Origin
Kenly, NC
Late night in Kenly on Friday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenly, NC to Wilmington, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
115.6 mi
186 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenly, NC
R9 Media Photo Collective
Trip Overview
This 115.6-mile drive from Kenly, NC, to Wilmington, NC, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Designed for a single day, it's ideal for a quick trip without the need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be on major highways, indicating a focused, efficient travel experience. This route keeps you within the Southeast region, so you won't encounter significant changes in scenery or culture, but rather a consistent travel feel as you head towards the coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Kenly, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 115.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 87% of the journey taking place on interstates and major roads like I-40 and I-795. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 64.6 miles on I-40, offering a good period of consistent speed. While largely a highway experience, the initial and final segments might involve navigating through or around towns on US-13 and other connecting roads. Overall, it's a route built for steady progress rather than winding scenic exploration, making it predictable and efficient for getting to your destination.
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 64.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 13. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 301 / North Church Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 115.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 301 / North Church Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (NC 222 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (NC 222 / East 2nd Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 301 / North Church Street
Turn left onto US 301 / North Church Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 222 / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto NC 222 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NC 222 / East 2nd Street
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 222 / East 2nd Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
43.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Turn left toward I 40
Navigation decision point
Toward I 40
4
114.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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 | 64.6 mi | 1h 9m |
| US 13 | 20.2 mi | 26m |
| I 795 | 10.8 mi | 11m |
| East 2nd Street | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| NC 581 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Market Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North College Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenly, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on this road
43 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 301
208 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Church Street
3
Turn left onto NC 222
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 222
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
East 2nd Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
6
Merge onto I 795
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 795
7
Continue on NC 581
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 581
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 13; US 117 Connector
20 mi
·
26 min
·
US 13; US 117 Connector
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 40
10
Merge onto I 40
65 mi
·
1 hr 9 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 its short duration of just over two hours, this drive offers great flexibility. You can easily depart Kenly at your convenience, perhaps after a leisurely breakfast, and still arrive in Wilmington with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider the longest stretch of 64.6 miles on I-40 as a good point to take a brief break if needed, though you'll likely find services along the way. With a fuel cost of only $18, you won't need to worry much about budgeting for gas, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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 57.8 miles from Kenly, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.6 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 12m 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 52m
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 Kenly, 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 Kenly, NC
This is one driving day of about 115.6 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Kenly, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 64.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.8 mi from Kenly, NC · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.8 miles from Kenly, 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 64.6 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
$18.08 one way
$36.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.77 | $39.53 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.40 | $42.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.52 | $51.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.14 | $5.55 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.18 | $7.40 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Late night in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
12:38 AM
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 20m 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 Kenly, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 13, I 795. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.8 miles from Kenly, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.08 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 115.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 301 / North Church Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (NC 222 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (NC 222 / East 2nd Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Kenly, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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