Origin
Richlands, NC
Afternoon in Richlands on Thursday
Local time
12:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
71.1 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richlands, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 71.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Richlands Highway, Gregory Fork Road, Fowler Manning Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.12 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 71.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 71.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richlands Highway 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. 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 Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 17m 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 Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richlands Highway | — | — |
| Gregory Fork Road | — | — |
| Fowler Manning Road | — | — |
| Catherine Lake Road | — | — |
| Cypress Creek Road | — | — |
| Back Swamp Road | — | — |
| North College Road | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Richlands Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
2
Turn left onto Richlands Highway
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Richlands Highway
3
Turn right onto Gregory Fork Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Gregory Fork Road
4
Turn left onto Fowler Manning Road
3.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Fowler Manning Road
5
Turn right onto Catherine Lake Road
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Catherine Lake Road
6
Turn left onto Cypress Creek Road
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Cypress Creek Road
7
Continue on Back Swamp Road
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Back Swamp Road
8
At the end of the road, turn left onto Cypress Creek Road
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Cypress Creek Road
9
At the end of the road, turn left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
10
Turn right
13 mi
·
18 min
11
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
12
Merge slight left
22 mi
·
23 min
13
Continue on North College Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
14
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
15
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kerr Avenue
16
Turn right onto Market Street
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
17
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 16th Street
18
Turn right onto Wooster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Wooster Street
19
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 3rd Street
20
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.6 mi from Richlands, NC · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Richlands, 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
$11.12 one way
$22.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.16 | $24.31 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.70 | $31.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
12:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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 17m 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 Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 71.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richlands Highway, Gregory Fork Road, Fowler Manning Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.6 miles from Richlands, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.12 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 Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 17m 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 Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richlands, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Wilmington, NC
More from Richlands, NC
More trips to Wilmington, NC
Explore more options from Richlands, NC or browse trips ending in Wilmington, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Richlands, NC or Wilmington, NC on MapSof.net.