Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
12:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
80.4 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Carteret, NC
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC covers 80.4 miles and takes about 1h 54m 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, I 140 East, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.57 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.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →Wilmington is a city in the southeastern part of North Carolina. It is the county seat of New Hanover County, and home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Memorial, the Cape Fear Museum, Airlie Gardens, and a large historic district. It is convenient to nearby beaches, and is a relatively short drive from the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, SC, and the I-95 corridor.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 80.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 54m drive with frequent turns across 80.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 3rd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC is easy. At 1h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Street | — | — |
| I 140 East | — | — |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | — | — |
| Market Street | — | — |
| KIA/MIA/POW Freeway | — | — |
| Louis W | — | — |
| Ronald W | — | — |
| Lejeune Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Cape Carteret, NC.
1
Start on South 3rd Street
371 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 3rd Street
2
Continue on South 3rd Street
509 ft
·
23 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
4
Take the exit slight right
4.3 mi
·
5 min
5
Take the exit right toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
6
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12 mi
·
12 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
7
Continue on Market Street
9.1 mi
·
14 min
·
Market Street
8
Continue straight
29 mi
·
39 min
9
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
10
Merge slight left onto KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
11
Continue on Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
12
Continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
14
Merge slight left onto Lejeune Boulevard
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Lejeune Boulevard
15
Continue on Freedom Way
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Freedom Way
16
Continue on West Corbett Avenue
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
West Corbett Avenue
17
Continue on Cedar Point Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Cedar Point Boulevard
18
Continue on WB McLean Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
WB McLean Drive
19
Arrive at your destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 57m into the drive.
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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 57m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Carteret, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wilmington, NC
This is one driving day of about 80.4 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.2 mi from Wilmington, NC · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cape Carteret, NC
The final approach into Cape Carteret, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.57 one way
$25.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.75 | $27.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.88 | $29.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.75 | $35.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.26 | $5.15 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Cape Carteret, NC
Afternoon in Cape Carteret on Saturday
Local time
12:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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.
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
3 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
1h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Cape Carteret, NC covers 80.4 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 3rd Street, I 140 East, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.2 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 $12.57 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.
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC is easy. At 1h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Cape Carteret, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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