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Major city · United States

Wilmington, DelawareWilmington

Give Wilmington one full day for the riverfront and museums, or use it as a cheaper rail base between Philadelphia (25 min) and Baltimore (1 h).

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (humid), Jan–Feb (cold, snow)
Airports
ILG · PHL · BWI · EWR
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Wilmington is Delaware's largest city at about 70,000 people, on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Downtown holds Rodney Square, the riverfront and a cluster of museums; the DuPont estates — Hagley, Nemours, Winterthur — sit just outside. Most travellers pass through on the train; one night is enough to see the core, two if you want the estates.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Wilmington, Delaware, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, before tax and tip$20–40
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or casual lunch$10–18
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a store$6–9$2–4
  • Metro or bus rideDART bus ride$2.00
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Hagley, Nemours, Winterthur)check$15–25
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Rodney Square and downtownRiverfront and Chase CenterDuPont estates: Hagley, Nemours, WinterthurTax-free shoppingAmtrak Northeast Corridor stop
Airports
ILG New Castle Airport (Wilmington) (About 10 km south of downtown; limited service (Avelo, American Landline to PHL). DART bus 40 to Wilmington Station.) · PHL Philadelphia International (About 30 min by car on I-95; SEPTA Airport Line to Center City then Wilmington/Newark Line, about $9.25 (check).) · BWI Baltimore/Washington International (About 1 h 30 min by car; Amtrak or MARC connections.) · EWR Newark Liberty International (About 2 h by car; Amtrak Northeast Regional direct.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Wilmington, Delaware: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

5°C

−4°C

8 rd

Feb

7°C

−3°C

7 rd

Mar

11°C

1°C

9 rd

Apr

18°C

6°C

8 rd

May

23°C

12°C

9 rd

Jun

28°C

17°C

9 rd

Jul

31°C

20°C

9 rd

Aug

29°C

19°C

8 rd

Sep

26°C

15°C

8 rd

Oct

19°C

8°C

7 rd

Nov

13°C

3°C

7 rd

Dec

8°C

−1°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

DART First State buses cover the city and New Castle County, but run mainly Monday–Friday. Fares $2.00 per ride, no transfers; a day pass is $4.00 (check). A car is best for the DuPont estates and office parks. Downtown parking is metered (2 h limit) or in commercial garages. Uber and Lyft both operate.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

New Castle, Delaware

go

Door to door: About 30 min

DART bus or car, about 15 min south

Colonial courthouse and cobbled streets on the Delaware River; half a day.

Philadelphia

go

Door to door: About 45 min–1 h

SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line or Amtrak from Wilmington Station

SEPTA from Center City is $6.50–8.00 (check); Amtrak is faster but pricier.

Dover, Delaware

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Car on DE-1, about 1 h south

State capital, capitol building and First State Heritage Park.

Rehoboth Beach

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

Car on DE-1, about 1 h 45 min

Beach town with boardwalk; too far for a relaxed return day in summer traffic.

Baltimore

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Amtrak or MARC from Wilmington Station

Inner Harbor and Fell's Point; easy rail day trip.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Rodney Square

Walk to the museums, Amtrak station and riverfront; business hotels, quiet at night.

Riverfront

Restaurants, Chase Center and the riverwalk; 15–20 min walk or short ride from the station.

Trolley Square

Bars and restaurants near Brandywine Park; 20 min walk from downtown.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
SEPTA from Philadelphia, one way2 × US$8 · checkUS$16
DART day pass2 × US$4 · checkUS$8
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$42
Trip total≈ US$233 per person per day, bed includedUS$466

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and Amtrak excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Sandwich or casual lunch$10–18
Sit-down dinner, before tax and tip$20–40
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a store$6–9 / $2–4
Museum entry (Hagley, Nemours, Winterthur)check$15–25
DART bus ride$2.00
Rideshare across downtown$8–15

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Downtown Wilmington is fine by day; some blocks are quiet after dark. Use a rideshare at night, keep to lit streets and lock your car — property crime is the main issue, not violent crime against visitors.
  • DART buses are commuter-oriented: several routes have no Sunday service.
  • Parking meters take coins only and cap at two hours.
  • Some downtown blocks are quiet after dark; stay on lit streets and use a ride-hailing app at night.
  • Delaware has no sales tax, but that is not a discount on everything — compare prices.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Wilmington, DelawareWilmington

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Wilmington; most countries have embassies in Washington, DC, and consulates in Philadelphia or New York.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • SEPTA Philadelphia → Wilmington: $6.50–8.00, about 25–40 min (check)
  • Amtrak Wilmington → Baltimore: about $30–50, about 1 h (check)
  • DART bus ride: $2.00, day pass $4.00 (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the train station? — Where is the train station?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • I need help — I need help

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Wilmington, Delaware. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (humid), Jan–Feb (cold, snow) · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PHL and ILG: last SEPTA and DART departures field-checked, taxi and rideshare fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Rodney Square, the riverfront, Trolley Square and Brandywine Park, the station district.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (Hagley, Nemours, Winterthur, Delaware Art Museum, Old Swedes Church) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rail-day fixtures for Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington so the corridor plan can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources