Origin
Wilmington, NC
Morning in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Boiling Springs, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 11m
Distance
432.3 mi
696 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 4m
★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 29m
10 AM
9h 18m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 19m
5 PM
9h 28m
8 PM
9h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boiling Springs, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Boiling Springs, NC covers 432.3 miles and takes about 9h 11m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, US 74, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
216.1 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
9h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Boiling Springs, NC covers 432.3 miles and takes about 9h 11m, 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 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 128 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 432.3 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.3 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17; US 76; US 421
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
132 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
|
US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
7
165.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
|
US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
7
199.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
|
NC 27
Take the exit onto NC 27 toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
8
226 mi into trip
|
~4h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wilmington, NC and Boiling Springs, NC, road signs point toward Shelby, Asheville, Knoxville, Waynesville, Maggie Valley and Franklin - among others.
Shelby
226 mi in
|
~4h 38m
Asheville
282 mi in
|
~5h 45m
|
via I 26; US 74
Knoxville
316.4 mi in
|
~6h 27m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Waynesville
334.8 mi in
|
~6h 50m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Maggie Valley
334.8 mi in
|
~6h 50m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Franklin
334.8 mi in
|
~6h 50m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Murphy
334.8 mi in
|
~6h 50m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Atlanta
334.8 mi in
|
~6h 50m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 128 mi | 2h 35m |
| US 74 | 40.4 mi | 52m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| US 19 | 30.8 mi | 40m |
| I 85 | 24.1 mi | 29m |
| Great Smoky Mountains Expressway | 21.9 mi | 26m |
| Monroe Expressway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway | 18.3 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 128 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Boiling Springs, 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
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 17; US 76; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 74; US 76
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
6
Continue on US 74
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi
·
15 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
11
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
13
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
14
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 74
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 74
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
20
Merge onto I 277; US 74; NC 16; NC 27
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
John Belk Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto NC 27
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 27
Exit 1A
Toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
Use the left lane.
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Use the left lane.
23
Merge onto I 85
24 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Use the slight right lane.
25
Continue on US 74
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
27
Continue on US 74
12 mi
·
17 min
·
East Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the ramp onto US 74
16 mi
·
17 min
·
West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 74
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
30
Merge onto I 26; US 74
34 mi
·
41 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward Asheville
31
Take the exit onto US 74; US 64 Truck
18 mi
·
23 min
·
US 74; US 64 Truck
Toward I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
32
Take the exit onto US 74; US 64 Truck
22 mi
·
29 min
·
US 74; US 64 Truck
Toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta
33
Keep slight left at fork onto US 23; US 74; US 64 Truck
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
34
Continue on US 19; US 74
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Appalachian Highway
35
Continue on US 19; US 74
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
West Highway 19
36
Turn right onto US 19; US 74
31 mi
·
40 min
·
US 19; US 74
37
Turn right onto Regal Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Regal Road
38
Continue on Pleasant Valley Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant Valley Road
39
Turn right onto Regal Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Regal Street
40
Turn right onto Wye Street
489 ft
·
13 sec
·
Wye Street
41
Continue on Reservoir Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Reservoir Road
42
Turn right onto Joe Brown Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Joe Brown Highway
43
Turn right onto Hanging Dog Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hanging Dog Road
44
Continue on Hanging Dog Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Hanging Dog Road
45
Turn right onto Boiling Springs Road
3.8 mi
·
14 min
·
Boiling Springs Road
46
Arrive at destination
Boiling Springs Road
Trip Plan
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 216.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 95 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216.1 miles or 4h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 216.1 miles or 4h 26m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boiling Springs, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wilmington, NC
Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Boiling Springs, NC
Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 128 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 216.1 mi from Wilmington, NC · 4h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
216 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Inman Mills, SCOvernight Options
Night 1
216 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Inman Mills, SC after about 216 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 216.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 216 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Boiling Springs, NC
The final approach into Boiling Springs, 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 Boiling Springs, NC.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Boiling Springs, NC with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.60 one way
$135.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
151 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $73.92 | $147.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $80.01 | $160.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $95.45 | $190.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 129.7 | 1 | $45.39 | $20.75 |
| Efficient EV | 108.1 | 1 | $37.83 | $17.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 172.9 | 2 | $60.52 | $27.67 |
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
51 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Boiling Springs, NC
Morning in Boiling Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
6 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
9h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Boiling Springs, NC covers 432.3 miles and takes about 9h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, US 74, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 216 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 216.1 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 $67.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 432.3 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.3 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Wilmington, NC and Boiling Springs, NC, road signs point toward Shelby, Asheville, Knoxville, Waynesville, Maggie Valley and Franklin - among others.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Boiling Springs, NC
More trips to Boiling Springs, NC
Explore more options from Wilmington, NC or browse trips ending in Boiling Springs, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.