Origin
Rose Hill, NC
Evening in Rose Hill on Thursday
Local time
7:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rose Hill, NC to Wilmington, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Rose Hill, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Market Street, West Charity Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h highway drive covering 49.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Market Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 40 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 40 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Market Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 1102 / West Charity Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 1102 / West Charity Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 1102 / West Charity Road
Turn left onto SR 1102 / West Charity Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
44.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
North Kerr Avenue
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
48.1 mi into trip
|
~58m 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 | 40 mi | 43m |
| Market Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| West Charity Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| North College Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Wooster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Kerr Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South 16th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 40 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rose Hill, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 117
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Sycamore Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1102
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Charity Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
40 mi
·
43 min
·
I 40
5
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
6
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
7
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kerr Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
9
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 16th Street
10
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Wooster Street
11
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 3rd Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Rose Hill, NC · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Rose Hill, 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
$7.68 one way
$15.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.40 | $16.79 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.09 | $18.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Evening in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
7:02 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
30 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 Rose Hill, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Market Street, West Charity Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Rose Hill, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.68 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 is a straightforward 1h drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 1102 / West Charity Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Rose Hill, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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