How far is Banner Elk, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Banner Elk, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 330.6 miles (532.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 259 miles (416.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 05h 24m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Banner Elk and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Banner Elk and Wilmington.
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1
Start on Main Street East
1.2 km · 2 min · Main Street East
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2
Continue on Balm Highway
3.4 mi · 7 min · Balm Highway
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3
Turn right
3.2 mi · 7 min
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4
Turn right onto Broadstone Road
2.9 mi · 6 min · Broadstone Road
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto NC Highway 105 South
4.7 mi · 9 min · NC Highway 105 South
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6
Continue straight
89 m · 7 sec
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7
Continue straight
67 m · 7 sec
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8
Continue on NC Highway 105 Extension
1.3 km · 2 min · NC Highway 105 Extension
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9
Turn right onto East King Street
29.7 mi · 43 min · East King Street
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10
Continue straight
50.1 mi · 59 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Greensboro
1.6 km · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left
7.3 mi · 8 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: High Point
89 mi · 1 hr 40 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 220 South: Rockingham
4.8 mi · 7 min
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15
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
2.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Avenue
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16
Continue on Hamlet Avenue
3.5 mi · 5 min · Hamlet Avenue
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17
Turn left onto Raleigh Street
142 m · 12 sec · Raleigh Street
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18
Turn right onto Spring Street
1716 ft · 41 sec · Spring Street
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19
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi · 17 min · East Hamlet Avenue
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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21
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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22
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
59.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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23
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
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24
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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25
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 17 sec · South 3rd Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Banner Elk and Wilmington.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 74 East
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: High Point
89 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Banner Elk and Sunny near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Banner Elk to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 330.6 miles (532.1 km) and usually takes 05h 24m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Star is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.2 miles from Banner Elk and 168.4 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 259 miles (416.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 71.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:10 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.22 one way or $92.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Banner Elk and Sunny near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Star
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Star.
Southern Pines
Hamlet
Lexington
High Point
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Banner Elk and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 258.96 mi (416.76 km).
#1 Banner Elk
Township in Avery County, North Carolina
| Population | 1,082 |
| Coordinates | 36.1631800, -81.8715000 |
| Altitude | 1128 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wilmington
The largest city in the state of North Carolina.
| Population | 124,794 |
| Coordinates | 34.2257300, -77.9447100 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 532 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 01m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 16m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $46.22 | $92.45 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $51.69 | $103.37 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $55.76 | $111.52 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $65.63 | $131.26 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in North Carolina · Apr 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.