Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
5:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Maine, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 45m
Distance
232.9 mi
375 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 32m
★
6 AM
4h 45m
8 AM
5h 12m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 52m
3 PM
4h 56m
5 PM
5h 11m
8 PM
4h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maine, NC
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Maine, NC covers 232.9 miles and takes about 4h 45m 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, US 220, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.3 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.42 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
116.4 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 45m drive with frequent turns across 232.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 80.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 232.9 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17; US 76; US 421
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
117.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
128.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 311
Toward US 1: Rockingham
6
134.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220 toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Ash...
8
182.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 64 West: Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70B
Toward US 64 West: Lexington
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Maine, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Lexington
182.3 mi in
|
~3h 32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 80.3 mi | 1h 36m |
| US 220 | 52.8 mi | 59m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| Asheboro Bypass | 29.3 mi | 39m |
| Mocksville Road | 17.1 mi | 24m |
| G R Kindley Freeway | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| US 17 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Maine, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
372 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 3rd Street
2
Continue on US 17 Business
508 ft
·
23 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 17; US 76; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 74; US 76
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
6
Continue on US 74
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
11 mi
·
11 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 311
Toward US 1: Rockingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 1
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 220
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
US 220
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 220
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 220
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
48 mi
·
52 min
·
US 220
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 70A-B
Toward US 64: Siler City, Lexington
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 70B
Toward US 64 West: Lexington
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto US 64
29 mi
·
39 min
·
Asheboro Bypass
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 64
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 64
Toward US 64 West: Mocksville
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 64
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Mocksville Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto East Depot Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Depot Street
20
Turn right onto Railroad Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Street
21
Continue on Poplar Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Poplar Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto US 158
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
23
Turn right onto Oak Grove Church Road
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Oak Grove Church Road
24
Arrive at destination
Oak Grove Church Road
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 116.4 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.4 miles or 2h 17m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maine, 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 232.9 miles and 4h 45m.
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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 116.4 mi from Wilmington, NC · 2h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 116.4 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 miles.
Arriving in Maine, NC
The final approach into Maine, 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 Maine, 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
$36.42 one way
$72.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $39.82 | $79.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $43.10 | $86.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.42 | $102.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.45 | $11.18 |
| Efficient EV | 58.2 | 0 | $20.38 | $9.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.61 | $14.91 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Maine, NC
Late night in Maine on Wednesday
Local time
5:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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 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 45m 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 Maine, NC covers 232.9 miles and takes about 4h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, US 220, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 116.4 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 $36.42 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 16 significant decision points across 232.9 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Maine, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
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