Trip from Wilmington, NC to Sea Breeze, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

22m

Distance

12.7 mi

20 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min

4 AM

0h 21m ★

6 AM

0h 23m

8 AM

0h 27m

10 AM

0h 24m

12 PM

0h 24m

3 PM

0h 24m

5 PM

0h 27m

8 PM

0h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Sea Breeze, NC covers 12.7 miles and takes about 22m 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, Burnett Boulevard, Carolina Beach Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.99 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

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

6.3 miles from Wilmington, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 22m drive with frequent turns across 12.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 7 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Wilmington, NC to Sea Breeze, NC is easy. At 22m 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 Sea Breeze, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South 3rd Street	—	—
Burnett Boulevard	—	—
Carolina Beach Road	—	—
South Seabreeze Road	—	—

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 Sea Breeze, NC.

1

Start on South 3rd Street

371 ft · 14 sec · South 3rd Street

2

Continue on South 3rd Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South 3rd Street

3

Turn straight onto Burnett Boulevard

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Burnett Boulevard

4

Turn left onto Carolina Beach Road

5.8 mi · 10 min · Carolina Beach Road

5

Continue on Carolina Beach Road

5.3 mi · 7 min · Carolina Beach Road

6

Turn left onto South Seabreeze Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Seabreeze Road

7

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 6.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 11m 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 12.7 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.3 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sea Breeze, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Wilmington, NC.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Wilmington, NC

This is one driving day of about 12.7 miles and 22m.

At 12.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.3 mi from Wilmington, NC · 11m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Carolina Beach, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Silver Lake, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sea Breeze, NC

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Sea Breeze, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.99 one way

$3.97 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$2.17	$4.34
premium	$4.70	$2.35	$4.70
diesel	$5.61	$2.80	$5.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	3.8	$1.33	$0.61
Efficient EV	3.2	$1.11	$0.51
EV Truck/SUV	5.1	$1.78	$0.81

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Wilmington, NC

Evening in Wilmington on Wednesday

Local time

8:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sea Breeze, NC

Evening in Sea Breeze on Wednesday

Local time

8:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

17 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

22m 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 Sea Breeze, NC covers 12.7 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South 3rd Street, Burnett Boulevard, Carolina Beach Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 6.3 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 $1.99 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 Sea Breeze, NC is easy. At 22m 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 Sea Breeze, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Wilmington, NC to Sea Breeze, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.