Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
4:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Bethel, NC
Drive Time
4h 15m
Distance
209.9 mi
338 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 16m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 25m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 41m
8 PM
4h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethel, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Spanning 209.9 miles, the drive from Wilmington to Bethel takes approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes to complete. This journey keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of North Carolina, making it a manageable day trip for most drivers. You should budget roughly $33 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, the pace is steady but requires your full attention. It is a straightforward trip that links the coast toward the interior, perfect for those who prefer avoiding heavy highway traffic.
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
104.9 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate via the Martin Luther King Jr Parkway, North College Road, and the Michael Jordan Highway. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch on the Martin Luther King Jr Parkway is negligible, you will find yourself frequently adjusting to changing road conditions. The character of this drive is defined by its local transitions, keeping you engaged behind the wheel as you navigate the turns throughout the 4-hour trek.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Bethel, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North College Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Michael Jordan Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 885 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Durham Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 158 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foster Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Bethel, NC.
1
Start on South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South 3rd Street
2
Keep slight right to continue on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
3
Turn left onto North College Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
4
Continue on Michael Jordan Highway
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
5
Keep slight left
33 mi
·
38 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 885 North: Downtown Durham
7
Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Durham Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on Durham Freeway
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Durham Freeway
9
Merge slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70 West
11
Turn right
27 mi
·
35 min
12
Turn right
0.9 mi
·
1 min
13
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
14
Turn left onto US 158
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 158
15
Turn right onto Foster Road
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Foster Road
16
At the end of the road, turn left onto Park Springs Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Park Springs Road
17
Continue on State Road 1300
420 ft
·
19 sec
·
State Road 1300
18
Keep slight right to continue on Park Springs Road
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Park Springs Road
19
Turn right onto Law Road
217 ft
·
6 sec
·
Law Road
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Plan for a single stop during your 209.9-mile journey to keep your focus sharp on the local roads. Since the route involves significant turning, leaving early in the day allows you to navigate the local transitions in daylight, which is much safer and more comfortable. Because fuel costs are estimated at $33, consider topping off your tank before you leave Wilmington to avoid hunting for stations along the way. Take advantage of the flexibility this route offers by pacing yourself, as the lack of highway segments means you should anticipate a consistent but slower pace than you might be used to on major interstates.
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 104.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 7m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h 7m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethel, 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 209.9 miles and 4h 15m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.9 mi from Wilmington, NC · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 104.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bethel, NC
The final approach into Bethel, 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 Bethel, 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
$33.59 one way
$67.18 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $36.60 | $73.20 |
| premium | $4.78 | $39.48 | $78.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.63 | $93.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63 | 0 | $22.04 | $10.08 |
| Efficient EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.37 | $8.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84 | 1 | $29.39 | $13.43 |
Gas CO2
73 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.
Destination
Bethel, NC
Afternoon in Bethel on Sunday
Local time
4:08 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
4h 15m 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 Wilmington, NC to Bethel, NC covers 209.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Martin Luther King Jr Parkway, North College Road, Michael Jordan Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.9 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 $33.59 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 straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Bethel, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Bethel, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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