Origin
Pembroke, NC
Late night in Pembroke on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
87.8 mi
141 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pembroke, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Traveling from Pembroke to Wilmington covers 87.8 miles across the Southeast region of North Carolina. Plan for a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of the Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, and Ocean Highway East. Budget roughly $14 for fuel to complete the journey. Since the route is straightforward and relatively short, it offers a manageable transit between these two points without the exhaustion of a multi-day trek.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Pembroke, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that favors surface streets over high-speed interstate travel. You will spend 0% of your time on major interstates, meaning the pace remains steady and grounded in the local landscape. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 66.2-mile stretch along the Andrew Jackson Highway. Because the road is characterized by frequent turns rather than long, straightaways, you should stay alert and ready for a more engaged driving session than a typical highway slog.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 3rd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
170 ft
24 ft
Total Climb
53 ft
Total Descent
187 ft
Highest Point
170 ft
Elevation Range
146 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 3rd Street | — | — |
| North Chicken Road | — | — |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | — | — |
| American Indian Highway | — | — |
| Ocean Highway East | — | — |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | — | — |
| South 3rd Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pembroke, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Vance Street
121 ft
·
10 sec
·
Vance Street
2
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto North Chicken Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Chicken Road
4
Turn left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
5
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
6
Merge slight left onto American Indian Highway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
American Indian Highway
7
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
8
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
9
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
10
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
11
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the total duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the trip is direct with no required stops, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for meal or rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $14 estimate provides a good baseline for your budget. Because you are navigating local roads rather than major interstates, prioritize patience during your transit, especially when transitioning between the Andrew Jackson Highway and the other regional roads along the way.
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 43.9 miles from Pembroke, NC, or about 56m 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 56m 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 36m
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 Pembroke, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pembroke, NC
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Pembroke, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.9 mi from Pembroke, NC · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Pembroke, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.46 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.01 | $30.02 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.25 | $32.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.39 | $38.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
2:32 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
1h 52m 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 Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 3rd Street, North Chicken Road, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.9 miles from Pembroke, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.73 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.
The drive from Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Pembroke, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 24 ft to 170 ft elevation with about 53 ft of total climbing.
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