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Trip from Wilmington, NC to Southport, NC

Drive Time

42m

Distance

28.3 mi

45 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 39m ★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Southport, NC, NC

Southport, NC

Michael Ken

Trip Overview

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Southport, NC covers 28.3 miles and takes about 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NC 133, US 17, North Howe Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.1 miles on NC 133. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.53 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

14.1 miles from Wilmington, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 42m highway drive covering 28.3 miles, with most of the trip on NC 133 and US 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.1 miles on NC 133.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NC 133 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

37 ft 5 ft

Total Climb

32 ft

Total Descent

20 ft

Highest Point

37 ft

~18.2 mi in

Elevation Range

31 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 133 and US 17. 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.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 42m drive. You will face about 4 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): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (NC 133): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (NC 133): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 17; US 76; US 421

Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421

Navigation decision point

7
2.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | NC 133

Take the exit onto NC 133 toward NC 133 South: Southport, Oak Island

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. Toward NC 133 South: Southport, Oak Island
6
3.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | NC 133

Keep slight left at fork onto NC 133

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
27 mi into trip | ~39m in | NC 211 / North Howe Street

Turn left onto NC 211 / North Howe Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Southport, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Oak Island along the way.

Oak Island

2.9 mi in | ~4m | via NC 133

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NC 133 24.1 mi 34m
US 17 2.7 mi 3m
North Howe Street 1.2 mi 2m
South 3rd Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NC 133 — 24.1 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Southport, 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

2.7 mi · 3 min · US 17; US 76; US 421
4

Take the exit onto NC 133

0.3 mi · 34 sec · NC 133
Toward NC 133 South: Southport, Oak Island Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto NC 133

24 mi · 34 min · NC 133
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn left onto NC 211

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Howe Street
Use the left lane.
7

Arrive at destination

NC 211

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.1 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 28.3 miles or 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 14.1 miles or 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southport, 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 28.3 miles and 42m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on NC 133 for about 24.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14.1 mi from Wilmington, NC · 20m into the drive

Downtown Goldsboro, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goldsboro, NC

14 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

Fayetteville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Goldsboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Southport, NC

The final approach into Southport, 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 Southport, NC.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 2.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.53 one way

$9.06 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $4.93 $9.87
premium $4.78 $5.32 $10.65
diesel $5.64 $6.29 $12.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.5 0 $2.97 $1.36
Efficient EV 7.1 0 $2.48 $1.13
EV Truck/SUV 11.3 0 $3.96 $1.81

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Wilmington, NC

Afternoon in Wilmington on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Sunny

SE 10 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Destination

Southport, NC

Afternoon in Southport on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Sunny

SE 8 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

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

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

42m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Southport, NC covers 28.3 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NC 133, US 17, North Howe Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.1 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 $4.53 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.
This is a straightforward 42m drive. You will face about 4 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): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (NC 133): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (NC 133): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Southport, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Oak Island along the way.

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