Origin
Belmont, NC
Afternoon in Belmont on Sunday
Local time
3:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belmont, NC to Wilmington, NC
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
211.3 mi
340 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Belmont, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Belmont to Wilmington, prepare for a 211.3-mile journey that takes approximately 4 hours and 21 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy, local drive, it is best suited for a single-day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend about $34 on fuel for the trek, so budget accordingly before you head out. Navigating through the Southeast requires a mix of patience and focus as you transition between Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, and the Monroe Expressway. Since the route relies heavily on local roads, you will find it moves at a different pace than a standard interstate commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.6 miles from Belmont, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a driving experience defined by its turn-heavy local nature, as only 20% of this route consists of traditional highways. You will spend the majority of your time navigating regional roads rather than coasting on a monotonous interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 91-mile segment along the Andrew Jackson Highway, which serves as the backbone of your trip. Because the route is not dominated by high-speed transit, you should stay alert for frequent transitions between local thoroughfares. This is a hands-on drive that rewards drivers who prefer navigating local terrain over the repetitive nature of highway cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 91 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 211.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
10.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36
Toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Ch...
9
10.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brooksh...
8
14.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 2B
Toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Bou...
9
27.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 255
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilm...
7
77.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Towns Along This Route
Between Belmont, NC and Wilmington, NC, road signs point toward Charlotte and Bank Of America Stadium.
Charlotte
10.6 mi in
|
~14m
Bank Of America Stadium
10.6 mi in
|
~14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 91 mi | 1h 50m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| Monroe Expressway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| G R Kindley Freeway | 14.9 mi | 16m |
| W. Cliff Martin Highway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Cameron Morrison Bridge | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| East Independence Expressway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Independence Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmont, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on this road
121 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Glenway Street
355 ft
·
19 sec
·
Glenway Street
3
Turn right onto NC 7
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Catawba Street
4
Turn left onto NC 273
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 85 North
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 85
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
7
Continue on I 85
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 36
Toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
386 ft
·
11 sec
Toward NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
Use the left / right lanes.
10
Merge onto NC 16
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Brookshire Boulevard
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on NC 16
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Brookshire Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 2B
Toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Merge onto US 74; NC 27
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the none lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
357 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
Toward US 74 East
15
Continue on US 74
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the none lane.
16
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
Use the none lane.
17
Continue on US 74
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
Exit 255
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilmington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
21
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
22
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
24
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
25
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
Use the none lane.
26
Continue on US 74
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Use the none lane.
28
Continue on US 74
15 mi
·
16 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the none lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the none lane.
31
Continue on US 74
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
32
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
34
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
35
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
36
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 4-hour and 21-minute duration, allowing you to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge, especially when navigating the local sections of the route, to ensure you remain within your $34 fuel budget. Given the significant portion of turn-heavy local roads, prioritize daylight travel to ensure you can clearly see the road transitions. Using your single allotted stop to refuel along the longest 91-mile stretch of the Andrew Jackson Highway is a smart way to maintain a smooth pace for the remainder of your trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.6 miles from Belmont, NC, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.6 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilmington, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belmont, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belmont, NC
This is one driving day of about 211.3 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Belmont, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 91 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.6 mi from Belmont, NC · 2h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.6 miles from Belmont, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91 miles.
Arriving in Wilmington, NC
The final approach into Wilmington, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Wilmington, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.82 one way
$67.63 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $36.84 | $73.69 |
| premium | $4.78 | $39.75 | $79.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.94 | $93.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.19 | $10.14 |
| Efficient EV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.49 | $8.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.5 | 1 | $29.58 | $13.52 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
3:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Belmont, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 211.3 miles and takes about 4h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Monroe Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.6 miles from Belmont, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 211.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Belmont, NC and Wilmington, NC, road signs point toward Charlotte and Bank Of America Stadium.
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