Origin
Sneads Ferry, NC
Afternoon in Sneads Ferry on Friday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sneads Ferry, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
47.5 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sneads Ferry, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sneads Ferry, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 47.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Wilmington Highway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, US 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.5 miles on Wilmington Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 47.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 47.5 miles, with most of the trip on Wilmington Highway and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.5 miles on Wilmington Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilmington Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilmington Highway and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near NC 172 / NC Highway 172.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (NC 172 / NC Highway 172): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (US 17 / Wilmington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NC 172 / NC Highway 172
Turn left onto NC 172 / NC Highway 172
Navigation decision point
4
6.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 17 / Wilmington Highway
Turn left onto US 17 / Wilmington Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
41.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
6
41.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
45.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sneads Ferry, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
41.3 mi in
|
~56m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Highway | 14.5 mi | 20m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| US 17 | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| NC Highway 172 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| US 421 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Country Club Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ocean Highway East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 14.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sneads Ferry, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Country Club Road
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
Country Club Road
2
Continue on Country Club Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Country Club Road
3
Turn left onto NC 172
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
NC Highway 172
4
Continue on NC 172
452 ft
·
7 sec
·
Sneads Ferry Road
5
Turn left onto US 17
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Wilmington Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on NC 140
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
9
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
11
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
12
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
13
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from Sneads Ferry, NC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Sneads Ferry, 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
$7.43 one way
$14.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.12 | $16.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.79 | $17.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 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 | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
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
Afternoon in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Hampstead, NC
24 mi in
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
1 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 5m 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 Sneads Ferry, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 47.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilmington Highway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, US 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Sneads Ferry, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.43 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 5m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (NC 172 / NC Highway 172): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (US 17 / Wilmington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Sneads Ferry, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
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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