Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
235.7 mi
379 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Photo: Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Statesville, NC covers 235.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m 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, Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.72 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
117.9 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 51m drive with frequent turns across 235.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Statesville, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| American Indian Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| G R Kindley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Caswell Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Salisbury Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Williams Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Statesville, NC.
Start on South 3rd Street
Continue on South 3rd Street
Turn right
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on American Indian Highway
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on East Caswell Street
Continue on Salisbury Street
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
Turn right onto Williams Street
Turn left onto Polk Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
At the end of the road, turn straight
Turn slight left
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
Take the ramp right toward I 485 North Outer
Merge slight left onto Governor James G Martin Freeway
Continue on H Allen Tate Jr Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte
Keep slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North: Statesville
Merge slight left onto I-77 North
Continue on I 77 North
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North
Continue on I-77 North
Keep slight right to continue on I-77 North
Take the exit slight right toward US 70: G. Bagnal Boulevard
Keep slight left
Turn left onto Garner Bagnal Boulevard
Turn right onto Shelton Avenue
Continue on South Center Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.9 miles or 2h 25m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Statesville, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 235.7 miles and 4h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117.9 mi from Wilmington, NC · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 117.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Statesville, 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 Statesville, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$37.72 one way
$75.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $41.10 | $82.20 |
| premium | $4.78 | $44.34 | $88.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.36 | $104.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.7 | 0 | $24.75 | $11.31 |
| Efficient EV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.62 | $9.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.3 | 1 | $33.00 | $15.08 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Statesville on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Charlotte, NC
118 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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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