How far is Jacksonville, NC from Wake Forest, NC?

The driving distance from Jacksonville, NC to Wake Forest, NC is about 128.8 miles (207.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 104.3 miles (167.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 25m 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
128.81 mi
02h 42m
Flight
104.27 mi
167.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jacksonville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
104.27 mi
Kilometers
167.81 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
128.81 mi
Kilometers
207.3 km
Drive Time
02h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wake Forest
Thu, Apr 23, 1:26 AM EDT
Return by in Jacksonville
Thu, Apr 23, 4:09 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jacksonville
2026-04-22T22:44
Arrive Wake Forest
Thu, Apr 23, 1:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:43 AM to 12:43 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jacksonville
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
Goldsboro
NC

City in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States

From Jacksonville
64.4 mi
01h 21m
To Wake Forest
64.4 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Jacksonville Weather
NC
Live fallback forecast
79°F
Wednesday
Using Piney Green as the closest live forecast in the Onslow County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jacksonville and Wake Forest.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville and Wake Forest.

  1. 1

    Start on Marine Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Marine Boulevard

  2. 2

    Keep slight right to continue on Richlands Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Richlands Highway

  3. 3

    Continue on Richlands Highway

    10.5 mi · 15 min · Richlands Highway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Koonce Fork Road

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Koonce Fork Road

  5. 5

    Turn right

    23 m · 9 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Kinston Highway

    12.4 mi · 17 min · Kinston Highway

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Jonestown Road

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Jonestown Road

  8. 8

    Turn right

    5.4 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Smith-Grady Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Smith-Grady Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Hardy Bridge Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Hardy Bridge Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Jenny Lind Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Jenny Lind Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp left

    1466 ft · 36 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Goldsboro Bypass

    14.8 mi · 16 min · Goldsboro Bypass

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    2017 ft · 49 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    42.6 mi · 46 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64 Business West, NC 96: Zebulon, Oxford

    922 ft · 30 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Arendell Avenue

    1.1 km · 47 sec · North Arendell Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Zebulon Road

    9.3 mi · 11 min · Zebulon Road

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Zebulon Road

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Zebulon Road

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Zebulon Road

    40 m · 2 sec · Zebulon Road

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Zebulon Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Zebulon Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Oak Grove Church Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Oak Grove Church Road

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Royal Mill Avenue

    37 m · 3 sec · Royal Mill Avenue

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto Royal Mill Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Royal Mill Avenue

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North White Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North White Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto East Roosevelt Avenue

    73 m · 9 sec · East Roosevelt Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Front Street

    48 m · 5 sec · Front Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Front Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jacksonville and Wake Forest.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
29 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Goldsboro Bypass
57.8 mi · 45%
Zebulon Road
12.5 mi · 10%
Kinston Highway
12.4 mi · 10%
Richlands Highway
11.9 mi · 9%
Smith-Grady Road
5.57 mi · 4%
Jonestown Road
5.15 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Goldsboro Bypass

Merge slight left

42.6 mi · 00h 46m

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 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.5 mi
104.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Goldsboro
01h 21m from Jacksonville
Leave By
1:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Jacksonville and Sunny near Wake Forest.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jacksonville to Wake Forest?

The road trip is about 128.8 miles (207.3 km) and usually takes 02h 42m 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?

Goldsboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 64.4 miles from Jacksonville and 64.4 miles from Wake Forest.

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

The direct path is about 104.3 miles (167.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.5 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 1:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.02 one way or $36.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 40.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Jacksonville and Sunny near Wake Forest.

Stop Ideas Near Goldsboro

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

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

BUS

Goldsboro, NC

2 mi away
1615 East Beech Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

31 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Wilson

38 mi away
401 East Nash Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

40 mi away
101 East New Bern Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jacksonville and Wake Forest. Straight-line distance: 104.27 mi (167.81 km).

Jacksonville

#1 Jacksonville

The most populous city in Onslow County, North Carolina.

Population76,284
Coordinates34.7540500, -77.4302400
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Wake Forest

#2 Wake Forest

Town located in the U.

Population47,314
Coordinates35.9798700, -78.5097200
Altitude119
CountryUnited States
Start: Jacksonville (-77.43024, 34.75405)
End: Wake Forest (-78.50972, 35.97987)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 207 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.55 gal
17.21 L · about $18.02
Round trip
$36.05
9.1 gal · 34.42 L
Estimated CO2
40.4 kg one way
Round trip: 80.9 kg / 178 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $18.02 $36.05
Mid-grade $4.43 $20.15 $40.30
Premium $4.78 $21.74 $43.48
Diesel $5.62 $25.59 $51.18

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

There is no time difference between Jacksonville and Wake Forest. The current time is 22:44:11.

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.