Origin
Fairfield Harbour, NC
Afternoon in Fairfield Harbour on Thursday
Local time
4:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
111.1 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield Harbour, NC
Michael Ken
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 111.1 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Caracara Drive, Cassowary Lane, Broad Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.5 miles from Fairfield Harbour, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 111.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 3m drive with frequent turns across 111.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Caracara Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 3m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Caracara Drive | — | — |
| Cassowary Lane | — | — |
| Broad Creek Road | — | — |
| Freedom Memorial Bridge | — | — |
| US 17 South | — | — |
| North Marine Boulevard | — | — |
| Wilmington Highway | — | — |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Caracara Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield Harbour, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Pelican Drive
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Pelican Drive
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Caracara Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Caracara Drive
3
Turn left onto Cassowary Lane
466 ft
·
25 sec
·
Cassowary Lane
4
Turn left onto Broad Creek Road
5.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Broad Creek Road
5
Turn left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
6
Keep slight left
3.3 mi
·
4 min
7
Merge slight left onto Freedom Memorial Bridge
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Freedom Memorial Bridge
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 South: Jacksonville
30 mi
·
37 min
·
US 17 South: Jacksonville
9
Keep slight right to continue on North Marine Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Marine Boulevard
10
Continue on North Marine Boulevard
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Marine Boulevard
11
Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Highway
25 mi
·
34 min
·
Wilmington Highway
12
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
7 min
13
Continue straight
8.1 mi
·
12 min
14
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
16
Turn right
3.9 mi
·
5 min
17
Keep slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
18
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
19
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
20
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 55.5 miles from Fairfield Harbour, NC, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 1m 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 41m
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 Fairfield Harbour, 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 Fairfield Harbour, NC
This is one driving day of about 111.1 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Fairfield Harbour, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.5 mi from Fairfield Harbour, NC · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.5 miles from Fairfield Harbour, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$17.37 one way
$34.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.00 | $37.99 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.56 | $41.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.53 | $49.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.67 | $5.33 |
| Efficient EV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.72 | $4.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.55 | $7.11 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
4:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Jacksonville, NC
56 mi in
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 3m 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 Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 111.1 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Caracara Drive, Cassowary Lane, Broad Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.5 miles from Fairfield Harbour, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.37 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.
The drive from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 3m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fairfield Harbour, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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