Origin
Four Oaks, NC
Afternoon in Four Oaks on Friday
Local time
2:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Four Oaks, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h
Distance
102.5 mi
165 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Four Oaks, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This straightforward 102.5-mile drive from Four Oaks, NC, to Wilmington, NC, can easily be completed in about 2 hours, making it a perfect day trip. The majority of this journey, 88%, is on highways, primarily I-40, offering a quick transit between these two Southeast North Carolina locations. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, this route is budget-friendly. The profile suggests a highway-focused experience, so expect a direct path rather than a winding scenic tour. There are no designated stops in the data, but given the short duration, you can easily add personal breaks as needed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Four Oaks, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 102.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The road character for this trip is decidedly highway-focused, with 88% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of the 102.5 miles on I-40, experiencing a long stretch of 86.4 uninterrupted miles. While this means efficient travel, expect a more functional than scenic experience for most of the journey. The route transitions from NC 96 and Hockaday Road onto I-40, indicating a shift from local roads to faster-paced interstate driving as you progress towards Wilmington.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 86.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Hockaday Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (Wood Lee Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (NC 96): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Wood Lee Road
Turn left onto Wood Lee Road
Navigation decision point
4
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
NC 96
Turn right onto NC 96
Navigation decision point
6
8.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
101.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
US 17; US 76 / Wooster Street
Turn right onto US 17; US 76 / Wooster Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 86.4 mi | 1h 32m |
| Hockaday Road | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| NC 96 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Market Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Wood Lee Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North College Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Wooster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 86.4 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Four Oaks, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 301
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Wellons Street
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on Hockaday Mill Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hockaday Mill Road
4
Continue on Hockaday Road
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Hockaday Road
5
Turn left onto Wood Lee Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Wood Lee Road
6
Turn left onto Stricklands Crossroads Road
401 ft
·
11 sec
·
Stricklands Crossroads Road
7
Turn right onto NC 96
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NC 96
8
Turn left onto NC 96
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
NC 96
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
86 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
I 40
11
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
12
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
13
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kerr Avenue
14
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
15
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 16th Street
16
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Wooster Street
17
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration of this 102.5-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Four Oaks in the morning will get you to Wilmington with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch is 86.4 miles on I-40, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get on the interstate, as services might be less frequent on the initial segments. The estimated fuel cost is $16, so keep that in mind for your budget. This is a drive where you can easily add your own points of interest or stops without significantly impacting your travel time.
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 51.3 miles from Four Oaks, NC, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.4 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 59m 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 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 Four Oaks, 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 Four Oaks, NC
This is one driving day of about 102.5 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Four Oaks, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 86.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.3 mi from Four Oaks, NC · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Four Oaks, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.4 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
$16.03 one way
$32.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.53 | $35.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $18.97 | $37.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.63 | $45.26 |
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: 35.9 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 | 30.8 | 0 | $10.76 | $4.92 |
| Efficient EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.97 | $4.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41 | 0 | $14.35 | $6.56 |
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.
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
2:12 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
3 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
2h 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 Four Oaks, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 102.5 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Hockaday Road, NC 96. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.3 miles from Four Oaks, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.03 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 is a straightforward 2h drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (Wood Lee Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (NC 96): Navigation decision point.
The route from Four Oaks, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Wilmington, NC
More trips to Wilmington, NC
Explore more options from Four Oaks, NC or browse trips ending in Wilmington, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.