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Trip from Southern Pines, 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

2h 43m

Distance

132.5 mi

213 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 33m ★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Southern Pines, NC, NC

Southern Pines, NC

Alex Borelli

Trip Overview

The drive from Southern Pines, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 132.5 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, US 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.4 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.72 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

66.2 miles from Southern Pines, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 132.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (13%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 43m drive with frequent turns across 132.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 64.4 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Broad Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Southern Pines, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 43m with 13% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 15; US 501; NC 211 / Poindexter Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (US 15;US 501): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Southwest Broad Street

Turn right onto Southwest Broad Street

Navigation decision point

5
4 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 15; US 501; NC 211 / Poindexter Street

Turn left onto US 15; US 501; NC 211 / Poindexter Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
9.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 15;US 501

Enter roundabout onto US 15;US 501

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
24.1 mi into trip | ~33m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

3
30.1 mi into trip | ~42m in | US 74 BUS / Andrew Jackson Highway

Turn left onto US 74 BUS / Andrew Jackson Highway

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway 64.4 mi 1h 18m
American Indian Highway 33.6 mi 36m
US 15 14.5 mi 19m
Poindexter Street 5.6 mi 7m
Ocean Highway East 3.1 mi 4m
Highland Road 3 mi 4m
US 1 2.8 mi 3m
McFarland Road 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Andrew Jackson Highway — 64.4 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Southern Pines, NC and Wilmington, NC.

1

Start on West Pennsylvania Avenue

38 ft · 3 sec · West Pennsylvania Avenue
2

Turn right onto Southwest Broad Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Southwest Broad Street
3

Continue on Old US Highway 1

0.6 mi · 49 sec · Old US Highway 1
4

Continue on US 1

2.8 mi · 3 min · US 1
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn left onto US 15; US 501; NC 211

5.6 mi · 7 min · Poindexter Street
Use the straight lane.
6

Enter roundabout onto US 15;US 501

115 ft · 1 sec · US 15;US 501
7

Continue on US 15;US 501

199 ft · 3 sec · US 15;US 501
8

Turn straight onto US 15; US 501

14 mi · 19 min · US 15; US 501
9

Enter roundabout

120 ft · 2 sec
10

Continue

105 ft · 1 sec
11

Turn straight onto US 15; US 501

1.2 mi · 1 min · Aberdeen Road
12

Turn slight left onto McFarland Road

1.8 mi · 2 min · McFarland Road
13

Continue on Highland Road

3.0 mi · 4 min · Highland Road
14

Turn left onto US 74 BUS

0.9 mi · 1 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
15

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
16

Merge onto US 74

3.7 mi · 4 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
17

Continue on US 74

34 mi · 36 min · American Indian Highway
18

Continue on US 74; NC 130

60 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76

3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
20

Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421

0.8 mi · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
21

Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business

0.1 mi · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
22

Arrive at destination

US 17 Business

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.2 miles from Southern Pines, NC, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 miles.

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 29 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 66.2 miles or 1h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 13m

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 Southern Pines, 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 Southern Pines, NC

This is one driving day of about 132.5 miles and 2h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Southern Pines, 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.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 64.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 66.2 mi from Southern Pines, NC · 1h 22m into the drive

Downtown Fairmont, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fairmont, NC

66 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.

Popular next leg

Fairmont, NC to Wilmington, NC

73.9 mi · 1h 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Laurinburg, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fairmont, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.2 miles from Southern Pines, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.4 miles.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

Moores Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour Free near mile 114.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.72 one way

$41.44 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $22.66 $45.31
premium $4.70 $24.52 $49.05
diesel $5.61 $29.25 $58.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.8 0 $13.91 $6.36
Efficient EV 33.1 0 $11.59 $5.30
EV Truck/SUV 53 0 $18.55 $8.48

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Southern Pines, NC

Evening in Southern Pines on Friday

Local time

6:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wilmington, NC

Evening in Wilmington on Friday

Local time

6:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Fairmont, NC

66 mi in

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

2 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

2h 43m 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 Southern Pines, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 132.5 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, US 15. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 66.2 miles from Southern Pines, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.72 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Southern Pines, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 43m with 13% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 15; US 501; NC 211 / Poindexter Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (US 15;US 501): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

The route from Southern Pines, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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