Trip from Wilmington, NC to Windsor, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

114.3 mi

184 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

2h 23m ★

6 AM

2h 33m

8 AM

2h 53m

10 AM

2h 40m

12 PM

2h 38m

3 PM

2h 41m

5 PM

2h 52m

8 PM

2h 27m

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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Windsor, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Windsor, NC covers 114.3 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Michael Jordan Highway, NC 41, Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.8 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.87 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

57.1 miles from Wilmington, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 114.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Windsor, NC covers 114.3 miles and takes about 2h 32m, 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 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Michael Jordan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 34.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

6.5 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 117; NC 132 / North College Road

Turn left onto US 117; NC 132 / North College Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

42.4 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville

42.7 mi into trip | ~50m in | NC 41

Turn right onto NC 41

Navigation decision point

104.6 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | NC 11

Keep slight right at fork onto NC 11 toward NC 11 North: Winterville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward NC 11 North: Winterville

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Windsor, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Beulaville along the way.

Beulaville

42.4 mi in | ~49m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Michael Jordan Highway	34.8 mi	37m
NC 41	17.7 mi	25m
Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard	17 mi	22m
NC 11	16.9 mi	22m
NC 241	9.1 mi	12m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway	4.7 mi	6m
Old Pink Hill Road	4.5 mi	7m
South 3rd Street	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Michael Jordan Highway — 34.8 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Windsor, NC.

Start on US 17 Business

1.7 mi · 3 min · South 3rd Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

4.7 mi · 6 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto US 117; NC 132

1.2 mi · 1 min · North College Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132

35 mi · 37 min · Michael Jordan Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville

Turn right onto NC 41

18 mi · 25 min · NC 41

Continue on NC 241

9.1 mi · 12 min · NC 241

Turn right onto NC 11

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Kinston Boulevard

Continue on NC 11

12 mi · 17 min · NC 11

Continue on NC 11; NC 55

4.5 mi · 7 min · Old Pink Hill Road

Continue on NC 11; NC 55

0.5 mi · 1 min · East King Street

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto NC 11; NC 55

200 ft · 2 sec · Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Continue on NC 11; NC 55

17 mi · 22 min · Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Keep slight right at fork onto NC 11

4.5 mi · 5 min · NC 11

Toward NC 11 North: Winterville

Turn right onto Laurie Ellis Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Laurie Ellis Road

Turn left onto Old Tar Road

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Old Tar Road

Turn right onto Worthington Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Worthington Road

Enter roundabout onto Corey Road

175 ft · 5 sec · Corey Road

Continue on Corey Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Corey Road

Turn right onto Essex Drive

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Essex Drive

Turn left onto Buckingham Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Buckingham Drive

Arrive at destination

Buckingham Drive

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 57.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 11m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.8 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 25 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, 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 114.3 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 34.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.1 mi from Wilmington, NC · 1h 11m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Beulaville, NC

57 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

Burgaw, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Beulaville, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Windsor, NC

The final approach into Windsor, 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 Windsor, 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

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...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 23.6

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.87 one way

$35.75 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$19.54	$39.09
premium	$4.70	$21.15	$42.31
diesel	$5.61	$25.24	$50.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.3	$12.00	$5.49
Efficient EV	28.6	$10.00	$4.57
EV Truck/SUV	45.7	$16.00	$7.32

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Wilmington, NC

Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday

Local time

4:30 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Windsor, NC

Afternoon in Windsor on Thursday

Local time

4:30 PM

EDT

Current temp

91°F

Sunny

SW 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 1:12PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 12:59PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

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

39 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 32m 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 Windsor, NC covers 114.3 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, NC 41, Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57.1 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 $17.87 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.