Origin
Burnsville, NC
Afternoon in Burnsville on Saturday
Local time
4:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burnsville, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
160.6 mi
258 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burnsville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This 160.6-mile journey from Burnsville, NC to Wilmington, NC is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 3 hours and 14 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, and G R Kindley Freeway, with about 18% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $25. Given its manageable length and the nature of the roads, it's well-suited as a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent regional experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.3 miles from Burnsville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 91 mi | 1h 50m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| G R Kindley Freeway | 14.9 mi | 16m |
| NC 742 | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| Ocean Highway East | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| West Caswell Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Salisbury Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnsville, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on NC 742
13 mi
·
18 min
·
NC 742
2
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 52; NC 742
3
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
4
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
5
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
6
Continue on US 74
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
8
Continue on US 74
15 mi
·
16 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 74
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
12
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
14
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
15
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 14-minute drive, departing in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete your journey. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 91-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $25 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your preferences or local traffic conditions.
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 80.3 miles from Burnsville, NC, or about 1h 37m 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 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.3 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
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 Burnsville, 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 Burnsville, NC
This is one driving day of about 160.6 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Burnsville, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.3 miles from Burnsville, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 160.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
13.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 52; NC 742
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
Navigation decision point
4
13.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Navigation decision point
5
27.3 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
6
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
160.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
|
US 421; US 17 Business / South 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.11 one way
$50.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $27.46 | $54.92 |
| premium | $4.70 | $29.72 | $59.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.46 | $70.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.86 | $7.71 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.05 | $6.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.2 | 0 | $22.48 | $10.28 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Saturday
Local time
4:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. While 18% of the drive involves highway travel, the majority of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 91 miles along Andrew Jackson Highway. This suggests a driving experience that requires more active navigation and less high-speed cruising, with a character that likely shifts as you move between different local road segments.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in near US 52; NC 742.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 14m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles (US 52; NC 742): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles (US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway): Navigation decision point; at 27.3 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →Wilmington is a city in the southeastern part of North Carolina. It is the county seat of New Hanover County, and home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Memorial, the Cape Fear Museum, Airlie Gardens, and a large historic district. It is convenient to nearby beaches, and is a relatively short drive from the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, SC, and the I-95 corridor.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 160.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles (US 52; NC 742): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles (US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway): Navigation decision point; at 27.3 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Wilmington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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