Drive Time
3h 29m
Distance
159.4 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Windsor, NC covers 159.4 miles and takes about 3h 29m 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, I 140 East, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.86 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.7 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 29m drive with frequent turns across 159.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 140 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Marine Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Marine Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Bern Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 17 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Windsor, NC.
Start on South 3rd Street
Continue on South 3rd Street
Turn right
Take the exit slight right
Take the exit right toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
Continue on Market Street
Continue straight
Continue on South Marine Boulevard
Keep slight right to continue on North Marine Boulevard
Continue on New Bern Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 North, US 70 East: New Bern, Morehead City
Take the exit slight right
Turn left
Turn left
Take the exit right
Turn right
Turn left onto South Granville Street
Continue on West Granville 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, 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 159.4 miles and 3h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.7 mi from Wilmington, NC · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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.
The final approach into Windsor, 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 Windsor, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$24.86 one way
$49.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $27.79 | $55.59 |
| premium | $4.78 | $29.98 | $59.97 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $35.29 | $70.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.74 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.95 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.32 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Windsor on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Ayden, NC
80 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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