The drive from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC covers 422.6 miles and takes about 8h 44m 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, US 19 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 $65.90 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
211.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Murphy, NC covers 422.6 miles and takes about 8h 44m, 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 42 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,104 ft36 ft
Total Climb
2,150 ft
Total Descent
590 ft
Highest Point
2,104 ft
~301.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,068 ft
Notable High Points
2,104 ft at ~301.9 miles+508 ft prominence
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 Effort10/10
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 422.6 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 points
These 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 Murphy, 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
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
US 19
34 mi
45m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
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 Murphy, 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 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse 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: CharlotteUse 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 1AToward NC 27: Freedom DriveUse 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 10BToward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, ShelbyUse 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
34 mi·45 min·US 19; US 74
37
Turn right onto Peachtree Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Peachtree Street
38
Turn right
61 ft·6 sec
39
Turn left
59 ft·6 sec
40
Turn left
59 ft·2 sec
41
Turn right onto US 19 Business
118 ft·5 sec·Hiwassee Street
42
Arrive at destination
US 19 Business
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 211.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 4h 20m 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 93 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.3 miles or 4h 20m 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 211.3 miles or 4h 20m
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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murphy, 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 211 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Murphy, NC
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 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 211.3 mi from Wilmington, NC
· 4h 20m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 14.6
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 378.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.90 one way
$131.80 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$73.69
$147.38
premium
$4.78
$79.50
$158.99
diesel
$5.62
$93.57
$187.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.8
1
$44.37
$20.28
Efficient EV
105.7
1
$36.98
$16.90
EV Truck/SUV
169
2
$59.16
$27.05
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night
in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Murphy, NC
Late night
in Murphy on Saturday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Boiling Springs, NC
211 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.
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
8 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
8h 44m 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 Murphy, NC covers 422.6 miles and takes about 8h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, US 74, US 19. 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 211 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 211.3 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 $65.90 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 422.6 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 Murphy, NC, road signs point toward Shelby, Asheville, Knoxville, Waynesville, Maggie Valley and Franklin - among others.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 36 ft to 2,104 ft elevation with about 2,150 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
