The drive from Wilmington, NC to Midway, NC covers 252.3 miles and takes about 5h 14m 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, American Indian Highway, I-77 North for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.45 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
126.2 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 252.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Midway, NC covers 252.3 miles and takes about 5h 14m, 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 42 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 91.9 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 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 252.3 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 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These 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.
8
132 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
8
203.4 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23C-A
Toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte
8
204.6 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 77 North: Statesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23B
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
7
233.4 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 70: G. Bagnal Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49A
Toward US 70: G. Bagnal Boulevard
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 Midway, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
Charlotte
203.4 mi in|~4h 9m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi
1h 51m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
I-77 North
22.2 mi
25m
NC 218
16.9 mi
23m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
Polk Street
13.4 mi
19m
Taylorsville Road
13.3 mi
18m
Governor James G Martin Freeway
13.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Midway, 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
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
11
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
0.6 mi·49 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
13
Turn right onto NC 218
0.3 mi·31 sec·Williams Street
14
Turn left onto NC 218
13 mi·19 min·Polk Street
15
Enter roundabout onto NC 218
105 ft·2 sec·NC 218
16
Continue on NC 218
4.2 mi·5 min·NC 218
17
Enter roundabout onto NC 218
228 ft·4 sec·NC 218
18
Continue on NC 218
2.8 mi·3 min·NC 218
19
At end of road, turn straight onto NC 218
83 ft·3 sec·NC 218
20
Turn slight left onto NC 218
6.7 mi·9 min·NC 218
21
Enter roundabout onto NC 218
130 ft·2 sec·NC 218
22
Continue on NC 218
3.1 mi·4 min·NC 218
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 485 North Outer
24
Merge onto I 485
13 mi·14 min·Governor James G Martin Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 485
5.6 mi·6 min·H Allen Tate Jr Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 23C-AToward I 77: Statesville, CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 23BToward I 77 North: StatesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 77
0.2 mi·14 sec·I-77 North
30
Continue on I 77
1.4 mi·1 min·I 77 North
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
2.7 mi·3 min·I 77 North
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
2.0 mi·2 min·I 77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 77
2.6 mi·3 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21
19 mi·22 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 49AToward US 70: G. Bagnal BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork
170 ft·10 sec
37
Turn left onto US 70
4.9 mi·7 min·Garner Bagnal Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
38
Continue on US 64; NC 90
13 mi·18 min·Taylorsville Road
39
Turn right onto Millersville Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millersville Road
40
Turn right onto Hepler Road
469 ft·21 sec·Hepler Road
41
Turn left onto Kerley Road
0.1 mi·31 sec·Kerley Road
42
Arrive at destination
Kerley 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 126.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 56 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midway, 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 252.3 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 91.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.2 mi from Wilmington, NC
· 2h 28m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 17.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.45 one way
$78.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$43.14
$86.28
premium
$4.70
$46.70
$93.39
diesel
$5.61
$55.70
$111.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.49
$12.11
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
EV Truck/SUV
100.9
1
$35.32
$16.15
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night
in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
2:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Midway, NC
Late night
in Midway on Friday
Local time
2:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Concord, NC
126 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
6 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
5h 14m 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 Midway, NC covers 252.3 miles and takes about 5h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, I-77 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.2 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 $39.45 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 25 significant decision points across 252.3 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 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Midway, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
