The drive from Lowesville, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 214.3 miles and takes about 4h 26m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Monroe Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
107.2 miles from Lowesville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 214.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 26m drive with frequent turns across 214.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near NC 16 BUS.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 214.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (NC 16 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (NC 16 / Brookshire Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.4 mi into trip|~3m in|NC 16 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 16 BUS toward NC 16 South: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward NC 16 South: Charlotte
6
10.7 mi into trip|~15m in|NC 16 / Brookshire Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 16 / Brookshire Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
17.7 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 2B
Toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Bou...
9
30.5 mi into trip|~43m in|US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 255
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilm...
6
106.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi
21m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
NC 16 BUS
10.7 mi
15m
East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi
6m
Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowesville, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Old Plank Road
77 ft·4 sec·Old Plank Road
2
Turn right onto NC 16 BUS
2.3 mi·3 min·NC 16 BUS
3
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 16 BUS
8.3 mi·11 min·NC 16 BUS
Toward NC 16 South: CharlotteUse the straight lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 16
3.3 mi·5 min·Brookshire Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on NC 16
3.6 mi·5 min·Brookshire Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 2BToward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence BoulevardUse the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto US 74; NC 27
3.3 mi·4 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
357 ft·4 sec·East Independence Boulevard
Toward US 74 East
9
Continue on US 74
2.1 mi·2 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·3 min·East Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 74
4.5 mi·6 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
19 mi·21 min·Monroe Expressway
Exit 255Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, WilmingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi·27 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·West Marshville Boulevard
15
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
16
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi·9 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
18
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
19
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
20
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
22
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
26
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
28
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
29
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
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 107.2 miles from Lowesville, NC, or about 2h 20m 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.2 miles or 2h 20m 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 38m
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 Lowesville, 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 Lowesville, NC
This is one driving day of about 214.3 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Lowesville, 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 107.2 mi from Lowesville, NC
· 2h 20m 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 199.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.29
Efficient EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
EV Truck/SUV
85.7
1
$30.00
$13.72
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lowesville, NC
Afternoon
in Lowesville on Friday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon
in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Rockingham, NC
107 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 26m 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 Lowesville, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 214.3 miles and takes about 4h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Monroe Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.2 miles from Lowesville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.51 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 214.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (NC 16 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (NC 16 / Brookshire Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lowesville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
