How far is Philadelphia, PA from Dover, DE?

The driving distance from Philadelphia, PA to Dover, DE is about 80.7 miles (129.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 58.2 miles (93.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
80.7 mi
01h 43m
Flight
58.14 mi
93.56 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Philadelphia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
58.14 mi
Kilometers
93.56 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
80.7 mi
Kilometers
129.87 km
Drive Time
01h 43m

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 01h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dover
Tue, Aug 25, 9:10 AM EDT
Return by in Philadelphia
Tue, Aug 25, 10:54 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Philadelphia
2026-08-25T07:27
Arrive Dover
Tue, Aug 25, 9:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:43 AM to 11:43 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Philadelphia
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Bear
DE

Census-designated place in Delaware, United States

From Philadelphia
40.3 mi
00h 51m
To Dover
40.3 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Aug 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
83°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Aug 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Philadelphia and Dover.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia and Dover.

  1. 1

    Start on South Penn Square

    121 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on East Penn Square

    737 ft · 20 sec · East Penn Square

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Broad Street

    1626 ft · 37 sec · North Broad Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 676 East, US 30 East

    1133 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Vine Street Expressway

    1513 ft · 26 sec · Vine Street Expressway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway

    2268 ft · 38 sec · Vine Street Expressway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: Chester, Philadelphia International Airport

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto Delaware Expressway

    18.3 mi · 25 min · Delaware Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Delaware Expressway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Delaware Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    11.7 mi · 14 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Wilmington Expressway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Wilmington Expressway

  12. 12

    Continue on Delaware Turnpike

    2 mi · 2 min · Delaware Turnpike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward DE 1 South, DE 7 South: Mall Road, Dover, Beaches

    2960 ft · 41 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on DE 1 South: Dover, Beaches

    1.2 km · 59 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    10.1 mi · 12 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    1518 ft · 20 sec · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    25.7 mi · 30 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 13: North Dover

    1.3 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    52 m · 6 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto North Dupont Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · North Dupont Highway

  21. 21

    Take the exit straight

    1 km · 1 min

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto North Governors Boulevard

    1230 ft · 25 sec · North Governors Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on North Governors Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Governors Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West Loockerman Street

    736 ft · 25 sec · West Loockerman Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Kings Highway

    11 m · 2 sec · Kings Highway

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Kings Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Philadelphia and Dover.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
36 mi · 45%
Delaware Expressway
21.2 mi · 26%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
11.7 mi · 15%
North Dupont Highway
2.49 mi · 3%
Delaware Turnpike
2.01 mi · 2%
Wilmington Expressway
1.57 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

25.7 mi · 00h 30m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.5 mi
58.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bear
00h 51m from Philadelphia
Leave By
3:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Philadelphia and Sunny near Dover.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Philadelphia to Dover?

The road trip is about 80.7 miles (129.9 km) and usually takes 01h 43m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bear is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40.3 miles from Philadelphia and 40.3 miles from Dover.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 58.2 miles (93.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.65 one way or $23.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Philadelphia and Sunny near Dover.

Stop Ideas Near Bear

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Bear and the surrounding midpoint area.
Old Town Hall Museum
Scenic stop 7.6 mi away

Old Town Hall Museum

Wilmington , DE
512 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19801, United States
Rating 4.5/5 2 reviews Tourist attraction,Museum
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 7.8 mi away

City of Wilmington

Wilmington , DE
800 N French St, Wilmington, DE 19801
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City Hall
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 4.2 mi away

Newport Town Administration

Newport , DE
226 N James St, Newport, DE 19804
Rating 2.5/5 2 reviews Auditorium

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bear.

RAIL

Newark

9 mi away
429 South College Ave.
RAIL

Wilmington station

15 mi away
100 South French Street
RAIL

Downingtown

42 mi away
West Lancaster Ave. and Stuart Ave.
RAIL

Coatesville

42 mi away
Third Ave. and Fleetwood St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Philadelphia and Dover. Straight-line distance: 58.14 mi (93.56 km).

Philadelphia

#1 Philadelphia

The sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Population1,578,487
Coordinates39.9523300, -75.1637900
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Dover

#2 Dover

City in and county seat of Kent County, Delaware, United States, and capital city of Delaware

Population38,199
Coordinates39.1581700, -75.5243700
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Philadelphia (-75.16379, 39.95233)
End: Dover (-75.52437, 39.15817)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 130 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.85 gal
10.78 L · about $11.65
Round trip
$23.29
5.7 gal · 21.56 L
Estimated CO2
25.3 kg one way
Round trip: 50.7 kg / 112 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $11.65 $23.29
Mid-grade $4.60 $13.11 $26.21
Premium $4.95 $14.12 $28.24
Diesel $5.98 $17.04 $34.09

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 Pennsylvania · Aug 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Philadelphia and Dover. The current time is 07:27:19.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.