Origin
Tabor City, NC
Evening in Tabor City on Sunday
Local time
7:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
65.4 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tabor City, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Tabor City to Wilmington, you are facing a straightforward 65.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple day trip, meaning you do not need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via East 5th Street, James B White Highway South, and South Madison Street to cross the Southeast region of North Carolina. Budgeting roughly $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the distance in a standard vehicle. This route is ideal for those who prefer a direct, local connection over the congestion of major interstates, providing a practical way to reach the coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
32.7 miles from Tabor City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate sprint, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating local roads, which keeps the experience engaging and requires your full attention at the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on East 5th Street, emphasizing that this path demands frequent navigation and maneuvering through the local landscape. Because the entire 65.4 miles are composed of surface roads, you can anticipate a driving environment that changes rhythmically as you transition between the segments of James B White Highway South and South Madison Street.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 5th 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 10m 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 Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James B White Highway South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Madison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South J K Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jk Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tabor City, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
39 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East 5th Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto East 5th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
4
Continue on James B White Highway South
13 mi
·
17 min
·
James B White Highway South
5
Continue on South Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Madison Street
6
Continue on South J K Powell Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South J K Powell Boulevard
7
Continue on South Powell Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Powell Boulevard
8
Continue on Jk Powell Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jk Powell Boulevard
9
Continue on Powell Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Powell Boulevard
10
Take the ramp straight
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
11
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
42 mi
·
54 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
12
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
13
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
14
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 3rd Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 10 minute drive, you have significant flexibility with your departure time to avoid local traffic bottlenecks. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the route is short enough to drive through in one go. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy route, it is wise to have your navigation ready before you pull out of Tabor City to ensure you stay on track through the various road transitions. Fueling up before you leave is a smart move, especially since your $10 fuel estimate is quite lean. Prioritize keeping your eyes on the road signs, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be relying on local signage to guide your progress toward Wilmington.
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 32.7 miles from Tabor City, NC, or about 35m into the drive.
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 65.4 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.7 miles or 35m 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
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 Tabor City, 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 Tabor City, NC
This is one driving day of about 65.4 miles and 1h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tabor City, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.7 mi from Tabor City, NC · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 65.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.7 miles from Tabor City, 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.47 one way
$20.93 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $11.40 | $22.81 |
| premium | $4.78 | $12.30 | $24.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.53 | $29.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Evening in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
7:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
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
1h 10m 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 Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 65.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 5th Street, James B White Highway South, South Madison Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.7 miles from Tabor City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.47 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 Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 10m 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 Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tabor City, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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