How far is Garden City, SC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Garden City, SC to Wilmington, NC is about 85.4 miles (137.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 58m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 75.1 miles (120.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 01h 58m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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 Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Garden City and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garden City and Wilmington.
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1
Start on Hidden Lakes Drive
82 m · 17 sec · Hidden Lakes Drive
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2
Turn left onto Garden Lake Drive
1224 ft · 56 sec · Garden Lake Drive
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3
At the end of the road, turn right
535 ft · 14 sec
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4
Turn right onto Garden City Connector
1.1 km · 2 min · Garden City Connector
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5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Garden City Connector
43 m · 4 sec · Garden City Connector
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6
Exit the roundabout onto Garden City Connector
1846 ft · 54 sec · Garden City Connector
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7
Turn right onto Highway 17
5.2 mi · 6 min · Highway 17
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8
Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South
1.2 mi · 2 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South
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9
Continue on Highway 17
8 mi · 11 min · Highway 17
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Grissom Pkwy North: SC 31, Carolina Forest
1594 ft · 45 sec
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11
Continue on Robert M. Grissom Parkway
1.5 km · 2 min · Robert M. Grissom Parkway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward SC 31 North: North Myrtle Beach
2211 ft · 54 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto Carolina Bays Parkway
13.2 mi · 15 min · Carolina Bays Parkway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on SC 9 North: Loris, Dillon
1.2 km · 2 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Highway 9 East
1482 ft · 33 sec · Highway 9 East
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16
Turn right onto Highway 57
4.5 mi · 8 min · Highway 57
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17
Continue on Hickman Road Northwest
3.6 mi · 5 min · Hickman Road Northwest
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18
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway West
1056 ft · 17 sec · Ocean Highway West
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19
Take the exit slight left
49 m · 13 sec
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20
Turn left onto Ocean Highway West
40.8 mi · 56 min · Ocean Highway West
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21
Keep slight right to continue on US 17
2647 ft · 38 sec
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22
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
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23
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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24
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Garden City 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.
Ocean Highway West
Turn left onto Ocean Highway West
40.8 mi · 00h 56m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Garden City and Patchy Fog near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Garden City to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 85.4 miles (137.5 km) and usually takes 01h 58m 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?
Carolina Shores is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.7 miles from Garden City and 42.8 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 75.1 miles (120.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:32 PM EST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.84 one way or $21.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Garden City and Patchy Fog near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Carolina Shores
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 Carolina Shores.
Wilmington, NC
Dillon
Florence
Kingstree
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Garden City and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 75.06 mi (120.79 km).
#1 Garden City
Garden City is a place in South Carolina, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.5929500, -79.0086500 |
| Altitude | 6 |
| 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: 138 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 02h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 02h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.60 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
| Mid-grade | $4.06 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
| Premium | $4.46 | $13.41 | $26.82 |
| Diesel | $5.72 | $17.20 | $34.40 |
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 South Carolina · Nov 06, 2026