How far is Wilmington, DE from Elsmere, DE?
The driving distance from Wilmington, DE to Elsmere, DE is about 3.5 miles (5.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 11m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 2.8 miles (4.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 11m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Elsmere.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Elsmere.
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1
Start on North King Street
3071 ft · 2 min · North King Street
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2
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
2588 ft · 2 min · East 2nd Street
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3
Turn left onto North Monroe Street
795 ft · 29 sec · North Monroe Street
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4
Turn slight right onto Maryland Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Maryland Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Race Street
832 ft · 14 sec · Race Street
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6
Continue on South Dupont Road
3000 ft · 1 min · South Dupont Road
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7
Turn left onto Robert Kirkwood Highway
2699 ft · 1 min · Robert Kirkwood Highway
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8
Continue on Kirkwood Highway
615 ft · 19 sec · Kirkwood Highway
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9
Continue on Kirkwood Highway
874 ft · 29 sec · Kirkwood Highway
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10
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Robert Kirkwood Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Elsmere.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Maryland Avenue
Turn slight right onto Maryland Avenue
1.29 mi · 00h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Wilmington and Sunny near Elsmere.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Elsmere?
The road trip is about 3.5 miles (5.7 km) and usually takes 00h 11m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Newport is a useful midpoint, sitting about 2 miles from Wilmington and 1.6 miles from Elsmere.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 2.8 miles (4.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:06 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.53 one way or $1.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Sunny near Elsmere.
Stop Ideas Near Newport
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Old Town Hall Museum
CHESTER CITY HALL
Newport Town Administration
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Newport.
Wilmington station
Newark
Downingtown
Exton
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Elsmere. Straight-line distance: 2.77 mi (4.46 km).
#1 Wilmington
The largest city in New Castle County, Delaware.
| Population | 70,376 |
| Coordinates | 39.7459500, -75.5465900 |
| Altitude | 28 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Elsmere
Town in Delaware
| Population | 5,761 |
| Coordinates | 39.7392800, -75.5979800 |
| Altitude | 31 |
| Country | United States |
End: Robert Kirkwood Highway (-75.597949, 39.739351)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 6 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 03m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $0.53 | $1.06 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $0.60 | $1.20 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $0.64 | $1.29 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $0.78 | $1.55 |
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 · May 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.