Origin
Swansboro, NC
Evening in Swansboro on Thursday
Local time
7:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
77.6 mi
125 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Swansboro, NC
Michael Ken
Trip Overview
The drive from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 77.6 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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, Freedom Way for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.3 miles on Wilmington Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.13 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.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Swansboro, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 77.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 77.6 miles and takes about 1h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 29.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles (NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.7 miles (US 17 / Wilmington Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
21.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 17 / Wilmington Highway
Merge onto US 17 / Wilmington Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
71.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m 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
71.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
71.5 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Highway | 29.3 mi | 40m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| Freedom Way | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| US 17 | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| Lejeune Boulevard | 5 mi | 7m |
| US 421 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| West Corbett Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Ronald W. Reagan Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 29.3 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swansboro, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on South Water Street
38 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Water Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn slight left onto NC 24
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
West Corbett Avenue
4
Continue on NC 24
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Freedom Way
5
Continue on NC 24
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Lejeune Boulevard
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 24; NC 53; I 397
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
7
Continue on US 17; NC 24; I 97
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
8
Continue on US 17; NC 24; I 97
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
9
Take the exit onto US 17; I 97
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 17; I 97
10
Merge onto US 17
29 mi
·
40 min
·
Wilmington Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on NC 140
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
14
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
16
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
17
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
18
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
19
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.8 miles from Swansboro, NC, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.3 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
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 Swansboro, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Swansboro, NC
This is one driving day of about 77.6 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Swansboro, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wilmington Highway for about 29.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.8 mi from Swansboro, NC · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.8 miles from Swansboro, 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
$12.13 one way
$24.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.27 | $26.54 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.36 | $28.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.13 | $34.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31 | 0 | $10.86 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
7:01 PM
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
19 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 47m 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 Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 77.6 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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, Freedom Way. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.8 miles from Swansboro, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles (NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.7 miles (US 17 / Wilmington Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
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