Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
3:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Spencer, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 27m
Distance
207.3 mi
334 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 14m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 54m
10 AM
4h 36m
12 PM
4h 34m
3 PM
4h 38m
5 PM
4h 52m
8 PM
4h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spencer, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Spencer, NC covers 207.3 miles and takes about 4h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, US 52, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
103.7 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 27m drive with frequent turns across 207.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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 91.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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.
6
117.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
4
184.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 47m in
|
South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
199.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 11m in
|
Bringle Ferry Road
Turn left onto Bringle Ferry Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 91.9 mi | 1h 51m |
| US 52 | 33.9 mi | 46m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| G R Kindley Freeway | 14.4 mi | 15m |
| Old Salisbury Road | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Liberty Road | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| US 17 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Stokes Ferry Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Spencer, 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
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
28 mi
·
37 min
·
US 52; NC 742
13
Continue on US 52; NC 73
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 52; NC 73
14
Turn left onto Salisbury Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Avenue
15
Continue on Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Old Salisbury Road
16
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Main Street
17
Turn left onto US 52
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Church Street
18
Continue on US 52
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 52
19
Turn right onto Liberty Road
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Liberty Road
20
Turn left onto Stokes Ferry Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Stokes Ferry Road
21
Turn right onto Providence Church Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Providence Church Road
22
Turn left onto Bringle Ferry Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Bringle Ferry Road
23
Turn right onto Goodman Lake Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Goodman Lake Road
24
Turn left onto Old Union Church Road
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Old Union Church Road
25
Continue on Andrews Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrews Street
26
Continue on East Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto US 29; US 70; NC 150
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Salisbury Avenue
28
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
1st Street
29
Turn slight left onto South Iredell Avenue
484 ft
·
21 sec
·
South Iredell Avenue
30
Turn slight left onto Carolina Avenue
338 ft
·
14 sec
·
Carolina Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
South Carolina Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.7 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.7 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spencer, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wilmington, NC
This is one driving day of about 207.3 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 91.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.7 mi from Wilmington, NC · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.7 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 91.9 miles.
Arriving in Spencer, NC
The final approach into Spencer, 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 Spencer, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.42 one way
$64.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $35.45 | $70.89 |
| premium | $4.70 | $38.37 | $76.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.77 | $91.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.77 | $9.95 |
| Efficient EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.14 | $8.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.9 | 1 | $29.02 | $13.27 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Spencer, NC
Afternoon in Spencer on Wednesday
Local time
3:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
4 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
4h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Spencer, NC covers 207.3 miles and takes about 4h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, US 52, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.7 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 $32.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Spencer, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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