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Trip from Wilmington, NC to Mount Olive, NC

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 7m

Distance

49.3 mi

79 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in North Carolina, United States

Mount Olive, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Mount Olive, NC covers 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NC 87, Andrew Jackson Highway, Lisbon Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.3 miles on NC 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.71 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Mount Olive, NC covers 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m, 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 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NC 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Mount Olive, NC is easy. At 1h 7m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

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 17.2 miles (NC 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 37.5 miles (Lisbon Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 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.
3
17.2 mi into trip | ~23m in | NC 87

Take the exit onto NC 87

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

3
37.5 mi into trip | ~51m in | Lisbon Road

Turn left onto Lisbon Road

Navigation decision point

3
43.8 mi into trip | ~1h in | Rosindale Road

Turn right onto Rosindale Road

Navigation decision point

4
48.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Road

At end of road, turn right onto Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NC 87 20.3 mi 27m
Andrew Jackson Highway 13.6 mi 18m
Lisbon Road 6.3 mi 8m
Rosindale Road 4.5 mi 6m
US 17 3.5 mi 4m
Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Road 0.9 mi 1m
South 3rd Street 0.2 mi <1m
Mount Olive Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NC 87 — 20.3 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Mount Olive, 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

14 mi · 18 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
5

Take the exit onto NC 87

20 mi · 27 min · NC 87
6

Turn left onto Lisbon Road

6.3 mi · 8 min · Lisbon Road
7

Turn right onto Rosindale Road

4.5 mi · 6 min · Rosindale Road
8

At end of road, turn right onto Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Road
9

Turn right onto Mount Olive Road

317 ft · 13 sec · Mount Olive Road
10

Arrive at destination

Mount Olive Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.6 mi from Wilmington, NC · 33m into the drive

Downtown East Arcadia, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Arcadia, NC

25 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

Leland, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Arcadia, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mount Olive, NC

The final approach into Mount Olive, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.71 one way

$15.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $8.43 $16.86
premium $4.70 $9.12 $18.25
diesel $5.61 $10.88 $21.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.8 0 $5.18 $2.37
Efficient EV 12.3 0 $4.31 $1.97
EV Truck/SUV 19.7 0 $6.90 $3.16

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Wilmington, NC

Night in Wilmington on Thursday

Local time

10:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mount Olive, NC

Night in Mount Olive on Thursday

Local time

10:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 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

1h 7m 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 Mount Olive, NC covers 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NC 87, Andrew Jackson Highway, Lisbon Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.6 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 $7.71 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.
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Mount Olive, NC is easy. At 1h 7m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles (NC 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 37.5 miles (Lisbon Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Mount Olive, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.

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