Origin
Wilmington, DE
Late night in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
2:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, DE to Kent Acres, DE
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilmington, DE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, DE to Kent Acres, DE covers 52.6 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Wilmington Expressway, Puncheon Run Connector for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.2 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 52.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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 6m drive with frequent turns across 52.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 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 41.2 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 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
8
7.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward DE 1 South, DE 7 South: Mall Road, Dover, Beaches
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4A
Toward DE 1 South, DE 7 South: Mall Road, Dover...
6
7.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward DE 1 South: Dover, Beaches
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward DE 1 South: Dover, Beaches
6
18.8 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.
7
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wilmington, DE and Kent Acres, DE, road signs point toward Dover, Beaches, Salisbury and Norfolk.
Dover
7.3 mi in
|
~11m
Beaches
7.3 mi in
|
~11m
Salisbury
49.9 mi in
|
~1h 1m
|
via Puncheon Run Connector
Norfolk
49.9 mi in
|
~1h 1m
|
via Puncheon Run Connector
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 41.2 mi | 47m |
| Wilmington Expressway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Puncheon Run Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Delaware Turnpike | 2 mi | 2m |
| North King Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Boulevard | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South Dupont Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodbrook Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 41.2 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, DE and Kent Acres, DE.
1
Start on US 13 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North King Street
2
Turn straight onto US 13 Business
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95; US 202
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Wilmington Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on I 95
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 4A
Toward DE 1 South, DE 7 South: Mall Road, Dover, Beaches
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
Toward DE 1 South: Dover, Beaches
9
Merge onto DE 1
10 mi
·
12 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
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto DE 1 Toll
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Puncheon Run Connector
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Puncheon Run Connector
Exit 97
Toward Salisbury, Norfolk
14
Turn left onto US 13
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Dupont Highway
15
Take the exit
302 ft
·
10 sec
16
Turn left onto Webbs Lane
399 ft
·
12 sec
·
Webbs Lane
17
Turn right onto Cooper Estate Road
247 ft
·
10 sec
·
Cooper Estate Road
18
Continue on Woodbrook Road
480 ft
·
26 sec
·
Woodbrook Road
19
Turn left onto Edgewood Road
279 ft
·
18 sec
·
Edgewood Road
20
Turn left onto Saxton Road
289 ft
·
14 sec
·
Saxton Road
21
Turn right onto Steele Road
103 ft
·
4 sec
·
Steele Road
22
Arrive at destination
Steele Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.3 mi from Wilmington, DE · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Wilmington, DE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kent Acres, DE
The final approach into Kent Acres, 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
$8.72 one way
$17.44 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.14
Delaware Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.14
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Kent Acres, DE
Late night in Kent Acres on Friday
Local time
2:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Middletown, DE
26 mi in
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 6m 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 Wilmington, DE to Kent Acres, DE covers 52.6 miles and takes about 1h 6m 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, Puncheon Run Connector. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.3 miles from Wilmington, DE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.72 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 52.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Wilmington, DE and Kent Acres, DE, road signs point toward Dover, Beaches, Salisbury and Norfolk.
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