Origin
Wilmington, NC
Evening in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Ayden, NC
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
105.8 mi
170 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ayden, NC
C k
Trip Overview
Traveling from Wilmington to Ayden covers 105.8 miles of North Carolina’s Southeast region, typically taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a straightforward trek, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won’t need to worry about overnight lodging. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. The route utilizes a combination of the Michael Jordan Highway, NC 41, and Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a reliable connection between the coast and the inland areas of the state. It is a manageable distance that allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
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
52.9 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with stretches of highway to keep your transit varied. About 41% of your journey is spent on highways, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced segments of the trip. You will spend the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive on the Michael Jordan Highway, which spans 34.8 miles. As you transition between these different roadway types, expect the scenery and flow of traffic to shift accordingly. It is a practical drive that requires you to stay alert as you move from the coastal atmosphere toward Ayden.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 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 34.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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.
5
42.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
4
42.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
NC 41
Turn right onto NC 41
Navigation decision point
5
105.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
|
South East Avenue
Turn left onto South East Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Ayden, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Beulaville along the way.
Beulaville
42.4 mi in
|
~49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan Highway | 34.8 mi | 37m |
| NC 41 | 17.7 mi | 25m |
| Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard | 16.1 mi | 21m |
| NC 11 | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| NC 241 | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Old Pink Hill Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| South Lee Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 34.8 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Ayden, 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
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
6
Turn right onto NC 41
18 mi
·
25 min
·
NC 41
7
Continue on NC 241
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
NC 241
8
Turn right onto NC 11
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kinston Boulevard
9
Continue on NC 11
12 mi
·
17 min
·
NC 11
10
Continue on NC 11; NC 55
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Old Pink Hill Road
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on NC 11; NC 55
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East King Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto NC 11; NC 55
200 ft
·
2 sec
·
Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
13
Continue on NC 11; NC 55
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
14
Turn right onto South Lee Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Lee Street
15
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
499 ft
·
27 sec
·
East 2nd Street
16
Turn left onto South East Avenue
234 ft
·
10 sec
·
South East Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
South East Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is just over two hours, you have the advantage of completing the drive in one go without needing scheduled stops. If you prefer to avoid heavy traffic, consider timing your departure to steer clear of peak commuting hours in the Southeast region. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, as the $17 estimate is a good baseline to keep in mind for your travel budget. Because you won't be spending an extended amount of time on the road, you can enjoy the freedom of leaving whenever it fits your plans best. My top tip is to prepare for the transition between the Michael Jordan Highway and the local road segments, as your speed and driving environment will change frequently.
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 52.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.8 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 5m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ayden, 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 105.8 miles and 2h 20m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Michael Jordan Highway for about 34.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.9 mi from Wilmington, NC · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 52.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ayden, NC
The final approach into Ayden, 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 Ayden, 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
$16.93 one way
$33.86 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.45 | $36.90 |
| premium | $4.78 | $19.90 | $39.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.51 | $47.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.11 | $5.08 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.26 | $4.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.81 | $6.77 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Ayden, NC
Evening in Ayden on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
1 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
2h 20m 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 Ayden, NC covers 105.8 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, NC 41, Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.9 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 $16.93 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 is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Ayden, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Beulaville along the way.
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