How far is Columbus, OH from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Columbus, OH to Wilmington, NC is about 596.5 miles (959.9 km), with a travel time of about 11h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 484.2 miles (779.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 23h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 11h 42m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Columbus and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus and Wilmington.
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1
Start on the route
23 m · 6 sec
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2
Turn right onto East State Street
556 ft · 26 sec · East State Street
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3
Turn left onto South High Street
9 mi · 17 min · South High Street
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4
Continue on Portsmouth - Columbus Road
36.5 mi · 47 min · Portsmouth - Columbus Road
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5
Keep slight left
58.6 mi · 1 hr 8 min
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6
Keep slight right
9.8 mi · 11 min
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7
Continue on US 35
14.3 mi · 16 min · US 35
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8
Continue on Fruth-Lanham Highway
11.8 mi · 14 min · Fruth-Lanham Highway
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9
Continue straight
119 m · 7 sec
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10
Take the ramp slight right
2603 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left
137.4 mi · 2 hr 36 min
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12
Continue straight
16 mi · 18 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 South: Charlotte North Carolina
23.5 mi · 27 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward VA 148, SR 775: Fancy Gap
1381 ft · 36 sec
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15
Turn straight onto Chance Creek Road
1.4 km · 1 min · Chance Creek Road
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Fancy Gap Highway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Fancy Gap Highway
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17
Continue on North Andy Griffith Parkway
31.6 mi · 36 min · North Andy Griffith Parkway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on NC 74 East
13.3 mi · 16 min
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19
Keep slight left to continue on US 421 South: Greensboro
1.1 mi · 2 min
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20
Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway
11.4 mi · 13 min · Salem Parkway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
12.2 mi · 13 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Sanford
1133 ft · 28 sec
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23
Keep slight right to continue on US 421 South: Sanford
26.3 mi · 32 min
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
1413 ft · 42 sec
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25
Turn left
10.9 mi · 15 min
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26
Keep slight left
21 mi · 27 min
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27
Take the exit slight right toward NC 540 Toll South
2827 ft · 1 min
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28
Merge slight left onto Triangle Expressway
22 mi · 24 min · Triangle Expressway
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29
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Wilmington
2538 ft · 49 sec
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30
Merge slight left
1.3 km · 53 sec
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31
Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
1.7 mi · 2 min
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32
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
107.3 mi · 1 hr 55 min
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33
Continue on North College Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · North College Road
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34
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
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35
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
1.3 km · 1 min · North Kerr Avenue
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36
Turn right onto Market Street
2.3 mi · 5 min · Market Street
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37
Turn left onto South 16th Street
1.1 km · 1 min · South 16th Street
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38
Turn right onto Wooster Street
1.6 km · 2 min · Wooster Street
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39
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
28 m · 2 sec · South 3rd Street
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40
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbus and Wilmington.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Fruth-Lanham Highway
Merge slight left
137 mi · 02h 36m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Partly Sunny leaving Columbus and Sunny near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Columbus to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 596.5 miles (959.9 km) and usually takes 11h 42m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Pulaski is a useful midpoint, sitting about 298.3 miles from Columbus and 298.2 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 484.2 miles (779.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 112.3 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $77.99 one way or $155.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 187.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Columbus and Sunny near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Pulaski
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 Pulaski.
Blacksburg, VA
Hinton
Alderson
Roanoke
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Columbus and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 484.18 mi (779.21 km).
#1 Columbus
The fifteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Columbus metropolitan area.
| Population | 884,356 |
| Coordinates | 39.9611800, -82.9987900 |
| Altitude | 235 |
| 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: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 960 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.71 | $77.99 | $155.98 |
| Mid-grade | $4.24 | $89.29 | $178.59 |
| Premium | $4.79 | $100.83 | $201.66 |
| Diesel | $4.30 | $90.60 | $181.20 |
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 Ohio · Jul 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.