How far is Dover, DE from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Dover, DE to Wilmington, NC is about 465.1 miles (748.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 366.2 miles (589.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 09h 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town of the United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Clear
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Dover and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover and Wilmington.
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1
Start on Kings Highway
881 ft · 39 sec · Kings Highway
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2
Turn left onto American Avenue
525 ft · 28 sec · American Avenue
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3
Turn left onto East Division Street
1.1 km · 56 sec · East Division Street
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4
Continue on Forest Street
1601 ft · 23 sec · Forest Street
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5
Continue on Forrest Avenue
5.7 mi · 7 min · Forrest Avenue
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6
Continue on Halltown Road
6.3 mi · 7 min · Halltown Road
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7
Continue on Crown Stone Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Crown Stone Road
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8
At the end of the road, turn left onto Barclay Road
9.1 mi · 16 min · Barclay Road
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9
Turn left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
39.8 mi · 56 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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10
Continue on John Hanson Highway
23.9 mi · 28 min · John Hanson Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward MD 201 South: Kenilworth Avenue, Alexandria
1765 ft · 32 sec
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12
Continue on Kenilworth Avenue Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Kenilworth Avenue Freeway
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13
Continue on Anacostia Freeway
2.1 mi · 4 min · Anacostia Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 695 : Downtown
1553 ft · 38 sec
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 695 West: Downtown
612 ft · 15 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Southeast Freeway
1.9 mi · 3 min · Southeast Freeway
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17
Continue on Southwest Freeway
1.1 km · 1 min · Southwest Freeway
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18
Continue on Francis Case Memorial Bridge
1.1 mi · 2 min · Francis Case Memorial Bridge
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19
Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
9.4 mi · 12 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
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20
Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
36.3 mi · 43 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
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21
Keep slight left
48.6 mi · 53 min
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22
Take the exit slight left toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
1.9 mi · 2 min
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23
Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
42.2 mi · 46 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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24
Merge slight right onto I 95 South: Emporia, Rocky Mount NC
107.9 mi · 1 hr 56 min
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25
Take the exit slight right toward I-795 South, US 264: Goldsboro, Raleigh, Wilson
1282 ft · 31 sec
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26
Keep slight left to continue on I 795 East, US 264 East
1942 ft · 47 sec
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27
Keep slight right to continue on US 264 East, I 587 East, I 795 South
1320 ft · 33 sec
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28
Merge slight left
4.4 mi · 5 min
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29
Take the exit slight right
1.4 km · 55 sec
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30
Keep slight left
20.2 mi · 22 min
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31
Continue straight
3.5 mi · 4 min
-
32
Continue straight
20.2 mi · 27 min
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33
Turn left onto I 40
1824 ft · 45 sec
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34
Merge slight left
64.6 mi · 1 hr 9 min
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35
Continue on North College Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · North College Road
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36
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
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37
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
1.3 km · 1 min · North Kerr Avenue
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38
Turn right onto Market Street
2.3 mi · 5 min · Market Street
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39
Turn left onto South 16th Street
1.1 km · 1 min · South 16th Street
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40
Turn right onto Wooster Street
1.6 km · 2 min · Wooster Street
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41
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
28 m · 2 sec · South 3rd Street
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Dover and Wilmington.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 95 South
Merge slight right onto I 95 South: Emporia, Rocky Mount NC
108 mi · 01h 56m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Dover and Mostly Clear near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Dover to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 465.1 miles (748.5 km) and usually takes 09h 08m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Pocahontas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 232.7 miles from Dover and 232.4 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 366.2 miles (589.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 98.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $67.05 one way or $134.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 145.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Dover and Mostly Clear near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Pocahontas
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Pocahontas.
Petersburg station
Richmond Main Street Station
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Ashland
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Dover and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 366.19 mi (589.32 km).
#1 Dover
City in and county seat of Kent County, Delaware, United States, and capital city of Delaware
| Population | 38,199 |
| Coordinates | 39.1581700, -75.5243700 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wilmington
The largest city in the state of North Carolina.
| Population | 124,794 |
| Coordinates | 34.2257300, -77.9447100 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 748 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 38m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $67.05 | $134.10 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $75.47 | $150.94 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $81.30 | $162.59 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $98.13 | $196.26 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Delaware · Aug 26, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.