Origin
Swansboro, NC
Afternoon in Swansboro on Thursday
Local time
3:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
77.7 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
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 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, West Corbett Avenue, Freedom Way for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m 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.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 28m drive with frequent turns across 77.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| West Corbett Avenue | — | — |
| Freedom Way | — | — |
| Lejeune Boulevard | — | — |
| Ronald W | — | — |
| Louis W | — | — |
| KIA/MIA/POW Freeway | — | — |
| Wilmington Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swansboro, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on South Water Street
39 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Water Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn slight left onto West Corbett Avenue
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
West Corbett Avenue
4
Continue on Freedom Way
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Freedom Way
5
Continue on Lejeune Boulevard
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Lejeune Boulevard
6
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
7
Continue on Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
8
Continue on KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
9
Take the exit slight left
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
10
Merge slight right onto Wilmington Highway
29 mi
·
41 min
·
Wilmington Highway
11
Continue straight
8.1 mi
·
12 min
12
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
14
Turn right
3.9 mi
·
5 min
15
Keep slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
16
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
17
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
18
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.9 mi from Swansboro, NC · 44m 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 38.9 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
$12.15 one way
$24.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.29 | $26.57 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.38 | $28.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.16 | $34.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
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 | $8.16 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $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
Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
3:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
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
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 28m 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 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, West Corbett Avenue, Freedom Way. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.9 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 $12.15 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 Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Swansboro, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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