Origin
Pike Creek, DE
Morning in Pike Creek on Thursday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pike Creek, DE to Wilmington, DE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
23m
Distance
11.1 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pike Creek, DE
Petr Ganaj
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Pike Creek to Wilmington, you are looking at a quick 11.1-mile journey that typically takes about 23 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple day trip, as it requires no overnight stay and fits easily into a morning or afternoon schedule. You will primarily navigate via the Kirkwood Highway, North Maryland Avenue, and Upper Pike Creek Road. With a fuel cost estimate of just $2, this local transit is highly economical for your budget. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region, you will remain in familiar territory throughout the entire drive. It is a straightforward, practical route for anyone needing to commute or visit the city.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 11.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, meaning this route relies entirely on local surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5-mile segment along the Kirkwood Highway. Because this is a technical, local drive, you should stay alert for frequent turns and intersections. The road’s personality is defined by its stop-and-go nature, requiring you to remain focused on the road conditions as you transition from the residential feel of Pike Creek into Wilmington.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kirkwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near Pike Creek Road.
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 11.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.3 miles (Pike Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (DE 4 / North Maryland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Pike Creek Road
At end of road, turn left onto Pike Creek Road
Navigation decision point
6
8.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
DE 4 / North Maryland Avenue
Turn left onto DE 4 / North Maryland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
10.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
West 3rd Street
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
DE 52 / West 11th Street
Turn right onto DE 52 / West 11th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 13 Business / North King Street
Turn right onto US 13 Business / North King Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkwood Highway | 5 mi | 8m |
| North Maryland Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Upper Pike Creek Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Pike Creek Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Dupont Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North West Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Robert Kirkwood Highway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 11th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kirkwood Highway
— 5 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pike Creek, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on Upper Pike Creek Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Upper Pike Creek Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Pike Creek Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Pike Creek Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto DE 2
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Kirkwood Highway
4
Continue on DE 2
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert Kirkwood Highway
5
Turn right onto DE 100
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dupont Road
6
Turn slight left
111 ft
·
11 sec
7
Turn left onto DE 4
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Maryland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn slight left onto North Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Madison Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 3rd Street
10
Turn left onto North West Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North West Street
11
Turn right onto DE 52
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
West 11th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 13 Business
86 ft
·
2 sec
·
North King Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 13 Business
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.84 one way
$3.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.02 | $4.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.15 | $4.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.45 | $4.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.17 | $0.53 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
11:32 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m 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 Wilmington, DE covers 11.1 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kirkwood Highway, North Maryland Avenue, Upper Pike Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.6 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 $1.84 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 11.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.3 miles (Pike Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (DE 4 / North Maryland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Pike Creek, DE to Wilmington, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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