Origin
Smyrna, DE
Morning in Smyrna on Thursday
Local time
7:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smyrna, DE to Dover, DE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.4 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smyrna, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Dover, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Smyrna and Dover, this 11.4-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate Delaware’s Northeast region. You can expect to spend about 18 minutes on the road, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a total fuel cost of only $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute that requires no overnight stops. Because the route is so short, you have complete flexibility to plan your day without worrying about travel fatigue. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two Delaware locales, prioritizing speed and ease over a leisurely pace.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that transitions through several key corridors, including North Dupont Highway, South Dupont Boulevard, and North Governors Avenue. Only 6 miles of this 11.4-mile journey are spent on highways, meaning the majority of your time is spent navigating local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch lasts for 5.4 miles on North Dupont Highway, providing a brief period of steady cruising before you transition back into local traffic. The personality of this drive is functional and practical, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns rather than settling into a monotonous interstate rhythm.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Dupont Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 13 / South Dupont Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 9.5 miles (US 13 Alternate): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 13 / South Dupont Boulevard
Merge onto US 13 / South Dupont Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
9.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 13 Alternate
Take the exit onto US 13 Alternate
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
11.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
West Loockerman Street
Turn left onto West Loockerman Street
Navigation decision point
4
11.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Kings Highway
Turn left onto Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Dupont Highway | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| South Dupont Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| North Governors Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 13 Alternate | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Governors Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Loockerman Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Dupont Highway
— 5.4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, DE and Dover, 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
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Dupont Boulevard
4
Continue on US 13
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Dupont Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 13 Alternate
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 13 Alternate
6
Turn straight onto US 13 Alternate
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Governors Boulevard
7
Continue on US 13 Alternate
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Governors Avenue
8
Turn left onto West Loockerman Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Loockerman Street
9
Turn left onto Kings Highway
37 ft
·
1 sec
·
Kings Highway
10
Arrive at destination
Kings Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.89 one way
$3.78 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.07 | $4.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.21 | $4.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.52 | $5.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 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 | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.00 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
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
Dover, DE
Morning in Dover on Thursday
Local time
7:37 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
14 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
18m 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 Dover, DE covers 11.4 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Dupont Highway, South Dupont Boulevard, North Governors Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.7 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 $1.89 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 is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 13 / South Dupont Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 9.5 miles (US 13 Alternate): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Smyrna, DE to Dover, DE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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