Origin
Smyrna, DE
Morning in Smyrna on Friday
Local time
11:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smyrna, DE to Wilmington, DE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smyrna, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Smyrna to Wilmington is 37.8 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wilmington Expressway, and Delaware Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip within Delaware, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration and local focus, it’s best suited for a quick transition or a day trip rather than an extended adventure. You'll primarily navigate major roadways, so expect consistent travel speeds for most of the journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m 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
This route is characterized by its numerous turns and transitions, leaning heavily on local road driving. While 21% of the drive utilizes highways, you'll spend more time on surface streets, especially as you approach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26 miles along the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a dynamic driving experience with frequent adjustments in speed and direction as you navigate through various local traffic patterns.
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 26 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 early in the drive near South Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
24.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
8
29.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
6
32.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 95 / Wilmington Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Wilmington Expressway toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
7
36.8 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
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 Wilmington, DE, road signs point toward Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Baltimore
24.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via DE 1
Philadelphia
29.3 mi in
|
~36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 26 mi | 30m |
| Wilmington Expressway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Delaware Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Dupont Parkway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Dupont Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| West 11th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Dupont Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Commerce Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 26 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, DE and Wilmington, DE.
1
Start on East South Street
44 ft
·
5 sec
·
East South Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn right onto DE 6
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Commerce Street
4
Turn left onto US 13
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Dupont Boulevard
5
Continue on US 13
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Dupont Parkway
6
Continue on US 13
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Dupont Highway
7
Continue on US 13
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dupont Parkway
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward DE 1 Toll North: Wilmington
9
Merge onto DE 1 Toll
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto DE 1
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward DE 1 North: Wilmington, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 165B
Toward I 95 North: Wilmington, Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 95
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 202
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward DE 52: Delaware Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn slight left onto North Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Adams Street
18
Turn right onto West 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 11th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn right onto US 13 Business
86 ft
·
2 sec
·
North King Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 13 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.9 mi from Smyrna, DE · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Smyrna, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wilmington, DE
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Wilmington, DE if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.53 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.86 | $13.73 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Delaware Turnpike
(1.8 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Friday
Local time
11:31 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
1 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
48m 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 Wilmington, DE covers 37.8 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wilmington Expressway, Delaware Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.9 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 $6.27 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (DE 1 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Smyrna, DE and Wilmington, DE, road signs point toward Baltimore and Philadelphia.
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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