The drive from Wilmington, NC to Apex, NC covers 136.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m 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, Triangle Expressway, Martin Luther King Jr Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.39 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
68.4 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 136.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 136.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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 107.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 136.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 118.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 133 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
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
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the ramp toward NC 540 Toll West: Apex
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll West: Apex
6
133 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward NC 55: Apex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 55: Apex
8
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NC 55 West: Apex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 55 West: Apex
8
136.8 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|North Salem Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Salem Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
107.3 mi
1h 55m
Triangle Expressway
13.9 mi
14m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
NC 55
2.9 mi
5m
South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
3m
Cleveland Road
1.6 mi
2m
North College Road
1.2 mi
1m
Cleveland School Road
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·South 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
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.
3
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi·1 min·North College Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·Michael Jordan Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·23 sec
Toward NC 42: Fuquay-Varina
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward Cleveland Rd
7
Turn left onto SR 1010
1.6 mi·2 min·Cleveland Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on SR 1010
1.1 mi·1 min·Cleveland School Road
9
Turn right onto NC 50
0.5 mi·56 sec·Benson Road
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward NC 540 Toll West: ApexUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
14 mi·14 min·Triangle Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward NC 55: ApexUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
212 ft·7 sec
Toward NC 55 West: ApexUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto NC 55
2.9 mi·5 min·NC 55
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto South Hughes Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Hughes Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto SR 1010
0.1 mi·28 sec·Center Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto North Salem Street
51 ft·1 sec·North Salem Street
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
North Salem Street
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 68.4 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.4 miles or 1h 17m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apex, 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 136.8 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.4 mi from Wilmington, NC
· 1h 17m into the drive
The midpoint is around 68.4 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Michael Jordan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.
Arriving in Apex, NC
The final approach into Apex, 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 Apex, NC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 23.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.39 one way
$42.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.39
$46.78
premium
$4.70
$25.32
$50.64
diesel
$5.61
$30.20
$60.41
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: 47.9 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
41
0
$14.36
$6.57
Efficient EV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
EV Truck/SUV
54.7
0
$19.15
$8.76
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Evening
in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Apex, NC
Evening
in Apex on Friday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mount Olive, NC
68 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
12 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 37m 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 Apex, NC covers 136.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, Triangle Expressway, Martin Luther King Jr Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.4 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 $21.39 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 136.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 118.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 133 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Apex, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
