Origin
Wilmington, NC
Morning in Wilmington on Monday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC
Drive Time
8h 44m
Distance
422.6 mi
680 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 37m
★
6 AM
8h 45m
8 AM
9h 0m
10 AM
8h 50m
12 PM
8h 49m
3 PM
8h 51m
5 PM
9h 0m
8 PM
8h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murphy, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC covers 422.6 miles and takes about 8h 44m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on South 3rd Street, Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
211.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 44m drive with frequent turns across 422.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 3rd Street 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 44m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| American Indian Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| G R Kindley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Caswell Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Salisbury Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Carroll M | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Murphy, NC.
1
Start on South 3rd Street
371 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 3rd Street
2
Continue on South 3rd Street
509 ft
·
23 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right
3.5 mi
·
4 min
4
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
5
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
6
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
7
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14 mi
·
15 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
9
Continue on East Caswell Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Caswell Street
10
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
11
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
13
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
14
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Marshville Boulevard
15
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
16
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
17
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Independence Boulevard
18
Continue on East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
19
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
20
Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
John Belk Freeway
21
Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 27: Freedom Drive
22
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
23
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
29 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
25
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
26
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
27
Continue on East Dixon Boulevard
12 mi
·
17 min
·
East Dixon Boulevard
28
Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard
16 mi
·
17 min
·
West Dixon Boulevard
29
Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
30
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
34 mi
·
41 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
31
Take the exit slight left toward I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
18 mi
·
23 min
·
I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
32
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta
22 mi
·
29 min
·
US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta
33
Keep slight left to continue on Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
34
Continue on Appalachian Highway
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Appalachian Highway
35
Continue on West Highway 19
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
West Highway 19
36
Turn right
34 mi
·
45 min
37
Turn right onto Peachtree Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Peachtree Street
38
Turn right
62 ft
·
6 sec
39
Turn left
59 ft
·
7 sec
40
Turn left
59 ft
·
3 sec
41
Turn right onto Hiwassee Street
118 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hiwassee Street
42
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 211.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 4h 22m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 93 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.3 miles or 4h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 211.3 miles or 4h 22m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murphy, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wilmington, NC
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Murphy, NC
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 211.3 mi from Wilmington, NC · 4h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
211 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Boiling Springs, NCOvernight Options
Night 1
211 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Boiling Springs, NC after about 211 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 211.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 211 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Murphy, NC
The final approach into Murphy, 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 Murphy, NC.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Murphy, NC with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.63 one way
$135.27 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
148 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $73.69 | $147.38 |
| premium | $4.78 | $79.50 | $158.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $93.89 | $187.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 126.8 | 1 | $44.37 | $20.28 |
| Efficient EV | 105.7 | 1 | $36.98 | $16.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 169 | 2 | $59.16 | $27.05 |
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Murphy, NC
Morning in Murphy on Monday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Boiling Springs, NC
211 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
7 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
8h 44m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Murphy, NC covers 422.6 miles and takes about 8h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 3rd Street, Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 211 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 211.3 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 $67.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 44m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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