This 210.3-mile journey from Franklin, NC to Wilmington, NC is a straightforward, single-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 30 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via Andrew Jackson Highway and US 52, with a modest 26% of the route on highways. Plan for a fuel cost of approximately $37 for this drive. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, it's well-suited for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stay. The drive traverses the Southeast region of North Carolina, offering a practical way to connect these two destinations.
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
105.1 miles from Franklin, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 210.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 210.3-mile route, meaning you'll be engaging with the road frequently rather than cruising on an interstate. While 26% of the drive is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. This suggests a route that winds through various communities and landscapes, requiring your attention as you make your way across North Carolina. The road's personality shifts between quicker highway sections and more deliberate local road segments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 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. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 210.3 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: at 0.9 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (Sides Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Turn right onto US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
12.2 mi into trip|~20m in|US 52
Turn right onto US 52
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
13.1 mi into trip|~22m in|Sides Road
Turn left onto Sides Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
77 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
102.6 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
US 52
39.2 mi
54m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
Jake Alexander Boulevard North
7.4 mi
12m
Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi
10m
Sides Road
3.6 mi
6m
Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 601
0.9 mi·1 min·US 601
2
Turn right onto US 601
7.4 mi·12 min·Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Faith Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Faith Road
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
5
Continue on South Main Gq Street
1.7 mi·2 min·South Main Gq Street
6
Turn right onto US 52
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 52
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 52
0.7 mi·57 sec·US 52
8
Turn left onto Sides Road
3.6 mi·6 min·Sides Road
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto US 52
8.9 mi·14 min·US 52
10
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South Main Street
11
Turn left onto Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi·10 min·Old Salisbury Road
12
Continue on Salisbury Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Salisbury Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 52
29 mi·39 min·US 52
14
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·26 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
15
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
16
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
17
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
19
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
23
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
25
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
26
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 30-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning will give you ample time to reach Wilmington without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 91-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway, to ensure you have enough to reach your next refueling point. The $37 estimated fuel cost is a good baseline for your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you can be flexible with departure times, but an early start is always advisable for road trips.
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 105.1 miles from Franklin, NC, or about 2h 26m 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 46 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.1 miles or 2h 26m 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 43m
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 Franklin, 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 Franklin, NC
This is one driving day of about 210.3 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Franklin, 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 105.1 mi from Franklin, NC
· 2h 26m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 195.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.89 one way
$65.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.96
$71.92
premium
$4.70
$38.92
$77.84
diesel
$5.61
$46.43
$92.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Efficient EV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
EV Truck/SUV
84.1
1
$29.44
$13.46
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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Franklin, NC
Afternoon
in Franklin on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon
in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
105 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
3 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
4h 30m 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 Franklin, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 210.3 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, US 52, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.1 miles from Franklin, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.89 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 210.3 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: at 0.9 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (Sides Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Franklin, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
