Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
105.8 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Ayden, NC covers 105.8 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway, North College Road, Michael Jordan Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.50 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
52.9 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 105.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North College Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Michael Jordan Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 41 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Kinston Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 11 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Pink Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East King Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Ayden, NC.
Start on South 3rd Street
Keep slight right to continue on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Turn left onto North College Road
Continue on Michael Jordan Highway
Take the exit slight right toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
Turn right
Continue straight
Turn right onto North Kinston Boulevard
Continue on NC 11
Continue on Old Pink Hill Road
Continue on East King Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Exit the roundabout onto Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto South Lee Street
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
Turn left onto South East Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ayden, 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 105.8 miles and 2h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.9 mi from Wilmington, NC · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 52.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ayden, 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 Ayden, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.50 one way
$33.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.45 | $36.90 |
| premium | $4.78 | $19.90 | $39.80 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $23.43 | $46.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.11 | $5.08 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.26 | $4.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.81 | $6.77 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Ayden on Saturday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Bayshore, NC
53 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Wilmington, NC or browse trips ending in Ayden, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Wilmington, NC or Ayden, NC on MapSof.net.
