Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Morning in Jacksonville on Wednesday
Local time
8:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, NC to Wilmington, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
58.2 mi
94 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksonville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Jacksonville to Wilmington, this 58.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the Southeast region of North Carolina. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 19 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, the trip is highly economical for travelers looking to move between these two coastal hubs. You will primarily navigate via Wilmington Highway, US 17, and the John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway. Because the entire route remains within the same region, you won't face drastic environmental shifts, allowing for a predictable and efficient drive.
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
29.1 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed-road experience, balancing highway efficiency with local transitions. You will spend about 53% of your travel time on highways, providing a steady rhythm as you head south. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you progress, the road shifts from the initial highway segments into the flow of the John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway near your destination. Expect a functional, balanced pace that avoids the monotony of a purely interstate route while maintaining a reliable speed for the duration of the trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.2 miles you will encounter 6 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 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
5
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
6
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 17; US 76; US 421 / Ocean Highway East
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421 / Ocean Highway East
Merge point - match speed before joining
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
52.1 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Highway | 24.9 mi | 34m |
| US 17 | 13.7 mi | 20m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| US 421 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Marine Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ocean Highway East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 24.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Marine Boulevard
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
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
7
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
9
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
10
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
11
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave whenever it suits your needs. Keep in mind that with a duration of just under an hour and a half, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for rest breaks. Budget around $9 for fuel to ensure you reach Wilmington comfortably. A practical tip for this specific route is to monitor traffic patterns on US 17, as the transition onto the John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway can experience varying congestion levels depending on the time of day. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic will help keep your travel time closer to that 1-hour and 19-minute estimate.
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 29.1 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 40m 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 58.2 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.1 miles or 40m 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 7m
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 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 58.2 miles and 1h 19m.
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 29.1 mi from Jacksonville, NC · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 58.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.1 miles from Jacksonville, 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
$9.10 one way
$18.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.77 | $21.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.85 | $25.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Morning in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
8:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
9 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
1h 19m 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 Wilmington, NC covers 58.2 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilmington Highway, US 17, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.1 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 $9.10 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 58.2 miles you will encounter 6 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 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
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