Origin
Sawmills, NC
Late night in Sawmills on Saturday
Local time
4:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sawmills, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 19m
Distance
268.8 mi
433 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sawmills, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Sawmills, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 268.8 miles and takes about 4h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pinewood Road, Hickory Boulevard, North Chester Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.03 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
134.4 miles from Sawmills, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 268.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m 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 4h 19m drive with frequent turns across 268.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pinewood Road 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.
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 4h 19m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sawmills, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pinewood Road | — | — |
| Hickory Boulevard | — | — |
| North Chester Street | — | — |
| I 85 North | — | — |
| Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway | — | — |
| Cameron Morrison Bridge | — | — |
| NC 16 | — | — |
| NC 16 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Pinewood Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sawmills, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on the route
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Pinewood Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Pinewood Road
3
Turn right onto Hickory Boulevard
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Hickory Boulevard
4
Continue on North Chester Street
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Chester Street
5
Take the exit straight toward I 85 North: Charlotte
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 85 North: Charlotte
6
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
7
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
8
Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
9
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
10
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Brookshire Boulevard
11
Continue on Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Brookshire Freeway
12
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
13
Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Independence Expressway
14
Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard
358 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
15
Continue on East Independence Expressway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Independence Expressway
16
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
17
Continue on Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
18
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
19
Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
20
Continue on West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
21
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
22
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
23
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
24
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
25
Continue on West Caswell Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
26
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
27
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
28
Continue on G R Kindley Freeway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
29
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
30
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
31
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
32
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
33
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
34
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
35
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
36
Arrive at your destination
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 134.4 miles from Sawmills, NC, or about 2h 9m 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 59 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.4 miles or 2h 9m 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 33m
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 Sawmills, 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 Sawmills, NC
This is one driving day of about 268.8 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Sawmills, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 134.4 mi from Sawmills, NC · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.4 miles from Sawmills, 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
$42.03 one way
$84.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $45.96 | $91.92 |
| premium | $4.70 | $49.75 | $99.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.35 | $118.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.6 | 0 | $28.22 | $12.90 |
| Efficient EV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.52 | $10.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.5 | 1 | $37.63 | $17.20 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Saturday
Local time
4:34 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 19m 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 Sawmills, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 268.8 miles and takes about 4h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pinewood Road, Hickory Boulevard, North Chester Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 134.4 miles from Sawmills, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.03 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 straightforward 4h 19m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sawmills, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sawmills, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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