Origin
Pike Creek, DE
Morning in Pike Creek on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pike Creek, DE to Dover, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pike Creek, DE
Petr Ganaj
Dover, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.3-mile drive from Pike Creek, DE to Dover, DE will take you about 1 hour and 4 minutes. It's a straightforward trip entirely within Delaware, making it an easy day trip. The route mainly follows the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and DE 273, with a section on North Dupont Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, this is an economical option for a quick journey. Its relatively short distance and uncomplicated roads make it ideal for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 47.3-mile journey. While about 8% of the route utilizes highway, the majority consists of more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning to more varied road conditions. This profile suggests a drive that involves frequent adjustments and navigation through different types of thoroughfares, rather than a monotonous highway cruise.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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 35 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 1.5 miles in near Polly Drummond Hill Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.5 miles (Polly Drummond Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (Bala Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (DE 273): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Polly Drummond Hill Road
At end of road, turn left onto Polly Drummond Hill Road
Navigation decision point
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Bala Road
Turn right onto Bala Road
Navigation decision point
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
DE 273
Turn left onto DE 273
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16.7 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
17 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 35 mi | 40m |
| DE 273 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| North Dupont Highway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Polly Drummond Hill Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Red Mill Road | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| North Governors Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| New Linden Hill Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Upper Pike Creek Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 35 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pike Creek, DE and Dover, DE.
1
Start on Upper Pike Creek Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Upper Pike Creek Road
2
Turn right onto New Linden Hill Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Linden Hill Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Polly Drummond Hill Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Polly Drummond Hill Road
4
Continue on Red Mill Road
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mill Road
5
Turn slight right
177 ft
·
10 sec
6
Turn right onto Bala Road
236 ft
·
8 sec
·
Bala Road
7
Turn left onto DE 273
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
DE 273
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward DE 1 South: Dover
9
Merge onto DE 1
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
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.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 13: North Dover
13
Keep slight left at fork
171 ft
·
6 sec
14
Turn left onto US 13
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Dupont Highway
15
Take the exit onto US 13 Alternate
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 13 Alternate
16
Turn straight onto US 13 Alternate
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Governors Boulevard
17
Continue on US 13 Alternate
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Governors Avenue
18
Turn left onto West Loockerman Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Loockerman Street
19
Turn left onto Kings Highway
37 ft
·
1 sec
·
Kings Highway
20
Arrive at destination
Kings Highway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from Pike Creek, DE · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Pike Creek, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dover, DE
The final approach into Dover, DE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.84 one way
$15.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.59 | $17.18 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.17 | $18.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Dover, DE
Morning in Dover on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m 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 Pike Creek, DE to Dover, DE covers 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, DE 273, North Dupont Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Pike Creek, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.84 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 47.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.5 miles (Polly Drummond Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (Bala Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (DE 273): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pike Creek, DE to Dover, 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.
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