Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Monday
Local time
3:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
6h 28m
Distance
314.7 mi
507 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Wilson, NC covers 314.7 miles and takes about 6h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
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 $50.36 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
157.4 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 28m drive with frequent turns across 314.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 28m, 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 Wilson, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| 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.
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Wilson, NC.
Start on South 3rd Street
Continue on South 3rd Street
Turn right
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on American Indian Highway
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on East Caswell Street
Continue on Salisbury Street
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
Continue on East Independence Expressway
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
Take the exit slight right toward I 277 North Outer, NC 16 North: Brookshire Freeway
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Freeway
Continue on Brookshire Boulevard
Turn right onto Bethany Church Road
Turn left onto Mount Olive Church Road
Continue on Mt Olive Church Road
Turn right
Turn left onto Conover Boulevard East
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Swannanoa
Turn left onto Patton Cove Road
Turn right onto Buckeye Access Road
Turn right onto Buckeye Cove Road
Turn right onto Superior Way
Arrive at your destination
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 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.4 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilson, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 314.7 miles and 6h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 157.4 mi from Wilmington, NC · 3h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 157.4 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Wilson, 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 Wilson, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$50.36 one way
$100.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $54.87 | $109.75 |
| premium | $4.78 | $59.20 | $118.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $69.92 | $139.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.4 | 1 | $33.04 | $15.11 |
| Efficient EV | 78.7 | 0 | $27.54 | $12.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.9 | 1 | $44.06 | $20.14 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Wilmington on Monday
Local time
3:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Wilson on Monday
Local time
3:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Wilmington, NC or browse trips ending in Wilson, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Wilmington, NC or Wilson, NC on MapSof.net.