Origin
Sunset Beach, NC
Late night in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
3:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sunset Beach, 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
1h 6m
Distance
46.9 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sunset Beach, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Sunset Beach to Wilmington is a straightforward 46.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Because this trip is short and located entirely within the Southeast region of North Carolina, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel, making this an affordable transit between these coastal points. Since there are no mandatory stops required to complete the drive, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or linger along the way. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, this route is simple to navigate and requires minimal logistical planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 46.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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 with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend most of your time navigating via Ocean Highway West, Seaside Road Southwest, and Ocean Highway East. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 36.7-mile segment on Ocean Highway West, which dictates the primary character of your transit. Because the path relies on local roads, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience compared to a standard highway haul. The transition between these roads creates a varied pace that keeps you engaged behind the wheel throughout the hour-long trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ocean Highway West is the longest continuous segment at about 36.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
58 ft
20 ft
Total Climb
67 ft
Total Descent
55 ft
Highest Point
58 ft
~13.4 mi in
Elevation Range
37 ft
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 around 0.4 miles in near NC 179 Business / Sunset Boulevard North.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sunset Beach, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 179 Business / Sunset Boulevard North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (NC 179; NC 904 / Seaside Road Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway West): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 179 Business / Sunset Boulevard North
Enter roundabout onto NC 179 Business / Sunset Boulevard North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
NC 179; NC 904 / Seaside Road Southwest
Turn left onto NC 179; NC 904 / Seaside Road Southwest
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 17 / Ocean Highway West
Turn right onto US 17 / Ocean Highway West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
42.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 17
3
46.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 421; US 17 Business / South 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Highway West | 36.7 mi | 50m |
| Seaside Road Southwest | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Ocean Highway East | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Sunset Boulevard North | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Sunset Boulevard South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ocean Highway West
— 36.7 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunset Beach, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Sunset Boulevard South
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard South
2
Enter roundabout onto NC 179 Business
222 ft
·
4 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard North
3
Continue on NC 179 Business
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Sunset Boulevard North
4
Turn left onto NC 179; NC 904
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Seaside Road Southwest
5
Turn right onto US 17
37 mi
·
50 min
·
Ocean Highway West
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 17
7
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
8
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
9
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.5 mi from Sunset Beach, NC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 23.5 miles from Sunset Beach, 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
$7.33 one way
$14.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.02 | $16.04 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.68 | $17.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
3:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
W 8 mph
0% chance
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
35 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 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sunset Beach, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 46.9 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ocean Highway West, Seaside Road Southwest, Ocean Highway East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.5 miles from Sunset Beach, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.33 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 Sunset Beach, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 179 Business / Sunset Boulevard North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (NC 179; NC 904 / Seaside Road Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway West): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sunset Beach, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 20 ft to 58 ft elevation with about 67 ft of total climbing.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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