Getting Around Greater Wilmington, Delaware and the Brandywine Valley

Navigating around Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley couldn’t be easier.

Because of Wilmington’s compact size and the grid pattern of its streets, similar to Philadelphia, it is a breeze to make your way around the city on foot. If it’s too far to walk, other sites and attractions -- like those in the Brandywine Valley – can be reached by a quick car or bus ride. As the locals like to say, nothing here is more than 15 minutes away … from restaurants, to shopping, to sporting events, to history and culture.

Wilmington is located just off the Interstate 95 corridor, with Philadelphia 30 minutes to the north and Baltimore an hour to the south. Our central location makes us easily reachable by car for most of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

No car? No problem!

Philadelphia International Airport

The Philadelphia International Airport is less than 30 minutes away. In fact, you can reach downtown Wilmington in the same amount of time it takes you to reach Center City, Philadelphia from the airport.

Frontier Airlines

Beginning in May 2020, Frontier Airlines will begin offering non-stop service several times a week between the New Castle Airport and Orlando, Florida. Located just five miles south of Wilmington, this airport is super convenient. Free parking is located right next to the terminal, and the airport’s small size makes arrival and check-in quick and easy.

Amtrak

Amtrak is another excellent option for reaching the city. The train station, located within walking distance of downtown and just a few minutes’ walk from Wilmington’s thriving Riverfront, is served by Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela Express trains going south to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and going north to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. Greyhound bus lines and several car rental companies also operate out of the station.

Ride Sharing

Catching an Uber or Lyft to jet around town can be the most convenient way to get from point A to point B, particularly if a trip to the rolling hills of Chateau Country and the Brandywine Valley is on the itinerary. The Zipcar car-sharing service is another convenient option, with several pickup spots downtown and in the nearby college town of Newark.

DART

DART First State offers an easy and inexpensive way to get around the region with more than 40 bus routes running throughout northern Delaware. Bus routes and schedules can be accessed at www.dartfirststate.com. DART also operates a commuter rail that runs between Philadelphia and the Newark Amtrak station with additional stops in the town of Claymont, the Wilmington Amtrak station, and Churchman’s Crossing in Newark.

Jack A. Markell Trail

Delaware is ranked the sixth most bicycle-friendly state in the country, according to the League of American Bicyclists. One of the state’s newest offerings to cyclists and walkers alike creates yet another way to explore the area: the Jack A. Markell Trail. The trail, just under 16 miles round-trip, connects the shops, restaurants, attractions and hotels of Wilmington’s thriving Riverfront with the town of historic New Castle, a Colonial treasure located on the banks of the Delaware River. Visitors can rent a set of wheels at the DuPont Environmental Education Center, located right on the trail along the Riverfront.

Riverfront Wilmington River Taxi

Also along the Riverfront is the Riverfront Wilmington River Taxi. When the weather is warm, the water taxi is a fun way to visit stops along the Riverfront including a number of restaurants that offer outdoor seating, Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, and the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard.

When it comes to getting around Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley, there are plenty of options. And with everything so close together, visitors can cover a lot of ground in just a day. But once you get here, we have a feeling you’ll want to stay longer.  Start planning your visit with our free Visitors Guide.