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Trip from Benson, NC to Wilmington, NC

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 57m

Distance

101.6 mi

163 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in North Carolina, United States

Benson, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 101.6-mile drive from Benson to Wilmington, North Carolina, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under two hours, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimated around $16, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes major highways, offering a direct path through the Southeast region of North Carolina. Given its short duration and highway focus, it doesn't necessitate an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your travel plans.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

50.8 miles from Benson, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for 93% of this 101.6-mile journey, primarily on I-40. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 92.1 miles on I-40, which means long periods of consistent driving. While the majority is interstate, the final portion will transition to Market Street and North College Road as you approach Wilmington. This shift from high-speed highway to more urban arterial roads marks the change in scenery and driving pace.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 92.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Market Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Lambert Drive.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Lambert Drive): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Ellis Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Lambert Drive

Turn right onto West Lambert Drive

Navigation decision point

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Ellis Drive

Turn right onto North Ellis Drive

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street

Turn left onto NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street

Navigation decision point

7
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
5
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Wilmington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 40 East: Wilmington

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 92.1 mi 1h 39m
Market Street 2.3 mi 4m
North College Road 1.2 mi 1m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway 1.1 mi 1m
Wooster Street 1 mi 2m
North Kerr Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
I 95 0.8 mi <1m
South 16th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 92.1 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Benson, NC and Wilmington, NC.

1

Start on US 301; NC 242

69 ft · 4 sec · North Wall Street
2

Turn right onto West Lambert Drive

186 ft · 10 sec · West Lambert Drive
3

Turn right onto North Ellis Drive

144 ft · 12 sec · North Ellis Drive
4

Turn left onto NC 50; NC 242

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
6

Merge onto I 95

0.8 mi · 53 sec · I 95
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
9

Merge onto I 40

92 mi · 1 hr 39 min · I 40
10

Continue on US 117; NC 132

1.2 mi · 1 min · North College Road
11

Turn right onto US 74

1.1 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
12

Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Kerr Avenue
13

Turn right onto US 17 Business

2.3 mi · 4 min · Market Street
14

Turn left onto South 16th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South 16th Street
15

Turn right onto US 17; US 76

1.0 mi · 2 min · Wooster Street
16

Turn right onto US 17 Business

92 ft · 2 sec · South 3rd Street
17

Arrive at destination

US 17 Business

Trip Plan

For this relatively short 1 hour and 57-minute drive, you have the advantage of flexibility. Consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential traffic as you enter Wilmington. Since the longest stretch is 92.1 miles on I-40, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before getting on that long segment. The $16 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always keep an eye on your gauge. A practical tip: take advantage of the urban roads like Market Street and North College Road to familiarize yourself with the approach to Wilmington, as they lead directly into the city.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Benson, NC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.1 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 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 50.8 miles or 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 32m

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 Benson, 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 Benson, NC

This is one driving day of about 101.6 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Benson, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 92.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.8 mi from Benson, NC · 57m into the drive

city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goldsboro, NC

51 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

Goldsboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Goldsboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.8 miles from Benson, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.1 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

Moores Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free near mile 80.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.89 one way

$31.78 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $17.37 $34.74
premium $4.70 $18.80 $37.61
diesel $5.61 $22.43 $44.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.5 0 $10.67 $4.88
Efficient EV 25.4 0 $8.89 $4.06
EV Truck/SUV 40.6 0 $14.22 $6.50

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Benson, NC

Night in Benson on Tuesday

Local time

11:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wilmington, NC

Night in Wilmington on Tuesday

Local time

11:11 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

1h 57m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Benson, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 101.6 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Market Street, North College Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.8 miles from Benson, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Lambert Drive): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Ellis Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Benson, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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