The question of whether you can live in Newark, DE without a car depends on where you live and where you frequently go.

If you live near the campus and Main Street, you can handle a significant part of your daily life on foot. However, if you often need to go outside Newark for shopping, work, Korean markets, or medical facilities, having a car is much more convenient. In reality, most Newark residents own a car.

Public transportation is operated by DART First State. This is Delaware's official bus and public transit system, which has bus routes connecting downtown Newark and Wilmington. Traveling by DART bus from Newark to downtown Wilmington takes about 40 minutes to an hour. You can check the routes and schedules on the DART official app or website. Within the university campus, the UD Transit shuttle bus operates to support transportation between the campus and nearby residential areas.

Bicycles are a practical mode of transportation around Main Street and the campus. Newark has a relatively bike-friendly environment, with bike lanes installed on some roads. There are also many bike racks on campus, and there are bike-accessible paths like the Newark Rail Trail. During pleasant weather, using a bike for local travel allows for convenient movement without worrying about parking.

By car, I-95 and Route 1 are the main highways in Newark. I-95 connects north to Wilmington, Philadelphia, and New York, and south to Baltimore and Washington, DC. Route 1 is a major thoroughfare that runs north-south through Delaware, leading to Dover and Rehoboth Beach. During rush hours (7-9 AM, 4-7 PM), congestion occurs on I-95, so if commuting to Wilmington or Philadelphia, you should allow extra time.

Uber and Lyft are available in Newark. The area around the campus has a high demand, so rides are usually quick, but in the outskirts or late at night, wait times may be longer. A ride to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) via Uber costs around $35 to $50. To take the train, you need to travel from downtown Newark to the Wilmington Amtrak station, which can be done by driving, taking a DART bus, or using Uber.