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Trip from Welcome, NC to Wilmington, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

212.7 mi

342 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 7m ★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m

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 Welcome, NC, NC

Welcome, NC

Đan Thy Nguyễn Mai

Trip Overview

The drive from Welcome, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m 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, I 73, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.1 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.26 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

106.4 miles from Welcome, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 212.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Welcome, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m, 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 23 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 70.1 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 around 5 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 212.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

8
5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward I 85 Business North, US 29 North, US 64 East, US 70 East

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 85 Business North, US 29 North, US 64...
7
6 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 64

Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 East: Asheboro

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 64 East: Asheboro
6
33.1 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward I 73 South, I 74 East, US 220 South: Rockingham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 344A Toward I 73 South, I 74 East, US 220 South: Roc...
7
81 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | US 220

Take the exit onto US 220 toward US 220 South: Rockingham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 22 Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
6
105 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in | US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway 70.1 mi 1h 24m
I 73 47.2 mi 51m
American Indian Highway 33.6 mi 36m
US 64 27.1 mi 36m
East Hamlet Avenue 12.8 mi 16m
US 220 4.8 mi 6m
Hamlet Avenue 3.5 mi 5m
Ocean Highway East 3.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Andrew Jackson Highway — 70.1 mi, about 1h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

108 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left

67 ft · 9 sec
3

Turn left onto Old US Highway 52

2.0 mi · 3 min · Old US Highway 52
4

Continue on Old US Hwy 52

2.2 mi · 3 min · Old US Hwy 52
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on NC 8

0.8 mi · 1 min · Winston Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 85 Business North, US 29 North, US 64 East, US 70 East Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto US 29; US 64; US 70

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 29; US 64; US 70
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 64

27 mi · 36 min · US 64
Toward US 64 East: Asheboro Use the left lane.
9

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 344A Toward I 73 South, I 74 East, US 220 South: Rockingham
10

Merge onto I 73; I 74; US 220

47 mi · 51 min · I 73; I 74; US 220
11

Take the exit onto US 220

4.8 mi · 6 min · US 220
Exit 22 Toward US 220 South: Rockingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn left onto US 74 BUS

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Avenue
13

Continue on US 74 BUS

3.5 mi · 5 min · Hamlet Avenue
14

Turn left onto US 74 BUS

466 ft · 11 sec · Raleigh Street
15

Turn right onto US 74 BUS

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Spring Street
16

Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue

13 mi · 16 min · East Hamlet Avenue
17

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74

10 mi · 10 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on US 74

34 mi · 36 min · American Indian Highway
19

Continue on US 74; NC 130

60 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76

3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
21

Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421

0.8 mi · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
22

Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business

0.1 mi · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
23

Arrive at destination

US 17 Business

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.4 miles from Welcome, NC, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.4 miles or 2h 15m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 33m

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 Welcome, 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 Welcome, NC

This is one driving day of about 212.7 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Welcome, 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 70.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106.4 mi from Welcome, NC · 2h 15m into the drive

city in North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockingham, NC

106 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

Archdale, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laurinburg, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.4 miles from Welcome, 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 70.1 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 ~29 min detour Free near mile 198
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.26 one way

$66.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $36.37 $72.74
premium $4.70 $39.37 $78.73
diesel $5.61 $46.96 $93.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.8 0 $22.33 $10.21
Efficient EV 53.2 0 $18.61 $8.51
EV Truck/SUV 85.1 1 $29.78 $13.61

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% 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

Welcome, NC

Afternoon in Welcome on Thursday

Local time

4:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wilmington, NC

Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday

Local time

4:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Rockingham, NC

106 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

20 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

4h 20m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Welcome, NC to Wilmington, NC covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, I 73, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.4 miles from Welcome, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 212.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Welcome, NC to Wilmington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.

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