Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Thursday
Local time
2:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Welcome, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
216.4 mi
348 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Welcome, NC
Đan Thy Nguyễn Mai
Trip Overview
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Welcome, NC covers 216.4 miles and takes about 4h 20m 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 $33.84 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
108.2 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 216.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 20m drive with frequent turns across 216.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 4h 20m 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 Welcome, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Street | — | — |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | — | — |
| American Indian Highway | — | — |
| G R Kindley Freeway | — | — |
| US 1 | — | — |
| I 73 North | — | — |
| US 64 | — | — |
| US 64 West | — | — |
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 Welcome, NC.
1
Start on South 3rd Street
371 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 3rd Street
2
Continue on South 3rd Street
509 ft
·
23 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right
3.5 mi
·
4 min
4
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
5
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
6
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
7
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
11 mi
·
11 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Rockingham
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 1: Rockingham
9
Turn right
1.1 mi
·
1 min
10
Turn straight
4.4 mi
·
6 min
11
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
48 mi
·
52 min
·
I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Lexington
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 64: Siler City, Lexington
14
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
15
Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Lexington
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 64 West: Lexington
16
Merge slight left onto Asheboro Bypass
28 mi
·
38 min
·
Asheboro Bypass
17
Take the exit slight right toward NC 8: Winston-Salem, Lexington
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
NC 8: Winston-Salem, Lexington
18
Turn right onto Winston Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Winston Road
19
Continue on Old US Hwy 52
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Old US Hwy 52
20
Continue on Old US Highway 52
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Old US Highway 52
21
Turn right
69 ft
·
7 sec
22
Turn right
108 ft
·
8 sec
23
Arrive at your destination
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 108.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 10m 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 10m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Welcome, 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 216.4 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.2 mi from Wilmington, NC · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Welcome, NC
The final approach into Welcome, 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 Welcome, 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
$33.84 one way
$67.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $37.00 | $74.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $40.05 | $80.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.78 | $95.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.72 | $10.39 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.94 | $8.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.6 | 1 | $30.30 | $13.85 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Welcome, NC
Afternoon in Welcome on Thursday
Local time
2:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Rockingham, NC
108 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 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
4h 20m 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 Welcome, NC covers 216.4 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 3rd Street, Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.2 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 $33.84 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 is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wilmington, NC to Welcome, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Welcome, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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