Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
1:02 PM
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
28m 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 Wilmington, DE covers 16.1 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Street, Wrangle Hill Road, River Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8 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 $2.67 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.
The drive from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE is easy. At 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Delaware City, DE to Wilmington, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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