How far is China Grove, NC from Wilmington, NC?

The driving distance from China Grove, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 206.9 miles (333 km), with a travel time of about 03h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 175.9 miles (283.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
206.94 mi
03h 39m
Flight
175.91 mi
283.1 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from China Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
175.91 mi
Kilometers
283.1 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
206.94 mi
Kilometers
333.03 km
Drive Time
03h 39m

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 03h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilmington
Sun, May 31, 5:25 PM EDT
Return by in China Grove
Sun, May 31, 9:04 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave China Grove
2026-05-31T13:45
Arrive Wilmington
Sun, May 31, 5:25 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:40 AM to 11:40 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:40 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in China Grove
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
East Laurinburg
NC

Human settlement in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States of America

From China Grove
103.3 mi
01h 49m
To Wilmington
103.6 mi
01h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph ESE
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between China Grove and Wilmington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between China Grove and Wilmington.

  1. 1

    Start on Patterson Street

    25 m · 5 sec · Patterson Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    641 ft · 27 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Centerview Street

    1945 ft · 54 sec · East Centerview Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.1 km · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right

    1631 ft · 33 sec

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    28 m · 2 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    585 ft · 11 sec

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    23 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    702 ft · 13 sec

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward China Grove Highway

    14 m · 1 sec · China Grove Highway

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto China Grove Highway

    6.3 mi · 9 min · China Grove Highway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Organ Church Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Organ Church Road

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Old Beatty Ford Road

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Old Beatty Ford Road

  14. 14

    Turn right

    4.5 mi · 8 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1624 ft · 42 sec · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Old Salisbury Road

    7.1 mi · 10 min · Old Salisbury Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Salisbury Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · Salisbury Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right

    29.4 mi · 39 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto W. Cliff Martin Highway

    2040 ft · 26 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  21. 21

    Continue on West Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · West Caswell Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    10.2 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on G R Kindley Freeway

    14.9 mi · 16 min · G R Kindley Freeway

  25. 25

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    9.7 mi · 12 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on American Indian Highway

    33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway

  28. 28

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  29. 29

    Continue on Ocean Highway East

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East

  30. 30

    Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

    1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between China Grove and Wilmington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
32 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
0 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi · 44%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 16%
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi · 7%
Old Beatty Ford Road
7.88 mi · 4%
Old Salisbury Road
7.08 mi · 3%
China Grove Highway
6.28 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Andrew Jackson Highway

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

59.8 mi · 01h 13m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31 mi
175.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Laurinburg
01h 49m from China Grove
Leave By
9:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving China Grove and Mostly Sunny near Wilmington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from China Grove to Wilmington?

The road trip is about 206.9 miles (333 km) and usually takes 03h 39m 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?

East Laurinburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.3 miles from China Grove and 103.6 miles from Wilmington.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 175.9 miles (283.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 31 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 9:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.92 one way or $57.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around China Grove and Mostly Sunny near Wilmington.

Stop Ideas Near East Laurinburg

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around East Laurinburg, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to East Laurinburg.

RAIL

Hamlet

26 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Dillon

40 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Southern Pines

45 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Fayetteville

60 mi away
472 Hay Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between China Grove and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 175.91 mi (283.1 km).

China Grove

#1 China Grove

Town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States

Population4,249
Coordinates35.5693100, -80.5817300
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Wilmington

#2 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Patterson Street (-80.581752, 35.569281)
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 333 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.3 gal
27.64 L · about $28.92
Round trip
$57.83
14.6 gal · 55.28 L
Estimated CO2
64.9 kg one way
Round trip: 129.8 kg / 286 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $28.92 $57.83
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.33 $64.66
Premium $4.78 $34.88 $69.76
Diesel $5.62 $41.06 $82.11

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between China Grove and Wilmington. The current time is 13:45:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.