How far is Jefferson, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Jefferson, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 313 miles (503.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 250.1 miles (402.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 09m 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 05h 04m.
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.
Human settlement in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Jefferson and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson and Wilmington.
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1
Start on East Main Street
1.3 km · 2 min · East Main Street
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2
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.5 km · 2 min · East Main Street
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3
Continue straight
3.1 mi · 4 min
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4
Turn right
3.8 mi · 6 min
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5
Turn right onto J W Luke Road
984 ft · 15 sec · J W Luke Road
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6
Turn slight left onto Trading Post Road
66 m · 4 sec · Trading Post Road
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7
Turn right
18.8 mi · 27 min
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8
Turn left onto Watson Brame Expressway
52.3 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Watson Brame Expressway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Greensboro
1.6 km · 2 min
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10
Merge slight left
7.3 mi · 8 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: High Point
89 mi · 1 hr 40 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 220 South: Rockingham
4.8 mi · 7 min
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13
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
2.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Avenue
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14
Continue on Hamlet Avenue
3.5 mi · 5 min · Hamlet Avenue
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15
Turn left onto Raleigh Street
142 m · 12 sec · Raleigh Street
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16
Turn right onto Spring Street
1716 ft · 41 sec · Spring Street
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17
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi · 17 min · East Hamlet Avenue
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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19
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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20
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
59.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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21
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
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22
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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23
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Jefferson and Wilmington.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 74 East
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: High Point
89 mi · 01h 40m
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Jefferson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Jefferson to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 313 miles (503.7 km) and usually takes 05h 04m 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?
Candor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.4 miles from Jefferson and 158.6 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 250.1 miles (402.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.9 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 6:50 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.77 one way or $87.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Jefferson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Candor
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 Candor.
Southern Pines
Hamlet
Lexington
High Point
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Jefferson and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 250.1 mi (402.5 km).
#1 Jefferson
Town in North Carolina, USA
| Population | 1,534 |
| Coordinates | 36.4204000, -81.4734400 |
| Altitude | 890 |
| 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: 504 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 25m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 15m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $43.77 | $87.54 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $48.94 | $97.88 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $52.80 | $105.59 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $62.15 | $124.29 |
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 · May 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.