How far is Fayetteville, NC from Wrightsville Beach, NC?

The driving distance from Fayetteville, NC to Wrightsville Beach, NC is about 98.3 miles (158.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.8 miles (136.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
98.31 mi
02h 17m
Flight
84.77 mi
136.42 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.77 mi
Kilometers
136.42 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.31 mi
Kilometers
158.21 km
Drive Time
02h 17m

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 02h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wrightsville Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 5:28 PM EDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Sun, Apr 19, 7:46 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-04-19T15:10
Arrive Wrightsville Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 5:28 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:18 AM to 12:18 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
White Lake
NC

Town in Bladen County, North Carolina, USA

From Fayetteville
49.2 mi
01h 08m
To Wrightsville Beach
49.2 mi
01h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph W
Destination
78°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fayetteville and Wrightsville Beach.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville and Wrightsville Beach.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Square

    50 m · 4 sec · Market Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Gillespie Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Gillespie Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward NC 87 South: Elizabethtown

    1011 ft · 25 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Jr Freeway

    64.2 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Martin Luther King Jr Freeway

  5. 5

    Continue on Old State Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Old State Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Old Stage Road

    2658 ft · 41 sec · Old Stage Road

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Andrew Jackson Highway

    13.3 mi · 18 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Ocean Highway East

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East

  9. 9

    Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

  10. 10

    Turn straight

    6.1 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Wrightsville Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · Wrightsville Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Eastwood Road

    147 m · 13 sec · Eastwood Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Wrightsville Avenue

    1488 ft · 34 sec · Wrightsville Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Causeway Drive

    691 ft · 17 sec · Causeway Drive

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Causeway Drive

    1.5 km · 2 min · Causeway Drive

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Causeway Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fayetteville and Wrightsville Beach.

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
16 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Martin Luther King Jr Freeway
64.2 mi · 65%
Andrew Jackson Highway
13.3 mi · 14%
Old State Road
5.58 mi · 6%
Ocean Highway East
3.11 mi · 3%
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.92 mi · 2%
Wrightsville Avenue
1.18 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Martin Luther King Jr Freeway

Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Jr Freeway

64.2 mi · 01h 26m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 17m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.5 mi
84.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
White Lake
01h 08m from Fayetteville
Leave By
1:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fayetteville and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Wrightsville Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fayetteville to Wrightsville Beach?

The road trip is about 98.3 miles (158.2 km) and usually takes 02h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

White Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49.2 miles from Fayetteville and 49.2 miles from Wrightsville Beach.

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

The direct path is about 84.8 miles (136.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.74 one way or $27.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fayetteville and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Wrightsville Beach.

Stop Ideas Near White Lake

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around White Lake, 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 White Lake.

RAIL

Fayetteville

59 mi away
472 Hay Street
BUS

Wilmington, NC

71 mi away
505 Cando St
RAIL

Dillon

85 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
BUS

Goldsboro, NC

95 mi away
1615 East Beech Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fayetteville and Wrightsville Beach. Straight-line distance: 84.77 mi (136.42 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Wrightsville Beach

#2 Wrightsville Beach

City in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population2,516
Coordinates34.2085000, -77.7963700
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Fayetteville (-78.87836, 35.05266)
End: Wrightsville Beach (-77.79637, 34.2085)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 158 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.47 gal
13.13 L · about $13.74
Round trip
$27.49
6.94 gal · 26.26 L
Estimated CO2
30.8 kg one way
Round trip: 61.7 kg / 136 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $13.74 $27.49
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.37 $30.74
Premium $4.78 $16.58 $33.16
Diesel $5.62 $19.52 $39.03

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fayetteville and Wrightsville Beach. The current time is 15:10:29.

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.