Origin
Wilmington, NC
Morning in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Shallotte, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shallotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Shallotte, NC covers 33.9 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Main Street, South 3rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.6 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 48m highway drive covering 33.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.6 miles on US 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
51 ft
6 ft
Total Climb
71 ft
Total Descent
92 ft
Highest Point
51 ft
~17 mi in
Elevation Range
45 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 32.3 miles (US 17 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 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.
3
3.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
32.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
US 17 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto US 17 Business / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
33.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Mulberry Street
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 31.6 mi | 43m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mulberry Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 31.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Shallotte, 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
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
5
Continue on US 17
28 mi
·
38 min
·
US 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 17 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mulberry Street
8
Arrive at destination
Mulberry Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17 mi from Wilmington, NC · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Shallotte, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Shallotte, 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
$5.30 one way
$10.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.80 | $11.59 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.27 | $12.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Shallotte, NC
Morning in Shallotte on Saturday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
48m 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 Shallotte, NC covers 33.9 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Main Street, South 3rd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17 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 $5.30 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.
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 32.3 miles (US 17 Business / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Shallotte, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 6 ft to 51 ft elevation with about 71 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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