Trip from Jacksonville, NC to Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

77 mi

124 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Jacksonville, NC, NC

Jacksonville, NC

Michael Ken

Downtown Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, NC

Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

Bobby Dimas

Trip Overview

The drive from Jacksonville, NC to Boiling Spring Lakes, NC covers 77 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Wilmington Highway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, US 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.32 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

38.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 77 miles, with most of the trip on Wilmington Highway and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilmington Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilmington Highway and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77 miles you will encounter 5 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: near the start (US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard

Depart onto US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
1.1 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
64.6 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
5
65 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | US 17 / Ocean Highway East

Merge onto US 17 / Ocean Highway East

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
68.9 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | NC 87

Take the exit onto NC 87

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.

Myrtle Beach

64.6 mi in | ~1h 23m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Wilmington Highway 24.9 mi 34m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway 24.9 mi 26m
US 17 13.7 mi 20m
NC 87 8.1 mi 11m
Ocean Highway East 3.9 mi 5m
Marine Boulevard 1.1 mi 1m
George II Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Wilmington Highway — 24.9 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Boiling Spring Lakes, NC.

1

Start on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business

1.1 mi · 1 min · Marine Boulevard
Use the none lane.
2

Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business

25 mi · 34 min · Wilmington Highway
Use the straight lane.
3

Continue on US 17; NC 210

5.6 mi · 7 min · US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on US 17; NC 210

8.1 mi · 12 min · US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on NC 140

25 mi · 26 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto US 17

3.9 mi · 5 min · Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit onto NC 87

8.1 mi · 11 min · NC 87
Use the none lane.
9

Arrive at destination

NC 87

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 38.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 77 miles or 1h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38.5 miles or 55m 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boiling Spring Lakes, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, NC

This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jacksonville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Wilmington Highway for about 24.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.5 mi from Jacksonville, NC · 55m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wilmington, NC

39 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

Wilmington, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wilmington, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

The final approach into Boiling Spring Lakes, 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 Boiling Spring Lakes, 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

$12.32 one way

$24.65 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $13.43 $26.85
premium $4.78 $14.48 $28.97
diesel $5.64 $17.11 $34.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.1 0 $8.08 $3.70
Efficient EV 19.3 0 $6.74 $3.08
EV Truck/SUV 30.8 0 $10.78 $4.93

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Jacksonville, NC

Afternoon in Jacksonville on Sunday

Local time

4:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

Afternoon in Boiling Spring Lakes on Sunday

Local time

4:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°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

19 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

1h 41m 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 Jacksonville, NC to Boiling Spring Lakes, NC covers 77 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilmington Highway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, US 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 77 miles you will encounter 5 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: near the start (US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.

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