Origin
Wilmington, NC
Evening in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
8:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Southern Pines, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
132.3 mi
213 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 33m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southern Pines, NC
Alex Borelli
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Southern Pines, NC covers 132.3 miles and takes about 2h 43m 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, Aberdeen Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.6 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.2 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 132.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 43m drive with frequent turns across 132.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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 64.6 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 101.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.3 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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.
4
101.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 74 Business: East Laurinburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 74 Business: East Laurinburg
6
128.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
132.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
Southeast Broad Street
Turn left onto Southeast Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
132.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
|
East Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn left onto East Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 64.6 mi | 1h 18m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| Aberdeen Road | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| US 15 | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| US 17 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Highland Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| South Sandhills Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| McFarland Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 64.6 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Southern Pines, 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
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 74 Business: East Laurinburg
8
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
9
Turn right onto Highland Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Highland Road
10
Continue on McFarland Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
McFarland Road
11
Turn slight right onto US 15; US 501
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Aberdeen Road
12
Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 501
176 ft
·
3 sec
·
Aberdeen Road
13
Continue on US 15; US 501
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Aberdeen Road
14
Enter roundabout onto US 15:US501
130 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 15:US501
15
Continue on US 15:US501
317 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 15:US501
16
Continue on US 15; US 501
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 15; US 501
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Sandhills Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight right onto Old US Highway 1
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Old US Highway 1
19
Continue on Southwest Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Southwest Broad Street
20
Turn right onto West Massachusetts Avenue
137 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Massachusetts Avenue
21
Turn left onto Southeast Broad Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Southeast Broad Street
22
Turn left onto East Pennsylvania Avenue
178 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Pennsylvania Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
West Pennsylvania Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.6 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.2 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southern Pines, 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 132.3 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 64.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.2 mi from Wilmington, NC · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.2 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 64.6 miles.
Arriving in Southern Pines, NC
The final approach into Southern Pines, 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 Southern Pines, 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
$20.69 one way
$41.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $22.62 | $45.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $24.49 | $48.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.21 | $58.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.89 | $6.35 |
| Efficient EV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.58 | $5.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.52 | $8.47 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Southern Pines, NC
Evening in Southern Pines on Friday
Local time
8:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Fairmont, NC
66 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
2 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
2h 43m 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 Southern Pines, NC covers 132.3 miles and takes about 2h 43m 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, Aberdeen Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.2 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 $20.69 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 101.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.3 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Southern Pines, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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