Origin
Havelock, NC
Afternoon in Havelock on Friday
Local time
2:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Havelock, 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
103.2 mi
166 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 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Havelock, NC
Gundula Vogel
Trip Overview
The drive from Havelock, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 103.2 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jaycee Street, East Main Street, Miller Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.14 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
51.6 miles from Havelock, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 103.2 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h drive with frequent turns across 103.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jaycee Street 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 Havelock, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 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 Havelock, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jaycee Street | — | — |
| East Main Street | — | — |
| Miller Boulevard | — | — |
| Lake Road | — | — |
| Nine Mile Road | — | — |
| Cedar Point Boulevard | — | — |
| West Corbett Avenue | — | — |
| Freedom Way | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Jaycee Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Havelock, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Cunningham Boulevard
331 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cunningham Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Jaycee Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Jaycee Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn slight left onto Miller Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Miller Boulevard
5
Turn left onto Lake Road
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Lake Road
6
Continue on Nine Mile Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Nine Mile Road
7
At the end of the road, turn right
8.1 mi
·
12 min
8
Continue on Cedar Point Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Cedar Point Boulevard
9
Continue on West Corbett Avenue
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
West Corbett Avenue
10
Continue on Freedom Way
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Freedom Way
11
Continue on Lejeune Boulevard
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Lejeune Boulevard
12
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
13
Continue on Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
14
Continue on KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
15
Take the exit slight left
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
16
Merge slight right onto Wilmington Highway
29 mi
·
41 min
·
Wilmington Highway
17
Continue straight
8.1 mi
·
12 min
18
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
20
Turn right
3.9 mi
·
5 min
21
Keep slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
22
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
23
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
24
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 3rd Street
25
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 51.6 miles from Havelock, NC, or about 1h 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.6 miles or 1h 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 39m
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 Havelock, 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 Havelock, NC
This is one driving day of about 103.2 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Havelock, 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 51.6 mi from Havelock, NC · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 51.6 miles from Havelock, 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
$16.14 one way
$32.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.65 | $35.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.10 | $38.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.79 | $45.57 |
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: 36.1 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 | 31 | 0 | $10.84 | $4.95 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.45 | $6.60 |
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
2:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Jacksonville, NC
52 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
19 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 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 Havelock, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 103.2 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jaycee Street, East Main Street, Miller Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.6 miles from Havelock, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.14 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 Havelock, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 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 Havelock, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Havelock, 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.
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