How far is Cornelius, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Cornelius, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 222.3 miles (357.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 01m 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 03h 30m.
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.
City in and county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cornelius and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cornelius and Wilmington.
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1
Start on Legion Street
124 m · 23 sec · Legion Street
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2
Turn left onto Church Street
1841 ft · 1 min · Church Street
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3
Turn right onto Catawba Avenue
3253 ft · 2 min · Catawba Avenue
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4
Continue on Catawba Avenue
622 ft · 17 sec · Catawba Avenue
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 77 South: Charlotte
979 ft · 24 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto I-77 South
1.9 mi · 2 min · I-77 South
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7
Continue on I 77 South
2.1 mi · 2 min · I 77 South
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 South
2.3 mi · 3 min · I 77 South
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9
Continue on I-77 South
1990 ft · 26 sec · I-77 South
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South
1.1 mi · 1 min · I-77 South
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 485: Pineville, Matthews
1201 ft · 29 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 485 North Inner: Matthews
1.3 km · 1 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 485 North Inner: Matthews
1526 ft · 37 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto H Allen Tate Jr Highway
6.6 mi · 7 min · H Allen Tate Jr Highway
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15
Continue on Governor James G Martin Freeway
13 mi · 14 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward NC 218: Mint Hill
1665 ft · 46 sec
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17
Turn left onto Fairview Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Fairview Road
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18
Continue straight
2.2 mi · 3 min
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19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
38 m · 3 sec
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20
Exit the roundabout
6.7 mi · 9 min
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21
Turn slight left
2.8 mi · 4 min
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
71 m · 5 sec
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23
Exit the roundabout
4.2 mi · 6 min
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
39 m · 3 sec
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25
Exit the roundabout
13.4 mi · 20 min
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26
Turn right onto Williams Street
1319 ft · 29 sec · Williams Street
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27
Turn right onto W. Cliff Martin Highway
137 m · 7 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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28
Take the exit slight left
151 m · 20 sec
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29
Turn left onto W. Cliff Martin Highway
2922 ft · 45 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.7 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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31
Continue on Salisbury Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street
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32
Continue on West Caswell Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · West Caswell Street
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33
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.2 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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34
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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35
Continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi · 16 min · G R Kindley Freeway
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36
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
9.7 mi · 12 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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37
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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38
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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39
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
59.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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40
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
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41
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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42
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cornelius and Wilmington.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Cornelius and Sunny near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cornelius to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 222.3 miles (357.8 km) and usually takes 03h 30m 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?
Laurinburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.4 miles from Cornelius and 114.9 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.5 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 9:58 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.09 one way or $62.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cornelius and Sunny near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Laurinburg
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 Laurinburg.
Hamlet
Dillon
Southern Pines
Fayetteville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cornelius and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 186.84 mi (300.69 km).
#1 Cornelius
City in North Carolina, United States
| Population | 30,804 |
| Coordinates | 35.4868000, -80.8600700 |
| Altitude | 245 |
| 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: 358 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 46m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $31.09 | $62.19 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $34.77 | $69.54 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $37.51 | $75.01 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $44.15 | $88.30 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.