Origin
Murphy, NC
Morning in Murphy on Monday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murphy, NC to Wilmington, NC
Drive Time
7h 15m
Distance
438.5 mi
706 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 5m
★
6 AM
7h 15m
8 AM
7h 37m
10 AM
7h 23m
12 PM
7h 21m
3 PM
7h 24m
5 PM
7h 36m
8 PM
7h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murphy, NC
William Lucord
Trip Overview
The drive from Murphy, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 438.5 miles and takes about 7h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Peachtree Street, US 19, Highway 19 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.18 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
219.2 miles from Murphy, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 15m drive with frequent turns across 438.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Peachtree 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Murphy, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Peachtree Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 19 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 19 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 26 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 74 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Peachtree Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murphy, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Hiwassee Street
118 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hiwassee Street
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
3 sec
3
Turn right onto Peachtree Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Peachtree Street
4
Turn left onto US 19
24 mi
·
33 min
·
US 19
5
Continue on US Highway 19
9.9 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 19
6
Turn left
52 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Asheville
18 mi
·
23 min
·
I 40 East: Asheville
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 74 East, US 64 Truck East: Hendersonville, Spartanburg
23 mi
·
27 min
·
I 26 East, US 74 East, US 64 Truck East: Hendersonville, Spartanburg
9
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
11
Keep slight left to continue on Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
12
Continue on Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
13
Continue on James A. Callahan Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
James A. Callahan Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Dixon Boulevard
15
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
17
Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
19
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
20
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
21
Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
22
Keep slight right to continue on NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
387 ft
·
11 sec
·
NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
23
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Brookshire Boulevard
24
Continue on Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Brookshire Freeway
25
Take the exit slight left toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
26
Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Independence Expressway
27
Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard
358 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
28
Continue on East Independence Expressway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Independence Expressway
29
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
30
Continue on Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
31
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
32
Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
33
Continue on West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
34
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
35
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
36
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
37
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
38
Continue on West Caswell Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
39
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
40
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
41
Continue on G R Kindley Freeway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
42
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
43
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
44
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
45
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
46
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
47
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
48
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
49
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 219.2 miles from Murphy, NC, or about 3h 37m 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 96 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.2 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 15m
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 Murphy, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Murphy, NC
This is one driving day of about 438.5 miles and 7h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Murphy, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 219.2 mi from Murphy, NC · 3h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
219 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 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 219.2 miles from Murphy, 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
$70.18 one way
$140.35 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
153 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $76.46 | $152.92 |
| premium | $4.78 | $82.49 | $164.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $97.42 | $194.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.5 | 1 | $46.04 | $21.05 |
| Efficient EV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.37 | $17.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 175.4 | 2 | $61.39 | $28.06 |
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Monday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Boiling Springs, NC
219 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
7 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
7h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Murphy, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 438.5 miles and takes about 7h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Peachtree Street, US 19, Highway 19. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 219.2 miles from Murphy, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $70.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Murphy, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Murphy, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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