Trip from Smyrna, DE to Delmar, DE

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

63.8 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 18m ★

6 AM

1h 25m

8 AM

1h 38m

10 AM

1h 29m

12 PM

1h 28m

3 PM

1h 30m

5 PM

1h 37m

8 PM

1h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Smyrna, DE to Delmar, DE covers 63.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Sussex Highway, South Dupont Highway, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.7 miles on Sussex Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.58 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 63.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 24m drive with frequent turns across 63.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

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.

Sussex Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.7 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 1.4 miles in.

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 63.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward DE 1 Toll: Dover, Beaches, Wilmington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward DE 1 Toll: Dover, Beaches, Wilmington

6

1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward DE 1 Toll South: Dover, Beaches

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward DE 1 Toll South: Dover, Beaches

4

9.8 mi into trip | ~13m 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

7

12.7 mi into trip | ~16m in | Puncheon Run Connector

Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector toward Salisbury, Norfolk

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 97 Toward Salisbury, Norfolk

4

63.7 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | North 1st Street

Turn right onto North 1st Street

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Smyrna, DE and Delmar, DE, road signs point toward Salisbury and Norfolk.

Salisbury

12.7 mi in | ~16m | via Puncheon Run Connector

Norfolk

12.7 mi in | ~16m | via Puncheon Run Connector

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Sussex Highway	26.7 mi	36m
South Dupont Highway	21.2 mi	26m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway	10.9 mi	12m
Puncheon Run Connector	2.1 mi	2m
South Dupont Boulevard	1 mi	1m
East State Street	1 mi	2m
South Main Street	0.4 mi	<1m
North 1st Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Sussex Highway — 26.7 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, DE and Delmar, DE.

1

Start on East South Street

44 ft · 8 sec · East South Street

2

Turn left onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 57 sec · South Main Street

3

Merge onto US 13

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Dupont Boulevard

4

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward DE 1 Toll: Dover, Beaches, Wilmington

5

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward DE 1 Toll South: Dover, Beaches

6

Merge onto DE 1 Toll

7.9 mi · 9 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

7

Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll

3.0 mi · 3 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

8

Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector

2.1 mi · 2 min · Puncheon Run Connector

Exit 97 Toward Salisbury, Norfolk

9

Turn left onto US 13

21 mi · 26 min · South Dupont Highway

10

Continue on US 13

27 mi · 36 min · Sussex Highway

11

Turn right onto MD 54; DE 54

1.0 mi · 2 min · East State Street

12

Turn right onto North 1st Street

156 ft · 6 sec · North 1st Street

13

Arrive at destination

North 1st Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.9 mi from Smyrna, DE · 40m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harrington, DE

32 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

Dover, DE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harrington, DE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Smyrna, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Delmar, DE

The final approach into Delmar, 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

$10.58 one way

$21.15 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$11.58	$23.17
premium	$4.93	$12.37	$24.75
diesel	$5.61	$14.09	$28.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	19.1	$6.70	$3.06
Efficient EV	16	$5.58	$2.55
EV Truck/SUV	25.5	$8.93	$4.08

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Smyrna, DE

Late night in Smyrna on Saturday

Local time

3:20 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Delmar, DE

Late night in Delmar on Saturday

Local time

3:20 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

1h 24m 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 Smyrna, DE to Delmar, DE covers 63.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Sussex Highway, South Dupont Highway, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.9 miles from Smyrna, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.58 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 63.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles (DE 1 Toll / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Between Smyrna, DE and Delmar, DE, road signs point toward Salisbury and Norfolk.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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