Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Alamance, NC
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
191.9 mi
309 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamance, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from the coast to the Piedmont, this 191.9-mile journey between Wilmington and Alamance is a straightforward trip that typically takes 3 hours and 37 minutes. Because the route remains entirely within North Carolina, it is a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Michael Jordan Highway, I-40, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Budgeting around $31 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Whether you are heading inland for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable connection between the Southeast region's coastal hub and the central part of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances steady highway speeds with local transitions. With 41% of the route consisting of highway travel, you will spend a significant portion of the trip maintaining a consistent pace. You should be prepared for the longest uninterrupted stretch, which spans 107.3 miles along the Michael Jordan Highway. As you transition from the coastal landscape toward the interior, the road character shifts from the initial parkways onto the larger interstate system. This combination creates a functional drive that requires steady attention but avoids the complexity of winding, technical backroads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Michael Jordan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 107.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.9 miles you will encounter 6 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: at 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
6.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
114.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
189.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward NC 62: Alamance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Alamance
6
189.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
|
NC 62 / Alamance Road
Turn left onto NC 62 / Alamance Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan Highway | 107.3 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 40 | 74.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Alamance Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South 3rd Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North College Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| S NC Highway 62 E | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cardinal Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Alamance, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
74 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Alamance
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto NC 62
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Alamance Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Continue on NC 62
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
S NC Highway 62 E
9
Turn left onto Cardinal Lane
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Cardinal Lane
10
Arrive at destination
Cardinal Lane
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 37-minute travel time, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Leaving early in the day can help you navigate traffic patterns more effectively as you transition between the major thoroughfares. Since the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on your own comfort levels. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting that 107.3-mile stretch on the Michael Jordan Highway to ensure you don't need to exit prematurely. Having your refueling strategy set before you hit I-40 will keep your trip moving efficiently toward your destination in Alamance.
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 96 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alamance, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC
This is one driving day of about 191.9 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wilmington, 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96 mi from Wilmington, NC · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Michael Jordan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.
Arriving in Alamance, NC
The final approach into Alamance, 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 Alamance, NC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.71 one way
$61.42 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $33.46 | $66.92 |
| premium | $4.78 | $36.10 | $72.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.63 | $85.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.15 | $9.21 |
| Efficient EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Alamance, NC
Afternoon in Alamance on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°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
27 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
3h 37m 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 Wilmington, NC to Alamance, NC covers 191.9 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, I 40, Martin Luther King Jr Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96 miles from Wilmington, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.71 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.9 miles you will encounter 6 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: at 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Alamance, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Alamance, NC
More trips to Alamance, NC
Explore more options from Wilmington, NC or browse trips ending in Alamance, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Wilmington, NC or Alamance, NC on MapSof.net.